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would like to thank the following organisations for their support:
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Paul Hollick, chair, Association of Fleet Professionals
The AFP’s Paul Hollick
How commercial vehicle fleets are turning to public transport
When the subject of greener commercial vehicle fleets is discussed, using more public transport is a solution that is rarely mentioned – but that’s exactly what we are now seeing in London.
Some businesses are reducing the number of vans they operate in favour of operational models where technical staff undertake visits to domestic and business premises by tube and bus. They have parts shipped to the customer’s address in advance and are able to complete jobs with just a toolkit they can carry. We’d underline first of all that this is probably not a widespread trend but it is an interesting one. Driving, maintaining and storing vans in concentrated urban areas is increasingly difficult, and some businesses have been looking for new solutions. Public transport can work effectively but does have obvious limitations. Employees may need tools and other equipment that can’t easily be moved around by hand or on public transport, for example, while delivering parts to customer premises ahead of the visit can sometimes be a hit-and-miss affair. However, there are also instances where it can be effective, and we know of fleets where van numbers are being reduced and the remaining vehicles used on an as-needed basis, rather than each vehicle being permanently allocated to an employee. It’s a good example of fleets thinking outside the box to ensure operational efficiency.
EV INFRASTRCUTURE
Over 11,000 streets identified as
needing on-street charging
Vauxhall has revealed its findings on the demand for residential on-street electric vehicle charging points in their latest data. They found that motorists living on more than 11,500 streets across the country are calling for councils to install on-street charging for electric vehicles (EVs).
The statistics are based on public submissions to Vauxhall’s Electric Streets of Britain campaign launched in 2023 to help accelerate on-street charging provision across the country. James Taylor, managing director at Vauxhall, said: “On-street residential charging is critical to the adoption and acceleration of electric vehicles. Thanks to the public, we already know of over 11,000 roads where we need to install on-street chargers today to make it more convenient for EV drivers and remove a barrier for those wanting to switch to electric.”
A Freedom of Information (FOI) request by Vauxhall found that 56.5 per cent of the 267 local authorities who responded still do not have a published on-street residential charging strategy in place. Although this figure has improved by almost 15 per cent since 2023 (72 per cent of UK councils), the data reflects the work still to be done, to reach the required levels of accessible charging needed to match electric vehicle demand.
Fourteen of the top 20 councils by number of on-street chargers installed so far, and 10 of the 20 councils to have seen the biggest increase in on-street charge point numbers year-on-year, are based in the capital highlighting the need for a greater distribution nationally...
A former Paralympic athlete has called for disabled drivers to be included in the transition to electric driving.
Wheelchair athlete Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE has added her support to the likes of ChargeSafe, Motability Foundation and RECHARGE UK in calling for government action.
Having attended a meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on electric vehicles (EVs), where MPs and attendees heard from representatives from these organisations, Grey-Thompson said: “We were very close to buying an electric car but when we started looking at the accessibility of the charging stations it very quickly became apparent that it was a complete no-go.”
She said that many of the charging stations they looked at were not useable for many reasons which include the height of the charging stations, high steps, gravel, and no wide spaces.
Grey-Thompson added: “One place we looked at, I might have been able to use the charger but there were no accessible spaces so I could not get my chair out of the car to be able to use it. There was also an issue with lighting. One place I checked later at night felt very isolated and I was not sure I would feel safe getting out.”
As a result, the athlete would like to see the mandating of BSI PAS 1899:2022 – a British specification giving designers, procurers, ...
Decarbonising
Colleagues at Zemo Partnership had the pleasure to join Transport Scotland and other speakers on the GREENFLEET Scotland tour, speaking to fleet managers in Edinburgh, Dundee and Inverness. The wealth of experience and expertise amongst not only the speakers but also the fleets, both public and private sector, and the initiatives being taken forward by local authorities was inspiring. Transport Scotland was also present setting out the future direction of transport as part of the low carbon economy in Scotland. Delivering net zero emissions in road transport is going to be a complex dance aligning transformation of different sectors, bringing together the automotive sector, energy sector, charging and fuel distribution, to offer the right solutions for fleets to decarbonise. That’s why we at Zemo Partnership are developing a set of delivery roadmaps with key stakeholder buy-in and have established the Council for Net Zero Transport chaired by Lord Deben to ensure alignment at the most senior of decision maker levels.
A number of questions were being asked by fleet managers. This included what the future of decarbonising road transport looks like. Net zero transport will involve the demise of non-zero emission vehicles on the roads of the UK. Legislation is already in place which will end the sale of non-zero emission cars and vans by 2035, and similar legislation is being planned... www.zemo.org.uk
Zemo Partnership’s Claire Haigh
Low emission zones made over £1 billion in fees and fines since 2019 AIR QUALITY
New research has shown that Low Emission Zones, Clean Air Zones and Zero Emission Zones in the UK have now generated more than £1 billion in fees and penalty charges since April 2019.
The research by Peugeot, based on Freedom of Information requests, shows that ten zones across the UK have generated £1,044,381,971 in income from motorists since April 2019. Bristol City Council withheld data on the Bristol Clean Air Zone as it plans to publish this information before the end of the calendar year.
Since the expansion of the London Ultra Low Emission Zone on 29 August 2023, Transport for London has accumulated more than £226 million in fees and fines. The London ULEZ is now the largest clean air zone in the world, according to Transport for London, and has been expanded to include all 32 boroughs. There are currently 13 Low Emission Zones, Clean Air Zones or Zero Emission Zones across the UK, including the London ULEZ. Nine of these zones charge non-compliant vehicles an entry fee, with Penalty Charge Notices issued to drivers who fail to pay the daily charge.
The London ULEZ issued the majority of fees and fines, accounting for £875 million of income generated between April 2019 (when the 24-hour ULEZ was first introduced) and June 2024. By law, all net revenue generated by the ULEZ must be reinvested back into London’s transport network. From research collected by PEUGEOT last year, the London ULEZ claimed a total of £319,822,943 off drivers between October 2021 (when the ULEZ was expanded to cover the area up to ...
National Highways signs new fleet management deal
National Highways has signed a three-year fleet management contract with Holman, which will see the company manage nearly 750 of its vehicles that maintain the UK’s major roads.
The fleet includes the Land Rover Discovery, BMW X5, Maxus T90 and eDeliver 9, as well as a variety of other vehicles from BMW, Volvo, Toyota, Kia and Ford, as well as nearly 50 incident screen trailers.
National Highways has 85 depots throughout the UK, looking after the 4,300 miles of motorways and major A-roads, as well as ensuring 10,000 miles of carriageways, 150,000 signs, 20,000 bridges, and 100,000 streetlights are all operational. Alongside this formidable workload, it has a target that all traffic officer vehicles will be ultra-low emission by 2025, and zero emission by 2030.
Holman will manage maintenance, breakdown, tyres and accidents, as well as provide rental services and fleet administration, including fuel cards and fines.
Holman will use data, in which it measures wear, tear and repair, and reports back to the customers, giving them a complete and clear view of every facet of their fleet, what each part or job is costing in both time and money, as well as where improvements can be made and the return on investment for doing so.
National Highways will be able to access Holman’s Insights platform, which provides customers with transparent access to all data, while its officers will be able to use the groundbreaking new Driver App to manage all their SMR bookings and condition reporting...
New guidance on government fleet commitment released
The Department for Transport (DfT) has released new guidance on the government’s commitment that all of its fleet of vans and cars will be zero emission by 2027.
In 2017, the government said it was committed to electrifying 25 per cent of cars in central government department fleets by 2022, but this has now been updated.
The new commitment applies to all central government departments and its Arm’s Length Bodies (ALBs), and the guidance sets out latest measures on scope, exemptions and additional exemptions.
Arm’s Length Bodies within the scope of the commitment include executive agencies, non-ministerial departments, executive nondepartmental public bodies, plus any other non-market bodies mainly controlled and financed by one or more central government departments. Devolved administrations, local authorities, Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories are not within scope of the commitment.
Fleet data must be reported quarterly to the Defra and central government departments should collect their reporting data themselves and on behalf of their ALBs unless otherwise agreed.
Westminister City Council boasts highest number of charge points: READ MORE
Tarmac publishes progress in sustainability targets: READ MORE
Kempower to provide fast charging for DFDS electric trucks: READ MORE
First Welsh council to introduce pavement charging trial: READ MORE
Increase in fleet drivers open to hydrogen cars: READ MORE
Suffolk County Council to launch electric car club: READ MORE
PASSENGER TRANSPORT
UK has largest zero-emission bus market in Europe
New research from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has found that the UK has the largest ZEV bus market by volume in Europe.
Italy, Germany and France make up the rest of the top four.
New registrations of the latest, greenest buses were up by a third (36.3 per cent) to 424 units during Q2 2024.
The SMMT pointed to net zero commitments from government as being integral to the rise, including England’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Area funding and the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund – helping almost a quarter of all new vehicle purchases to decarbonise in the first half of 2024.
The SMMT commented that buses are leading Britain’s road vehicle decarbonisation, due to a less complex transition than cars, vans and trucks, as buses have depot-based, circular and consistent routes. As a result, the bus fleet could reach net zero before any other vehicle sector.
However, it was also revealed that zero emission uptake is uneven amongst different nations and regions, with smaller and rural bus operators facing challenges to fund new vehicles and infrastructure.
The SMMT report also found that the number of new buses, coaches and minibuses joining Britain’s roads increased by 61.7 per cent to...
Supporting you with an electric vehicle reimbursement policy that's fit for purpose for all user profiles and vehicle power trains
More and more businesses are looking to prioritise sustainability, bringing the conversation of ICE to EV transition to the table According to HMRC statistics, from the end of 2021 to the end 2023, the number of electric company cars increased from 50,000 to 222,000 and we predict that number to increase again by the end of 2024
It can be a very appealing proposition for an employee to switch to electric when the opportunity arises, with the attractive savings on BIK and particularly when they can benefit from home charging at cheaper rates
When it comes to the reimbursement of electric vehicles, there are a number of options Employers need to consider the multiple datasets involved when reviewing their policies, such as drivers charging at home, at a workplace and at public charge points, which can seem a daunting prospect. That’s where TMC are perfectly positioned to help.
Our award winning solution supports drivers with fair and accurate reimbursement for charging their electric vehicle for business use Coupled with expert mileage capture technology, businesses can benefit from savings, compliant records and happy employees What’s not to love?
So how’s it done?
With business mileage logged tripby-trip and submitted monthly, TMC can audit the recorded expenditure to deter misuse, encourage better practice and achieve savings. Compliant records are used to streamline reimbursements and repayments for employees, based on the submitted mileage and charging activity
For electric vehicle drivers, being reimbursed per mile using the government advisory electric rate (AER), now at 8p, can be wholly unfair and in no way representative of the vehicle they are driving or the mileage they are completing.
Actual cost reimbursement is a much fairer mechanism that TMC can use to reimburse electric vehicle drivers, by aggregating all charging costs incurred and reimbursing the driver for the true cost of charging that has been used for business mileage.
Alternatively, TMC EV Rates can be used We have a real world cost per mile for each electric car and van in the market Our data currently shows only 22% of electric cars and only one electric van is covered by the HMRC rate.
Managing an EV fleet? Pondering the idea of transitioning? To make sure they remain cost effective and run efficiently, we’re on hand to do the heavy lifting! TMC will support you with a reimbursement policy that's fit for purpose, working neatly for both pay and reclaim users and those issued with company backed payment cards
Labour’s promises on sustainable transport
What has the new Labour government pledged to accelerate the UK’s move to zero-emission vehicles and clean energy?
When the Labour Party won the general election back in July, many people in the sustainable transport industry had hopes of increased clarity and action from the new government on the transition to electric vehicles.
After the Conservative Party under Rishi Sunak moved the new petrol and diesel vehicle ban from 2030 to 2035, there were criticisms that the government was not doing enough to support the move to zero-emission transport.
Previously Labour had said that the Conservatives’ decision to delay the ban was “a huge setback for manufacturers who will have spent enormous amounts of money and time on the basis of these targets.”
Labour’s automotive sector plan pledged to restore the phase-out date of 2030 for new cars with internal combustion engines.
And its manifesto promised to make Britain a “clean energy superpower” and “cut bills, create jobs, and deliver security with cheaper, zero-carbon electricity by 2030”.
Since they were voted into power, Labour has made promising steps in terms of reversing environmental decisions made by the last government.
In July, for example, Chancellor Rachel Reeves revised planning policy to place onshore wind on the same footing as other energy developments in the National Planning Policy Framework. There had been a ban on onshire wind which meant that an objection from just one person over a farm development in England could prevent it from going ahead, which Reeves called “absurd”. Many of us have been eagerly awaiting more clarity on what will actually be done E
As set out in its automotive sector plan, Labour said it will give certainty to manufacturers by restoring the phase-out date of 2030 for new cars with internal combustion engines
F to speed up the move to zero-emission transport and meet net zero targets.
The King’s Speech did little to clear this up, as it did not reference moving the petrol and diesel sales ban forward which was promised in Labour’s manifesto.
However, recently, This is Money and Mail Online Motoring reported that a Department for Transport spokesperson had officially confirmed to them that the acceleration of the deadline will go ahead.
The statement said: ‘We’re committed to delivering greener transport by supporting the transition to electric vehicles.
‘This includes phasing out the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 and accelerating the rollout of charge points. We will set out more details in due course.’
We have delved deeper into the ‘Change’ manifesto and automotive sector plan and outlined what the government has promised for the industry, and how the sector has responded.
Transition to electric vehicles
As set out in its automotive sector plan, Labour said it will give certainty to manufacturers by restoring the phase-out date of 2030 for new cars with internal combustion engines.
However, Paul Hollick, chair of the Association of Fleet Professionals, argues that the zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate – which sets out the percentage of new zero emission cars and vans manufacturers will be required
to produce each year – is more pressing than the 2030 EV production deadline.
He said: “The 2030 EV production deadline is now of limited importance compared to the ZEV Mandate, which is really the main control mechanism affecting EV sales in the UK. It would be useful to know whether Labour intends to keep the same rate of adoption as currently stipulated. Certainly, there are many people in the wider motor industry, if not perhaps fleet, who would like to see it slowed given current retail EV sales.”
Labour did not mention its plans for ICE vans in the manifesto, however, leaving many to speculate whether they will have a different phase-out date.
Electric vans are a crucial part of the transition to net-zero, but ICE vans are still the preferred choice for many businesses, due to cost and operational purposes. The Climate Change Committee’s progress report last summer warned that, ‘electric van sales are still lagging and remain significantly off track’.
To highlight the importance of this area, the coalition behind the Zero Emission Van Plan has written to the new Secretary of State for Transport to urge her to take action to get electric van usage on track.
Battery health checks
Labour’s automotive sector plan also said that it would support buyers of second-hand electric cars by standardising the information supplied on the condition of batteries.
This plan was discussed at July’s meeting of the Vehicle Remarketing Association (VRA), held at Cox Automotive in Bruntingthorpe. Philip Nothard, chair at the VRA, said: “One of the recurring themes of our discussions at the meeting was that arriving at a standard measure of battery health is quite difficult – there are many ways to measure battery health and present the results, as well as question marks over which are most meaningful to consumers. The government has some quite tricky decisions to make.”
The AFP’s Paul Hollick believes a governmentstandardised battery health check would be very useful, providing a high degree of reassurance for used EV buyers. But he cautions that more also needs to be done to stimulate the second hand market. He said: “We believe that this is an area that almost certainly needs a degree of financial support, such as through used EV grants or low-cost loans. How likely we are to see those moves from a Labour Party that continually stresses the need for financial control is open to question, however.”
Labour’s automotive sector plans also said it would support the transition to EVs by accelerating the roll out of charge points, but further details on how it will do this have not been published.
Produce cleaner energy
Electric vehicles are greener when they are charged on renewable energy. And thankfully, Labour has a focus on developing clean and local energy in the UK.
It has said they will work with the private sector to double onshore wind, triple solar power, and quadruple offshore wind by 2030.
Labour also said in the manifesto that they will invest in carbon capture and storage, hydrogen and marine energy, and ensure the country has the necessary long-term energy storage.
A new Energy Independence Act is said to establish the framework for Labour’s energy and climate policies.
In addition, the new government has announced that the Great British Energy (GBE) will be “owned by the British people, built by the British people and benefit the British people.”
They said it can cut energy bills for families, support local jobs and supply chains and back workers in industrial heartlands.
Maintaining roads
Labour has also said that it will maintain and renew the road network to keep drivers, cyclists, and other road users safe.
Its manifesto pledged to fix an additional one million potholes across England in each year of the next Parliament, funded by deferring the A27 Arundel bypass, which it says is poor value for money.
The party promised to break down planning barriers to make sure vital infrastructure upgrades were delivered on time and within budget. Labour also committed to tackle rising car insurance costs by ensuring regulators cracked down on the causes of soaring prices.L
Six considerations for successful electrification
Mapping out your electrification journey – whether it’s to power your electric fleet or provide charging facilities for customers, visitors, or staff – is vital to avoid expensive mistakes. Drax’s ‘Plug into progress’ guide looks at six key elements to consider when planning EV infrastructure
Scoping the route from assessment and building the business case – through to optimising your investment and embracing future innovations – Drax’s ‘Plug into progress’ guide takes you through the transition, stage by stage as well as offering some practical tips. Here’s a quick look at the considerations:
Assessment
Understanding both your organisation’s operational requirements and its business objectives is key to tailoring a suitable electrification plan. ‘Plug into progress’ digs into the process involved in analysing fleet data and provides valuable advice for securing internal support.
Installation
The cost and disruption involved in on-site works makes installation the stage organisations most fear. However, with the right planning – including carrying out electrical site surveys and defining site management responsibilities – you can minimise the operational impact and ensure you’re investing in future-proof solutions.
On the road
Fleet managers need to engage with drivers as early as possible in electrification planning. Understanding the impact the changes will
have on day-to-day tasks – and ensuring drivers feel comfortable using charging hardware – will help with a smooth changeover.
Maintenance and operation
Your initial assessment and planning will have set you up for receiving the data you need to manage your investment effectively and identify optimisation opportunities. Now it’s time to leverage the timely insights your vehicle telematics devices and hardware management platforms provide to maximise efficiencies and minimise downtime.
Sustainability
The process of electrification should be part of your organisation’s wider sustainability journey. Learn how to optimise the emissions and cost reductions EVs and charging infrastructure can provide – while measuring the benefits to evidence your sustainability credentials.
Innovation
Look beyond implementation to ensure your fleet and infrastructure stays compliant and benefits from the latest technological developments. It may even be possible to start generating revenue from your investment over the coming years.
Plug into progress
The transition to EVs and supporting infrastructure’s a complex business. But you don’t have to go it alone. ‘Plug into progress’ also outlines the benefits of partnering with an electrification expert, like Drax Electric Vehicles, for upfront planning and end-to-end process support. M
FURTHER INFORMATION
Download the guide now and get your fleet transition on the road to success.
A new chance to accelerate electric vehicle adoption
What are the key areas that this new government can do to overcome barriers to mass electric-vehicle adoption? Matt Adams, transport policy manager from the REA, shares some thoughts
The UK is leading the way in many respects when it comes to electric vehicle policy. However, it has never opted for pro consumer methods to purely focus on EV adoption. It has provided funds for a domestic chargepoint but not helped bridge the gap for the average consumer, whereas we have seen grants in place for new vans and trucks.
So, what are the key areas that this new government can do to accelerate EV adoption? For a commercial fleet, there is already some support in place through the plug in van
and truck grants. However, as co-signatories of the Zero Emissions Van Plan, we are conscious that the cost of an ICE van or truck is still cheaper than their EV equivalent. Extending these grants is crucial until the point where electric vans and trucks are on par with their ICE equivalent at which points the lower running costs of an e-van or truck will attract fleet managers to go electric. Grants are currently available for fleet operators purchasing new vans. But for every new van sold there are two and a half second
Grants are currently available for fleet operators purchasing new vans. But for every new van sold there are two and a half second hand vans sold. And there is no support in place for SMEs to purchase a second-hand e-van
hand vans sold. And there is no support in place for SMEs to purchase a second-hand e-van. Those of us who signed the Zero Emissions Van Plan believe that additional fiscal support is needed to accelerate the second-hand e-van market. From a purely emissions perspective, every second-hand e-van that replaces an older ICE van is saving a greater amount of carbon than say replacing the same ICE van in another few years when the cost of an e-van is cheaper.
We understand that OZEV might be concerned if such a scheme was operating for a prolonged period of time that they may be subsidising one van multiple times which we would obviously want to avoid, but a short-term fiscal support mechanism that bridges the gap while ICE vans remain cheaper would hopefully ease such concerns.
Policy changes to inspire change
There are also a number of policy interventions that government could look at to accelerate the adoption of electric fleet vehicles.
For e-vans, classifying a 4.25t van as a van and not an HGV would make a significant difference. Any fleet manager worth their salt will see that a 4.25t e-van will have to be MOT’d as an HGV, meaning they are MOT’d once a year rather than once every three, as you would expect from an ICE van. As a result of being classified as an HGV they must also only travel up to 62 miles from depot or face EU drivers’ hours rules. Limiting vans to only 62 miles from depot will not work in many business cases and so this once more is slowing down the adoption of e-vans.
Improving the public charging space for vans should also urgently be looked at. Research by Field Dynamics highlights that vans will have the most public charging demand of any vehicle type by 2030, yet many car parks are simply not built for vans. Height barriers for example are used to deliberately keep vans out of car parks and as we move away from
the petrol station model, more vans are going to need to access public car parks to charge up. Many large fleets of vans do not return to depot, and so as we start accelerating the chargepoint rollout, car park owners need to be conscious of this opportunity.
Obstacles for HGVs
We are also conscious that for HGV owners, there are a number of obstacles to adoption, including the upfront cost, despite the grants that are already in place. For fleets using HGVs, there are some crucial concerns around public charging infrastructure to be addressed. There are only one or two HGV charging sites in the country. Although we know REA members through their participation in the Electric Freight Way project will look to quickly counter that narrative.
HGV drivers will expect at these sites to have wider spaces, no height barriers matched to well-lit safe and secure parking with space to perform long turning circles, as well modern food and shower facilities.
One of the key ways to accelerate HGV charging infrastructure deployment is through the rapid charging fund. We were delighted E
F to see that HGV charging infrastructure was included with in the rapid charging fund pilot. However, it’s not certain that it will be included with in the final fund. A failure to do so will severely impact on HGV charging infrastructure delivery and mean in a few years times, CPOs and MSAs will have to get new grid connections, which will be costly to finance and take time to do.
Supporting the fleet manager
In addition, there are other areas where fleet managers could do with additional support. Obtaining a grid connection is not easy, and beyond providing additional funding, local authorities should work with fleet and logistics businesses to identify where grid reinforcement
is most likely needed to decarbonise their fleets and factor that in to local plans. The newly released ‘Proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system consultation’ says as much and I’d encourage GREENFLEET readers to read and respond to this consultation which could make a significant long-term impact for fleet operators. Lastly, for fleets operating HGVs, the upfront cost of replacing an ICE truck with an electric truck can be in the region of £300k to purchase a new electric truck, whereas the existing grant in place only covers between £16k-25k depending on the size of truck. This gives a fleet manager only up to around a 12th of the cost of an electric truck back. So, there is also
Extending
the plug-in van and truck grants is crucial until the point where electric vans and trucks are on par with their ICE equivalent. At this point, the lower running costs of an electric van or truck will attract fleet managers to go electric
an argument here to say that the grant should be larger, bridging a wider part of the cost difference between an ICE and an Electric truck.
Cost savings
We have recently worked with the Energy Saving Trust to publish a new resource titled “Electrifying the fleet. A practical resource for fleet managers.” This resource aims to provide fleet managers with a detailed roadmap to successfully electrify their fleets, offering stepby-step guidance, demonstrating value for money and efficiency savings, and insights into overcoming current barriers to adoption. One of the key sections of the report focuses on the extensive savings fleet managers can expect from electrifying their fleets. The resource reveals that they can expect to save around £1,500 annually per light commercial vehicle (LCV) driving 15,000 miles a year if charged at the depot or home. For rigid HGVs driving the same distance, the savings could be approximately £3,500 annually. These significant cost savings are attributed to the fact that electric vehicles (EVs) only require 25-30 per cent of the energy that a diesel equivalent would need to deliver the same performance, highlighting the substantial efficiency gains from electrification.
Working together to meet objectives
Overall, there are a number of barriers to electric van and truck adoption and the new government’s manifesto commitments have so far been vague on how they plan to help improve adoption of electric vehicles, beyond battery health tests. The fleet sector should come together now around a key set of asks like the Zero Emissions Van Plan to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles. M
Engaging specialist support when electrifying fleets
An important consideration in planning your electrification journey involves engaging specialist support. An expert partner can provide specialist knowledge, remove complexity, protect team resources and reduce the chance of expensive mistakes. And they can add value throughout the process – from design to implementation, management to optimisation.
Choose the right partner and you can expect upfront assessment and analysis support to help clarify operational requirements, as well as a tailored implementation plan, detailing number, type and location of charge points.
An expert partner can also make recommendations for cost-effective electrical upgrades, if required, following a site survey, and project manage charging hardware sourcing, programming and installation. What’s more, an expert partner will give continual assessment of your charging infrastructure’s operational efficiency, resilience and user-friendliness, and look at incorporating any on-site renewable energy assets like solar panels or wind turbines.
A good partner will also include the provision of a dedicated dashboard to help you manage your hardware and connect with your fleet vehicles, and monitor industry advances and give impartial advice for future investment, expansion and innovations. L
FURTHER INFORMATION
Download Drax’s ‘Plug into progress’ guide now and get your fleet transition on the road to success.
Adam Hall, director of energy services, Drax
Taking the unknown out of electric motoring
The new EV Knowledge Hub from Europcar is set to enhance both business and driver understanding
Europcar’s monthly barometer of barriers to electric vehicle (EV) adoption shows that a lack of knowledge is a key issue. In Quarter 2, more than one in five people who drive for work cited this as a factor in making the switch. The same number of business drivers said they thought their employers lacked knowledge before committing to EVs.
To resolve this ongoing challenge, the new Europcar EV Knowledge Hub covers diverse topics such as how EVs work, how to optimise vehicle range, how and where to charge, and whether it is right for the driver or business needs.
Featuring a Beginner’s Guide, a Charging Guide and advice, the new Knowledge Hub provides invaluable information for all drivers considering going electric, as well as those who have recently made the switch. Forming part of the hugely successful free Digital EV Guide launched in 2023, the Knowledge Hub will be continually updated to reflect new information and developments from across the market.
It also includes a myth-busting 101, an EV glossary to break through the potentially confusing jargon, and details on the multitude of business benefits that come with running a green fleet.
Eliminating the FUD
“Lack of knowledge – fear, uncertainty and doubt - is one of the biggest blockers to the EV transition,” commented Tom Middleditch, head of electric mobility at Europcar. “Drivers are bombarded with misinformation and have limited access to first-hand experience of EV ownership. Yet we know that when drivers are provided with accurate, detailed insight the concerns are dispelled pretty quickly.”
He said the new Hub “doesn’t make any assumptions about drivers’ existing knowledge. It delivers the intel they need – and connects them with both The EV Café and Zapmap, providing even more information and putting drivers in control of their electric experience.
“And we complement the guide with a wide range of electric and plug-in hybrid cars and vans for customers to choose on their next rental, to allay fears and give them confidence.”
Europcar is determined to become part of its customers’ sustainability journey, committed to helping businesses and private motorists make the change from ICE to electric through innovative tech-based solutions, electrification across its network, and a growing range of low and zero emission vehicles. M
FURTHER INFORMATION
To find out more about how Europcar is helping businesses reduce their fleet emissions visit: europcar.co.uk/en-gb/p/ business/fleet-services/electric
Is it a new dawn for electric vehicle skills?
Kevin Finn, executive chair of the Institute of the Motor Industry, gives an update on the challenges the UK and its new government face to ensure skills keep pace with the electric vehicle transition
The latest data from the Institute of the Motor Industry EV TechSafe data shows that there has been encouraging growth in the number of technicians gaining certification. Over 58,800 technicians are now qualified to work on electric vehicles, representing 24 per cent of the UK automotive workforce. With EVs
accounting for 16.6 per cent of new car sales January-June this year, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the sector is on track to provide the right level of support for the EV parc.
However, based on the forecast increase in EVs on UK roads, the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) is currently predicting a shortfall of 3,000
EV technicians by 2031, a gap that is expected to reach 16,000 by 2035. Add to this the expected reinstatement of 2030 for the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles, it’s not surprising that concerns regarding the EV skills gap remain front of mind for the sector, particularly as vacancies as a whole are stubbornly high - 20,000 at the last count, June 2024.
The regional picture of EV skills is also patchy, creating a potential postcode lottery to find a local technician qualified to work safely on electric vehicles. While London and the South East have a higher proportion of EVs, the regions do not boast the largest proportion of EV-certified technicians. Just 6.1 per cent and 6.4 per cent of technicians in London and the South East respectively are EV-trained, yet plug-in electric vehicles make up 5.9 per cent of all cars in both regions. The East of England has the highest proportion of EV qualified technicians (9.5 per cent), while Northern Ireland has the lowest (3.7 per cent).
The regional picture of EV skills is patchy, creating a potential postcode lottery to find a local technician qualified to work safely on electric vehicles
To maintain road safety and meet government goals for net zero, the automotive and fleet sectors need as much help they can get to prioritise the training of technicians to support the growing EV parc. Although many fleets have their own service and maintenance divisions, those that rely on technicians through franchised dealers or networks of approved independent garages must also have ready access to suitably EV qualified people, as their primary requirement and duty of care is to keep their vehicles properly maintained and on the road.
Applauding Skills England
The good news is that whilst the King’s Speech at the State Opening of Parliament (17 July) made no specific mention of the skills challenges for the automotive sector, the IMI was amongst the first to applaud the announcement of the creation of Skills England. We were especially pleased to see that collaboration between central and local government and businesses, training providers and unions will be central to this new skills organisation. Tapping into the expertise and experience of businesses and industry specialists will ensure the UK workforce is fit for purpose for next decade and beyond, across all regions and all sectors.
Representing over 100,000 members and all major automotive employers, the IMI is looking forward to providing insight on the particular challenges the automotive sector faces as Skills England evolves.
We will also contribute to plans as the Apprenticeship Levy is replaced with a Growth and Skills Levy. With automotive employers severely under-resourced it is imperative that the pipeline of new talent is adequately filled by new apprenticeships. Hopefully the new Growth and Skills Levy will give businesses the flexibility they need to spend their levy funds to deliver apprenticeship programmes. And, as importantly, by adapting the way the levy funds can be used, this new E
F approach should also support the creation and delivery of modular training to equip existing staff with future-proofed skills.
Addressing the critical issues
There is a clear opportunity for our new government to learn from the past and provide the support and infrastructure that will ensure the UK remains a global leader in becoming carbon neutral, as well as give businesses and fleet operators the confidence to invest in greener transport solutions. The IMI has worked hard to engage with all political parties over the last few years to ensure there is a good understanding of what’s needed to keep UK motorists and road users safe. We reaffirmed our beliefs in the run-up to the election with a ‘Wish List’ for the incoming government.
The Wish List addressed each of the critical issues around automotive vacancies, skills, education, and new technologies in automotive and our call to action remains unchanged today. Alongside the initiatives already proposed on Skills and Apprenticeships, we believe education is important. Infrastructure and pathways are necessary to improve the level of educators/trainers in automotive. The sector is severely under-served currently. It is also critical that automotive is fairly represented in the
education curriculum from early years upwards. What’s more, 2024 is marching on with the skills gap in automotive remaining significant, putting the sector – and road users – at serious risk. And with new technologies including electric and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) emerging at pace, the gap is becoming more pronounced.
Funding for recruitment, training and resources, particularly for the Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) that make up such a large proportion of the sector, is crucial. The IMI also hopes industry initiatives that are designed to go to the heart of the skills gap are properly supported by government and employers. For example, the IMI’s ‘There’s More to Motor’ campaign is helping shift perceptions and encourage more people at all levels to consider a career in automotive. This will vastly increase the talent pool businesses can tap into when recruiting. As the mix of automotive technologies on UK roads demands a more diverse skillset than ever, such initiatives are vital.
The IMI also believes it is vital that the MOT is fit for purpose for a future of ADAS equipped vehicles – as well as for all drive trains.
Future government policies should also take account of the increasing importance of data
How mobility challenges can be overcome with electric vehicles now
Delivering the right mobility solutions in an unpredictable economic climate remains the priority for every business. But there’s another challenge that is also testing decision-makers – how to reduce emissions without impacting efficiency and productivity.
protection, privacy, and cybersecurity issues in terms of vehicle ownership and usage as connected vehicle data becomes de facto.
Collaboration remains key
Most automotive businesses need to train and maintain an omnicompetent workforce – in other words technicians must be able to work on existing petrol and diesel vehicles as well as new electric models, plus be able to deal with vehicles with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). And because the technology does not stand still nor must the skills of the workforce. The role of fleet operators in advancing the UK towards net zero and operating a vehicle parc that is cleaner and better for the environment has, therefore, never been more important.
Now the focus on skills needs to step up. If people and businesses can’t get from A to B because they can’t rely on a competent workforce to maintain and repair the private and commercial vehicles on UK roads, there’s a serious risk to the transportation that underpins the country’s social and economic infrastructure. M
FURTHER INFORMATION
www.theimi.org.uk
At Europcar we believe the fear, uncertainty and doubt about electric motoring can be easily overcome as soon as a driver gets behind the wheel of an EV. And fleets are recognising the genuine fit of rental in this journey.
By providing access to newer and more fuel-efficient petrol vehicles, plug-in hybrids, and fully electric, drivers can quickly understand the positive impact of low and zero-emissions mobility in a practical, accessible and cost-efficient way. The technology is here now, it is cutting carbon and delivering mobility. We just need to find the right way to break down barriers and help businesses make the transition without impacting productivity. M
Tom Middleditch, Head of Electric Mobility, Europcar Mobility Group UK
Learning from Dundee’s electricfication success
Dundee City Council’s Fraser Crichton shares his work to transform the council fleet to electric, as well as help make Dundee one of the UK’s leading EV-friendly cities
As corporate fleet manager for Dundee City Council, I have been at the forefront of Dundee’s transition to becoming one of the UK’s leading EV cities. With over two decades at Dundee City Council, starting as a Transport Officer, my commitment to transforming transportation began thirteen years ago with an air quality meeting that shed light onto Dundee’s severe air quality issues.
Critically, we learned that Dundee’s transportation system accounts for 35 per cent of Dundee’s carbon emissions. As Scotland’s fourth largest city, Dundee’s unique topography in the bowl of an eroded volcano traps pollutants, resulting in some of the most polluted streets in the country. This issue, along with the first delivery of Nissan Leafs,
kick-started Dundee’s mission for cleaner air and the transition from ICE to e-mobility.
Today, Dundee has one of the largest EV fleets of any authority in the UK, with 223 vehicles making up 30 per cent of our whole fleet. This is facilitated by an extensive network of electric vehicle charging hubs and infrastructure covering the city.
How did we get here?
Dundee began its electric journey with its own council fleet. Dundee added the first fully electric vehicles into our fleet in 2011, beginning with four Nissan Leafs - the first EV we had seen that could rival a diesel engine. It was a slow but steady uptake, and it took two to three years for us to have added 20-30 EVs into the council fleet.
Realising the council’s limits, we knew we had to explore other tactics in order to employ our strategy across the whole city. Inspired by a visit to Oslo, we began to shift our thinking to consider energy first and the vehicles second. We refocused on the concept of hub charging using renewable energy in order to electrify Dundee’s taxi fleet – one of the most significant contributors to air pollution in Dundee.
Rather than forcing the taxis to go electric, we offered incentives. This included a £10 reduction in the taxi test fee for EV vehicles and low tariffs. This has led to 35 per cent of taxis and private hire vehicles now being electric. In order to cater for long taxi journeys, we expanded regionally, putting charging infrastructure in hospitals and other authority buildings across Scotland. Through regular and open discussion with the taxi liaison committee, it was agreed that all new private hire vehicles in Dundee must be electric. Having a large, new sector of Dundee advocating for EVs was a significant stepping stone.
By early 2021, our council electric fleet consisted of over 100 cars, two minibuses, a large mechanical street sweeper - and two 26-tonne RCVs, the first fully-electric bin lorries in Scotland (named ‘Bin Diesel and Leonardo Di Charge-io’). By 2030, all 36 bin lorries will be converted to electric, saving an estimated 720,000 kg of CO2.
The council’s all-electric fleet has now travelled over 5.6 million miles, saving an incredible 250,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
Dundee has one of the largest electric vehicle fleets of any authority in the UK, with 223 vehicles making up 30 per cent of its whole fleet. This is facilitated by an extensive network of EV charging hubs and infrastructure over the city
Successfully on the road to electrifying the council fleet, we turned our attention to finding EV solutions for the wider city.
Making Dundee an EV friendly city
We learned many valuable lessons in the thirteen years, which were key drivers in transforming Dundee into an EV friendly city.
Dundee became one of the UK’s leading EV cities by developing a strategy that looked beyond the council to encompass businesses and residents city-wide. We took a holistic approach, partnering with industry leaders in both the public and private sector.
Our four innovative public charging hubs demonstrate successful partner collaborations. At our Clepington Road hub, we collaborated with SWARCO, Connected Energy and Envevo to create a groundbreaking ‘second life’ battery system that captures excess solar and charges from the grid at off-peak times when tariffs are cheaper. We also partnered with Bluewater to provide ‘world-first’ rainwater harvesting technology, allowing EV drivers access to clean drinking water for free. In addition, we recently unveiled Europe’s first retractable chargers in Dundee, in partnership with Urban Fox. Their UE One auto retracts flush with the ground when not in use, ensuring pavements remain clear and reducing trip hazards.
Other private-public collaboration projects include providing charging points for Ember, the UK’s first all electric inner-city bus service. This service provides the public with an option for green, peaceful travel and helps drive Dundee further towards an electric future.
Ensuring accessibility for all EV drivers
A key aim for us was to ensure that Dundee’s EV charging infrastructure is inclusive for all. Vauxhall’s recent study revealed that just E
F two per cent of on street chargers meet accessibility guidelines, a shocking statistic that highlights the extent of the issue the EV industry has with accessibility. Guided by the BSI PAS 1899:2022 standard for accessible charging infrastructure, Dundee had the opportunity to embed accessibility into our design process. This standard - along with advice from charities and focus groups with disabled people themselves - directly informed the design of our Clepington Road hub, which we believe goes further than any other UK hub to ensure equitable access. Features include colour coding, longer cables on retention systems, unobstructed pathways and level access. Our next accessible project is already underway- the Bell Street multi-storey car park. Set to be transformed into yet another pioneering green transport hub, it will feature a reduced number of parking spaces to ensure ample space around each car.
Preparing to make mistakes
One of the hardest but most beneficial lessons learned is that you don’t always get it right
the first time. Over the course of Dundee’s electrification, every type of charger was trialled and tested, leading to personal learning curves in understanding battery sizes and energy capacity. Mistakes are inevitable, but the lessons born from these errors are what’s ultimately going to lead you to long term success.
Effectively communicating with the public
Dundee’s transformation did not happen overnight. One of the main obstacles to Dundee’s EV transformation has been public perception. The dangers of invisible poisonous gases and the need to transition to low carbon vehicles can be difficult to communicate. We counter this by making sure that communities are upto-date with the newest EV developments, to reassure them that they are a part of Dundee’s bigger vision. While technology and innovation obviously play a large role, getting communities onside has been one of the main drivers of Dundee becoming a leading EV city.
Dundee City now has the best ratio of vehicles per plug-in charger in the whole of the UK; one charger for every sixteen EVs. If we continue on this trajectory we will achieve our aim of becoming a fully electric city by 2035. Although at its heart this project has been about electrifying the council fleet, we believe that the impact on the city has been much greater. We have become a pioneering force in the uptake of EVs within local governments and a role model for how to successfully transition into becoming an electric city. M FURTHER
www.dundeecity.gov.uk
Leading the electric revolution
As the newest member of the Envevo Group, APS bring decades of DC power experience, including a proven track record as the preferred Operations and Maintenance partner of some of the EV market’s largest OEMs.
As EV charging networks continue to grow both in scale and usage, excellent O and M provision is more important than ever to ensure adherence to the UK government’s 99 per cent uptime targets.
With engineers strategically placed across the country, APS provide 24/7 coverage for reactive maintenance, along with the most exhaustive preventative maintenance package on the market. With our expert knowledge of DC hardware, we are able to identify and prevent failures before they occur.
As the electric revolution continues, it is imperative that we as an industry redouble our efforts to provide drivers with a robust and reliable public charging network, and APS are best placed to assist our clients in this process. L
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www.envevo.co.uk
Paul Horner, managing director of APS, part of The Envevo Group
future with into the future with into the future with
Drive your business Drive your business Drive your business into
the
We are the leading EV turnkey provider in the UK, with over 2,900 awarded projects nationwide. Our end-to-end service include Consultation, Electrical Design, Civil Works, Chargepoint Installation, Ongoing Maintenance and more to simplify your electrification journey.
Our experience and capability aims to overcome our customers’ fleet electrification challenges ensuring a safe, resilient, and efficient power and charging solution With experience providing EV charging infrastructure for clients including Royal Mail, we understand the needs of business-critical vehicle charging and create a bespoke solution which grows with your fleet
We have successfully completed ICP and full turnkey projects nationwide for valued clients including First Bus and Stagecoach As Principal Contractor under the CDM regulations, we ensure our projects are managed effectively and communicate across all stakeholders to update on progress, mitigate risk, coordinate programme, and deliver to budget.
We ensure a seamless electrification journey by leveraging our extensive experience and expertise to provide a customised charging solution tailored to your needs Our consultation services cover a range of financial options, including funding for infrastructure and assistance with cost reduction applications
As a NERS accredited contractor we have supported many local authorities and CPO to expand their charging network Our dedication to structural integrity is evident from our ICP only sites to our full turnkey projects, we ensure that your infrastructure is not only functional but built to withstand the test of time
How to integrate EV charging in workplaces
EV design and build experts Envevo look at the best ways to seamlessly install top-quality electric vehicle (EV) charge points for fleet clients
Envevo, the UK’s leading design and build expert of EV charging facilities, has undergone significant expansion over the last year, acquiring EV fleet charging installation experts SRG, along with maintenance specialists APS.
The Envevo Group have delivered over 3,000 EV projects, from forecourts to workplaces, working with all of the UK’s largest CPOs.
Our full turnkey offering manages the entire project lifecycle, from initial survey and design, through project management and build, to final commissioning and operation and maintenance services.
Through our latest acquisitions, we are now able to offer a holistic solution to fleet clients, including site-specific design, charge point supply, charge point monitoring and load balancing software, full installation, domestic installations for staff, and ongoing maintenance of charging facilities.
We have a strong track record of delivery for clients such as BP, Shell, Tesla, Gridserve, Instavolt, and Royal Mail.
We carried out installations at over 100 London Fire Brigade stations, helping to facilitate the UK’s first ever all-electric blue light vehicle.
We also have extensive experience working in bus depots, for clients such as First Bus. These projects have taught us how to work efficiently and discreetly to minimise disruption to business as usual in busy forecourts, car parks, and depots.
London Fire Brigade
Installing chargers at over 100 operational fire stations was not without its challenges. Work had to be meticulously planned to ensure no disruption to critical blue light services. There was also the potential presence of asbestos in some of the older buildings to take into account. These two risks had to be incorporated into the project management and planning of the installs, ensuring safe and timeous working practices at all times.
Bus depots
Envevo Group have a vast amount of experience installing infrastructure at bus depots, for clients such as First Bus, Stagecoach and Lothian Buses. These projects present significant design challenges, as depots are often limited in space, with few options for charger locations due to turning circles. Add to this the need to ensure the locations are operationally practical, and it is clear that it requires a contractor with the depths of skills and experience of Envevo to achieve a successful outcome.
A Partnership Approach
As more and more fleets make the transition to electric, we will continue to provide marketleading expertise to allow our clients to seamlessly integrate EV charging facilities into their existing premises and operations. M
An essential fleet electrification guide
A new resource has been launched which offers step-by-step guidance into successful fleet electrification, demonstrating value for money and efficiency savings, and insights into overcoming current barriers to adoption
For fleet operators considering a move to electric vehicles, a new resource has been published which outlines the steps involved, from building a business case to all elements of charging, demonstrating value for money and efficiency savings, and insights into overcoming current barriers to adoption.
Titled “Electrifying the fleet. A practical resource for fleet managers”, the resource was developed by the REA’s Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology and the Energy Saving Trust.
The guide starts by setting the context for fleet electrification, by examining the types of fleets and the challenges they may face, from end-to-end logistics, to last mile deliveries and transport authority fleets. It sums up the current legislated targets and vehicle sales for decarbonisation, including what grants are available.
One of the key sections of the report focuses on the extensive savings fleet managers can expect from electrifying their fleets. The resource reveals that they can expect to save around £1,500 annually per light commercial vehicle (LCV) driving 15,000 miles a year if charged at the depot or home.
For rigid HGVs driving the same distance, the savings could be approximately £3,500 annually. These significant cost savings are attributed to the fact that electric vehicles (EVs) only require 25-30 per cent of the energy that a diesel equivalent would need to deliver the same performance, highlighting the substantial efficiency gains from electrification.
Depot electrification
The resource highlights the key considerations in electrifying a depot. This includes fleet analysis, saying that a phased transition is the
common approach to fleet electrification. This allows for a controlled deployment of electric vehicles whilst also understanding the impact of this transition on fleet operations. Analysis should be undertaken to understand which routes/drivers are the easiest to electrify, to help decide which vehicles will be transitioned first, as well as defining an overall fleet electrification timeline.
Once a roadmap has been defined for electrification, it is important to understand how charging infrastructure can be rolled
most common approach to fleet electrification.
out. This process involves defining charging requirements at a site, understanding the impact of charging on local energy infrastructure and implementing energy management strategies. It advises that futureproofed charging solutions are critical to ensure efficient use of resources and investment.
Whilst the electrification journey of a fleet can be complex, it is important to minimise unnecessary complexity wherever possible. In this regard, integrating charging solutions into your existing fleet management systems plays a critical role in ensuring a more seamless fleet transition.
The report says that grid connections are also often misattributed as a key barrier to EV adoption. However, fleet managers should think carefully about the charging speed required, charging type (AC or DC), opportunities for smart charging and scheduled charging to reduce the need for grid reinforcement.
An electrified fleet provides an opportunity to be a flexible energy resource. You can therefore use an aggregator, or flexibility service provider, to take advantage of your resource and monetise flexibility from your fleet. Aggregators can provide the expertise to assist you to participate in the balancing
market as they negotiate with electricity producers. They work with businesses to maximise the flexibility you can offer to the grid and manage your participation.
An aggregator can also pool together capacity from many organisations to enable even small businesses to participate.
You can also engage in Demand Side Response (DSR) services. DSR is changing consumption of electricity, in a way that is beneficial to the electricity system. For example, charging EVs during times of low demand. In return, you can receive strong financial incentives. E
F Building a business case
To build a business case, fleet managers need to understand their organisations’ ESG targets, including Scope 1 emissions; these include the burning of fuel from fleet vehicles. The adoption of electric vehicles will significantly lower Scope 1 emissions of the company as a whole, as EVs do not have any Scope 1 emissions and will also improve air quality in their community. Fleet managers will also be interested as part of the wider business in reducing Scope 2 emissions, which includes the energy purchased to power an electric vehicle, office, and so on. Fleet managers will be able to reduce Scope 2 emissions by finding tariffs that offer renewable energy for businesses. This may also offer lower off peak tariffs for overnight charging. The resource emphasises the benefits of smart charging, which can significantly reduce costs by enabling fleet managers to schedule
charging during off-peak times when electricity prices are lower. Smart charging also reduces the need for costly grid upgrades and improves overall efficiency. Additionally, the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023 will require all public chargepoints of 50kW or more to have 99 per cent reliability, ensuring a dependable charging experience for fleet vehicles.
The resource also discusses the potential of depot sharing, noting that with approximately 66,973 depots in the UK, enabling depot sharing could significantly reduce the demand for public HGV charging infrastructure, facilitating faster and more cost-effective fleet electrification.
Numerous case studies are included, showcasing successful fleet electrification projects by REA members. For example, Drax’s deployment of EV charging infrastructure for SES Water is saving an estimated 43 tonnes of CO2 per year, while Mer’s installation of
200 chargers for IKEA supports the retailer’s commitment to sustainable deliveries.
Leading the resource, Matt Adams, transport policy manager, REA outlined: “The REA, with its diverse membership, is uniquely positioned to take an authoritative stance on fleet electrification. This resource provides a proven, well-managed process for fleet managers considering electrification, offering significant savings on fuel costs and helping fleets achieve their ESG targets.”
Nick Harvey, senior programme manager, Energy Saving Trust said: “Electrifying fleets not only contributes to a more sustainable future but also offers potential financial benefits. Our collaboration with the REA on this resource highlights that fleet managers can achieve significant cost savings – up to £1,500 annually per light commercial vehicle and approximately £3,500 per rigid HGV. These estimated savings
To build a business case, fleet managers need to understand their organisations’ ESG targets, including Scope 1 emissions; these include the burning of fuel from fleet vehicles
support the economic viability of transitioning to electric vehicles and the efficiency gains that can be realised. We are proud to support this initiative, providing fleet managers with the insights they need to make informed, costeffective fleet decarbonisation decisions.” M
FURTHER INFORMATION
See the full resource here
Upgrade Your Fleet, Without the Risks of Ownership
With our range of innovative funding solutions you can introduce zero emission vehicles onto your fleet with minimal risk or long-term commitment.
Driving towards a sustainable future
As businesses consider transitioning to a zero emission fleet, Dawsongroup vans is already a step ahead
Dawsongroup | vans
Focused on making a positive impact, Dawsongroup vans has proactively established strategic alliances to help customers on their net-zero journeys. With a rapidly expanding fleet of electric vehicles designed to cater to a diverse range of industries, Dawsongroup vans offers a comprehensive and practical solution for businesses navigating the transition to electric zero-emission vehicles.
To reduce its carbon footprint, Dawsongroup vans is implementing decarbonisation projects across its sites, including the installation of solar panels and EV charging carports, showcasing a committed investment into their eco-friendly infrastructure. Additionally,
the company’s technicians, all accredited to IMI Level 3, possess the expertise to safely maintain the electric vehicles in the fleet, ensuring smooth operations and providing valuable insights to customers.
Constantly seeking out new ways to enhance sustainability practices, Dawsongroup vans presents an ideal solution for SMEs ready to embrace zero-emission fleets. The company offers low-risk acquisition methods and customised rental options, enabling businesses to integrate electric vehicles without concerns about maintenance, repairs, or disposal costs. With Dawsongroup vans, the transition to sustainable transportation is no longer just a vision but an achievable reality. M
How to transition to EVs
From SMEs to large corporations, AA Business Services can support fleets with any operational requirements to transition to electric vehicles
Fleets are already leading the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) and alternative fuels, driven by environmental goals rather than regulatory deadlines. For businesses, especially SMEs that have yet to start electrifying their fleets, the advice is to begin with a thorough audit of their current fleet to identify which vehicles can be replaced with EVs during their natural replacement cycles.
It’s essential to assess business mileage and charging infrastructure to ensure operations can meet range and charging needs without compromising performance. Exploring all charging options and maintaining an open mind towards different fuel types is also crucial.
The transition for larger vehicles like vans and HGVs poses unique challenges due to payload requirements and limited market availability.
However, The AA has been trialling various alternative fuel vehicles, including hydrogen and hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) trucks, with positive early results.
Ultimately, driver confidence is the key to successful fleet electrification. Employers should focus on education and clear communication to address concerns and uncertainties. Ensuring drivers are well-trained and supported will help smooth the transition and build confidence in new technologies.
From SMEs to large corporations, AA Business Services provides bespoke breakdown solutions to accommodate any fleet size, vehicle type, or operational requirements, guaranteeing businesses the tailored support they deserve. M
FURTHER
INFORMATION
For information on AA Business Services, please visit us here.
Written by
James Starling, director, AA
EV uptake: five “easy wins” for government
The Association of Fleet Professionals has identified five “fast and simple” ideas that the new government could implement to help the fleet sector transition to electric vehicles. Board member Lorna McAtear explains
Five “easy wins” have been identified by the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP) that it aims to promote to the new Labour government in order to speed up the electrification of fleets. Board member Lorna McAtear said that the ideas would be relatively fast and simple to put into practice, cost little or nothing, and provide a wide range of benefits for the fleet sector. She explained: “Everyone has a list of expensive measures for the incoming government and we would certainly like to see some of those enacted, such as a reduction or removal of VAT on public charging, but we thought it would be a useful exercise to put ourselves in the position of the government which, we all know, faces very real restrictions on spending at the moment. These are our thoughts.”
Be realistic
The first easy win is realism on electric vehicle (EV) policy. Lorna said: “Fleets and the manufacturers that supply them
need to take a real world look at the rate of EV adoption in light of the experience of fleets over the last few years.
“Labour have said they will restore the 2030 target on EV manufacturing. It is now clear that this is possible for cars but just not practicable for vans. There are too many hurdles and the products available do not meet the needs of enough businesses. There is an argument for leaving the current 2035 target in place for all vehicles, with the ZEV mandates continuing, but if there is a return to 2030, it should be for cars only.”
EV labelling
Number two on the AFP list is EV labelling and education. Feedback from members shows that too many drivers and sometimes fleet managers don’t understand the charging capabilities of their vehicles, and it is not always easy to get hold of accurate information.
Lorna said: “A simple solution would be to have a label on the inside of the charge port flap that informs the driver of the
maximum capability that vehicle has for AC and DC charging – for example, up to 11kwh AC and 115kwh DC. This will go a long way to helping drivers pick the right chargers for the capabilities of their vehicles. Manufacturers may push back on this idea as they can subsequently upgrade charging capabilities over the air but we believe there is a strong argument for providing information that is accurate at the time of sale.”
Battery health
The third idea is for a standardised battery state of health check to be introduced. This was a measure included in the Labour manifesto. Lorna said: “There is a general acceptance that the second hand EV market needs help and an easy way of creating a higher degree of consumer confidence would be a government-backed battery state of health check that provides a statement of the kind of performance that used car and van buyers can expect from their vehicle. In our opinion, this is something that can’t happen too soon.”
Vehicle to Grid battery storage
Fourth on the AFP list is a push on vehicleto-grid (V2G) battery storage, which has huge potential for the future in terms of grid decarbonisation and could also provide a boost to new and used EV sales as consumers become aware of the possibilities and benefits.
Lorna said: “EVs are big batteries on wheels and have a huge potential future part to play in making wider use of renewables more practical. However, while V2G is currently possible, it is something that has yet to enter the mainstream, even though there are now a million EVs on UK roads. We’d like to see clear government policy that is designed to promote V2G, spreading awareness of the concept among both new and used EV buyers, and the general public in a wider sense. Especially, we’d like to see clarification of where and when this type of battery storage can be used and for which applications.”
Planning laws
The final easy win is a relaxation of the planning laws to make installation of charge points faster and easier, both for businesses wanting their own chargers and by charge point operators for use by the public. Lorna said: “Planning rules at all levels are slowing down the rate that charge points can be installed right across the board. While we understand that this would need the
Fleets and the manufacturers that supply them need to take a real world look at the rate of EV adoption in light of the experience of fleets over the last few years
backing of the grid, we would like to see much of the bureaucracy removed and planning regulations revised to speed up deployment.
Planning is an area where Keir Starmer has promised to take off the brakes for the UK, and charge points should be part of this policy.”
A further ask
In addition to these ideas, the AFP has already said that it would like to see the new government introduce benefit-in-kind company car tax tables through to 2029-30. It is now nearly two years since the current tables were announced and they only run until the 2027/28 tax year, meaning fleets buying vehicles today don’t know the tax rate their drivers will be charged towards the end of the decade.
Lorna said: “This is, in itself, a further easy win. It would cost little or nothing but would mean that fleets buying company cars on longer leases during the next year or so would have certainty about the tax their drivers are paying through to the end of the decade.”
Lorna McAtear, head of fleet at National Grid and AFP board member
Making the change to an electric-powered fleet
Ogilvie Fleet believes SMEs have a big part to play in helping the government reach its electrification targets. Here they share their tips to electrifying your fleet
they also need to include PHEVs? Can they provide charging facilities at the office? With home based employees, can they subsidise a home charger? For drivers that need to use the public charging network, will they utilise fuel cards or reimbursement policies?
Can businesses help the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate and ban on ICE vehicles be achieved? At Ogilvie Fleet we think so – but it needs some strategic thinking and a plan that works for all areas of the business.
Firstly, a business must have a willingness and desire to make the change. A business must have the support and enthusiasm of the senior management team in order for any transition to work.
Secondly is the plan itself. Based on their demographic can they make BEVs work or will
The third consideration is driver awareness. Some drivers will be ‘clued up’ and ready to embrace the world of electrified vehicles but for others, it will be more daunting and they may need some support. A leasing partner can help, whether this is through workshops, ride-and-drive events or written materials.
If you need any help with your transition to electric, get in touch with Ogilvie’s team of EV specialists. M
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Accessibility of EVs: what needs to change?
Electric vehicles should be accessible for everyone, but that is not always the case. In what ways can they be made a more viable option for disabled drivers? Robyn Quick examines the issue
With an increased push from the government to encourage everyone to drive electric vehicles (EVs), more drivers and fleet managers are looking to make the switch. This of course includes people with disabilities and, for some, it is harder to access EVs compared to non-disabled drivers. People’s accessibility needs vary from person to person but we can look at drivers who use a wheelchair as an example.
Research conducted by the Motability Foundation in 2023 found that over 70 per cent of disabled wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) users have considered driving an electric WAV, with over 25 per cent planning to get one as their next vehicle.
The report suggested that the combination of not having enough public charging points and poor vehicle design is deterring wheelchair users from choosing an EV.
It also said that disabled people’s requirements were not being sufficiently considered in the design and production of EVs.
Barry Le Grys, chief executive officer of the Motability Foundation said of the report: “While we continue to make progress on the accessibility of public charge points, it’s clear from this research that further work is needed on vehicle design.”
Le Grys added that there is a risk that disabled people could lose the “vital independence that having access to private transport brings if these issues are not addressed” in time.
And with statistics suggesting there are around 16 million disabled people living in the UK, this is a significant proportion that could be disadvantaged.
The problems facing disabled drivers
There are a wide variety of provisions that can be required for disabled drivers, but here are a few that have an impact on many.
In terms of public infrastructure, there are several issues in many areas that can deter disabled drivers from choosing to drive an EV. Leads are often not long enough to reach for wheelchair users or drivers who use mobility E
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F aids, and the parking bays can be too small for the adapted vehicles many people require.
As well as this, charging cables can be too heavy to carry. The amount of force required to attach the connector and the lack of dropped kerbs around charge points can also be a problem for disabled drivers.
The number of EV chargers suitable for some disabled drivers is also an issue, so drivers may end up waiting for other users to finish charging. There are bookable community charging hubs, but the act of having to book in advance removes the ability to do things without a lot of planning ahead for disabled drivers.
As the seating position may need to be changed for some, this means the infotainment system in the car is often at the wrong angle and the information cannot be seen because of glare.
Fighting for change
One of the biggest steps towards ensuring that disabled people can transition to EV driving comes from the accessibility standard for public EV charging – BSI PAS 1899, which the Motability Foundation cosponsored alongside the government.
The standard provides a clear specification of how to make accessible charge points of different speeds and in different environments. It can be used by any organisation involved in the manufacture, installation, planning and hosting of public charge points in the UK.
But what could local governments do to make charging EVs easier for disabled drivers?
Catherine Marris, head of innovation and policy at Motability Foundation, told GREENFLEET that councils are going to
be some of the most important procurers for electric charging infrastructure.
She said: “We’re seeing a lot of local councils including PAS 1899 compliance in their plans for providing public EV charge points, which is really encouraging to see.”
Marris added that it “makes sense” to ensure charge points meet the minimum accessibility standard now, rather than having to change them later on if PAS 1899 becomes enforced.
“Mandating the standard,” she said, “is something we’ve always supported to ensure the transition to EV is accessible to all.”
“We don’t want accessibility to be an afterthought,” she added.
Fleet advice
Marris also said that fleet managers need to “actively” think about making their fleets accessible for all their staff.
She commented that a lot of the recommendations made in the PAS 1899 standard could be applied to provide an accessible charging environment for fleet vehicles.
Marris said: “Vans may benefit from similar charging environments, for example the standard’s best practice recommendations on bigger parking bays and not placing bollards in the way.”
She added that this greater accessibility benefits everyone, so chargepoint providers should be pushing to meet these standards as much as possible. M
FURTHER INFORMATION
www.motabilityfoundation.org.uk
Employee transition to EVs made simple with Tusker
Helping employees make the switch to electric vehicles doesn’t have to be a challenge
Helping employees transition to electric vehicles (EVs) can be smooth and successful, as demonstrated by Nokia. As a technology leader committed to sustainability, Nokia decided to switch their company car scheme from fossil fuel vehicles to EVs via Tusker’s salary sacrifice scheme. Known for its focus on reducing carbon emissions and offering affordable, environmentally friendly options, Tusker was the ideal partner. Their expertise in EV schemes, cost-effectiveness, and seamless integration with Nokia’s existing benefits platform made the process of introducing the scheme straightforward, with Tusker also handling
concerns such as charging options for employees living in flats and those with long commutes. Before launching the new scheme in 2022, Nokia’s employees used fossil fuel company cars. Recognising the need to align their transport benefits with their environmental goals, Nokia chose to implement a fully electric vehicle scheme. This decision was not just about sustainability but also inclusivity. Nokia ensured the scheme was accessible to most employees, allowing a broad range of participants to benefit. Nokia’s experience shows that with careful planning and the right partner, transitioning employees to EVs doesn’t have to be challenging. Their approach highlights the importance of inclusivity, effective communication, and a strong commitment to sustainability in successfully making the switch to greener alternatives. M
Transitioning to electric at a pace that suits the customer
Recognising that transition to electric is never a
approach, Leasys helps its customers plan in a way that suits their needs
Leasys is specialised in multi-brand operational leasing, and offers a wide range of tailored mobility services, from short, medium, and longterm rentals to vehicle management solutions, for private individuals and businesses of all sizes.
Equally owned by Stellantis and Credit Agricole Personal Finance & Mobility, Leasys is the proud Contract Hire partner of the Stellantis brands. Leasys has built a strong reputation based on understanding and responding to customers’ needs and providing highly competitive terms
across our award-winning range of cars and vans. Indeed, Leasys vision is to shape the future of mobility by offering sustainable and innovative tailored solutions designed around its customers, for a best-in-class experience.
Through its strategic partnerships with key industry and electrification experts, Leasys customers have access to a wide range of solutions and services, enabling them to be at the forefront of future mobility.
Recognising that transition to electric is never a one-size-fits-all approach, Leasys provides consultancy to help its customers plan and transition at a pace and in a way that suits their needs, so the transition is smooth, progressive, and effective.
char.gy’s vision for on-street EV charging
char.gy discusses how to deploy a commercially sustainable on-street charging network that empowers everyone to go EV
The UK’s EV market is booming, with batteryelectric cars nearly doubling to 1.1 million in the past two years, and growth is expected to accelerate with Labour’s plans to reaffirm the 2030 ban on the sale of ICE vehicles. While the government is well-positioned to support the on-street rollout, challenges remain in delivering charging infrastructure that meets consumer needs and encourages widespread EV adoption. Here’s our vision:
Convenience and reliability char.gy prioritises convenience and reliability by placing charging points within walking distance of users’ homes, ensuring easy access. We emphasise using dependable technology
to maintain industry-leading reliability, both of which are crucial for user satisfaction.
Commitment to sustainable growth
char.gy is committed to long-term sustainability by generating revenue beyond government grants. Our “basket approach” balances profitable locations with socially important sites to prevent “charging deserts.” We strategically deploy charging points and scale up based on demand, ensuring our network grows sustainably and remains well-maintained.
EV charging shouldn’t cost the earth
We ensure that charging doesn’t cost the earth by delivering 100 per cent renewable energy and maintaining a strong focus on affordability. To encourage broader EV adoption, public charging should be cheaper than ICE alternatives and align with home charging tariffs. The key is to avoid excessive technologies that drive up costs, which are ultimately passed on to drivers. M
INSIGHT INTO THE A-TO-Z EV RALLY
How did teams get on driving 1,500 miles in electric vehicles and charging on the public network?
A-to-Z EV Rally: A true test of public charging
Now in its fourth year, the EV Rally is designed to test electric vehicles and the public charging infrastructure. For 2024, the challenge was heightened, with more miles and a more diverse mix of vehicles taking part – from cars to trucks, vans, 4x4s, used-vehicles, minibuses – and even a motorbike. So how did the teams get on?
Designed to be a real-life test of how electric vehicles get on while driving long distances and relying on the public charging network, the A-to-Z EV Rally saw over 50 electric vehicles drive around 1,500 miles up and down the country for five days from 1-5 July.
Sponsored by Lex Autolease, the event was also an opportunity to showcase charging innovation, with many checkpoints at clean energy projects to demonstrate what the future of clean re-fuelling will look like.
The A-Z EV Rally follows the success of the first EV Rally Of Scotland (EVROS) in 2021 and the Great British EV Rally in 2022, which covered the length of John O’Groats to Land’s End. In 2023, the rally visited all capital cities of the UK and Ireland.
This year’s EV Rally saw teams navigating an A-Z theme - with participants visiting checkpoints in alphabetical order.
The 1,500 mile route
Starting at the AA’s premises in Oldbury, and finishing at Cawley House in Chester, the route took teams to see innovative clean energy projects, charging hubs, towns, and scenic viewing points, all in alphabetical order.
Day one covered just under 270 miles, departing Oldbury and visiting the Harris Maxus dealership in Liverpool, the Jetty Museum at Lake Windermere, Dovenby’s motor circuit, the River Ellen in Maryport, with an overnight stop at Carlisle. E
F On day two, participants ventured north to Gretna in Scotland, before heading east to Gateshead, then south towards Sheffield. Checkpoints included a PoGo charge at M Galleries Shopping Centre in Washington, the Heugh Battery Museum in Hartlepool, the Sports and Social Club, in the shadow of Drax’s Power Station in Selby, a Compleo charging top-up at Tingley Garden Centre near Leeds, with the final destination at Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ Tankersley offices.
The third day was known as “The Beast”, with teams having to negotiate around 365 miles as they headed east towards Grimsby, then south towards Cambridge, via Norwich. Check points included a National Grid power station, a visit to myenergi’s sustainable HQ near Grimsby, GRIDSERVE’s impressive Electric Forecourt in Norwich, Osprey charging facilities in Diss, a solar farm at Staughton Airfield, and a chance to look at the Environment Agency’s electric fleet at Ely.
Teams left Cambridge on day four for another challenging day of 315 miles. With visits to South Mimm’s Services for some AppleGreen charging, the third stop was a brand new EV charging facility from AW Energy, featuring a wind turbine, battery storage, eHGV charging capability and ultrarapid chargers - showcasing what the future of EV charging and clean energy looks like. The route then took the Rally to the Fastned
Superhub near Oxford, BMW UK & MINI’s premises in Farnborough, and GRIDSERVE’s charging stations at Exeter Services.
The final leg of the Rally on day five covered 265 miles miles as teams headed through Wales, with the final ‘Z’ checkpoint at the ‘Z’ero carbon Rhug Estate, an organic farm estate with a sustainable business model. The “wrap party” for the Rally was hosted by headline partner Lex Autolease at the impressive Cawley House in Chester.
So how did the teams get on?
In a nutshell, all teams navigated the Rally successfully, meeting checkpoints and reaching their final destination on day five. For some, careful planning of stops was the strategy. For others, it was to rely on in-cab technology and apps to charge as and when needed, to replicate a more ‘traditional’ approach to refuelling.
Needless to say, those in vans, trucks and motorbikes had to be more careful with planning, due to their shorter ranges, access limitations – and in some cases, specific charging requirements.
Team National Grid, for example, were in a van, a 4x4 (not yet on the market), a motorbike and a converted classic Porsche – with none able to do over 150 miles on a single charge. Head of fleet Lorna McAtear explains the reasoning behind this: “We are using vehicles that are not mainstream or are
Lex Autolease hosted Quentin Willson in an eight year old Tesla Model S with 253,000 miles on the clock
For some teams, careful planning of charging stops was the strategy. For others, it was to rely on technology and apps to charge as and when needed, to replicate are more ‘traditional’ approach to refuelling
new to the sector. We want to remind people that there are different vehicles out there and not to forget these niche areas when looking at solutions and infrastructure.”
Joining Lorna on Team National Grid was BBC South’s Transport Correspondent Paul Clifton with daughter Frankie, driving a classic Porsche which had been converted to battery power by Everrati.
The EV Cafe’s Sam Clarke was also on Team National Grid – and chose to ride the 1,500 journey on an electric motorbike – the first time ever attempted in the Rally. The bike, provided by Zero Motorcycles, could only take a slow charge, using AC current rather than DC, which posed extra challenges. One solution was to plug the bike into a car overnight so it was fully charged the next day.
Lead sponsor Lex Autolease hosted motoring journalist and FairCharge campaign lead, Quentin Willson, on their team, driving an eight year old Tesla Model S with 253,000 miles on the clock. Quentin observed that the vehicle was still returning around 250 miles on one charge – showing that EV batteries “last much longer than people believe”.
Seeking truck friendly charging
Truck manufacturers DAF and Mercedes Benz Trucks took part in the Rally, to experience how “truck-friendly” the public charging infrastructure is.
Team DAF, who were behind the wheel of an LF Electric, observed that on some occasions, they would get to charging facilities and be faced with obstacles like weight restrictions or canopies with width restrictions. DAF got round some of these issues by seeking out truck-specific charging facilities, such as their Norwich-based Dealership which has a 180 kWh DC electric vehicle charging facility from Paccar.
Team Mercedes-Benz Trucks UK took part with a loaded 44-tonne eActros 600, E
SPONSOR’S COMMENT
Showcasing a convoy of BMW electric power on the EV Rally
Reflecting on BMW Group’s participation in the rally, Matt Collins, general manager of corporate sales for BMW Group UK said, “We are thrilled to have completed the 2024 A-to-Z EV Rally. It provided a great opportunity to showcase our latest all-electric products, including the new BMW i5 Touring, BMW iX2 and MINI Countryman. With rewarding driving dynamics and a host of technologies, we hope to have demonstrated the joy and convenience that our electrified product portfolio brings to fleets on their electrification journey.” L
FURTHER INFORMATION
www.bmw.co.uk
Matt Collins, general manager corporate sales, BMW Group UK
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The
Rally’s EV charge card partner Paua generously provided RFID cards to participants, giving them access to 53,000 charge point connectors and 35 networks
F which comfortably got through the Rally, thanks to its range of over 300 miles.
Data from Paua observed the eActros 600 took a charge session at the Norwich GRIDSERVE forecourt which reached maximim power of 349.8kW, which is a record for the site. What’s more, the session ran at full power until 94 per cent when the load started to drop off, and this is despite the load being shared with a parallel charger.
Team Maxus were behind the wheel of an eDeliver 3, eDeliver 7, and MIFA 9 to show their versatile electric commercial vehicle offer, with “electric van man” Paul Kirby taking part, interviewing key members of the Maxus dealership network on route. As Logistics Partner, Maxus also provided the set-up crews with electric vans.
Team Europcar had a Jeep Avenger, Skoda Enyaq, Mercedes EQE SUV and Renault Kangoo E-Tech Van as their vehicles. They were driven by EV record breaker, Kevin Booker, Europcar’s head of electric mobility Tom Middleditch, and others from the business.
Tom Middleditch explained why the Rally was eye opening, even for seasoned EV drivers: “Every member of the Europcar team already drives an EV as a company car. However, like most people who drive for business, much of our week uses the same roads and routes and the same charging routines, whether at home, the office or elsewhere. What the E
Truck manufacturers DAF and Mercedes Benz Trucks took part in the A-to-Z EV Rally again this year, to experience how “truck-friendly” the public charging infrastructure is for vehicles of their size and weight
F EV Rally did was take us out of our comfort zone – and it proved that going into the unknown wasn’t that unknown at all.”
Kevin Booker was pleasantly surprised with the performance of the Renault Kangoo E-Tech Van. He said: “A small van, probably largely designed for ‘last mile’ deliveries, proved to be the unexpected star of the week. The on-board charger came into its own as we travelled the country. It was quick to get up to 50 per cent charge. And being a smaller battery there was less weight to carry making overall performance better. But the main point
we all took from the Kangoo E-Tech was that by the sheer nature of it needing to adhere to the 60mph speed limit, it proved that smooth, steady and consistent is the way to get the best performance out of any electric vehicle”.
Europcar was also the Rally’s Vehicle Provider, and hosted media crews Sara Sloan and John Curtis in Teslas, as well as GREENFLEET event organisers.
Technology for a smooth-running rally
The Rally’s EV charge card partner, Paua, generously provided RFID cards to participants, giving them access to 53,000 charge point connectors and 35 networks, which were easily located using the Paua-designed EV Rally app.
Team Paua chose to drive a second-hand Renault Zoe, with the aim of showing that there are affordable options for everyone, as well as an electric van – the Nissan E-NV200.
Team Webfleet meanwhile were behind the wheel of the Volkswagen ID.7 and a Toyota Proace electric van with 200kg of additional weight. And as the event’s technology partner, Webfleet fitted selected participating vehicles with advanced telematics solutions to provide
insightful data on vehicle performance, location tracking and efficient route planning, as well as data on EV-specific metrics such as battery status and range. This data enabled league tables to be created to find out which teams were driving the safest manner and most efficiently, with more on this later.
Webfleet also partnered with Justdiggit to positively offset the carbon emissions that resulted from charging on the EV Rally for the third year running.
As roadside assistance partner, Team AA took part in the Rally again, with AA president Edmund King OBE leading the team. Commenting on the infrastructure improvements, Edmund King OBE, said: “Three years ago when we did the Rally in Scotland, we planned meticulously; I had a co-driver with a laminated sheet with every charge point listed. You don’t need that now. The cars have got much better range, there are more chargers, and they are more reliable.”
Drivetech meanwhile was the Rally’s driver training partner and offered eco and safetydriving tips to help teams get the most out of their vehicles. E
Demonstrating the ease of electric vehicle driving and charging on the EV Rally
Participating in the 2024 A-Z EV Rally was all about dispelling the FUD – Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt – around electric motoring, going beyond the motorways and onto the A-roads that most drivers use most days.
Our own data shows that there are still a lot of businesses and private drivers that are not sure about driving electric. So anything that can be done to break down those barriers is important.
The big hurdle is knowledge around EV driving and ownership. Our research has also consistently found that uncertainty and misconceptions due to a lack of experience with electric vehicles stands in the way of drivers opting to go electric. Being part of the EV Rally was a critical step in improving knowledge and understanding. L FURTHER INFORMATION
Tom Middleditch, head of electric mobility, Europcar Mobility Group UK
Team DAF were behind the wheel of an LF Electric to find out how “truck friendly” public charging is
BBC South’s Transport Correspondent
F Electric power
Team IVECO brought its eDaily Minibus with capacity for 23 passengers, and an IVECO eDaily with its “Mobile Power Station” which can power demanding equipment, such as road maintenance machinery or firefighting equipment. In the case of the EV Rally, it powered an electric power tool for a competition against Adam Bishop, one of the world’s strongest men. The challenge saw Bishop test his manual wood cutting skills against an IVECO-charged power tool, with the power tool taking the win.
Drax Electric Vehicles and its colleagues from BMM Energy took part in the Rally in a
VW ID Buzz and a Polestar. They confidently navigated the Rally with a strategy of charging as-and-when was needed – without prior planning, with the aim of showing that EV driving can be the same experience as driving conventionally fuelled ICE vehicles.
Tusker embraced the Rally with a BYD Atto 3 and Volvo EX30, completing it without any issues, as did Team OVO who took part in two Toyota Proace vans and two Volkswagen ID Buzzs, with multiple people from the business taking part over the five days.
Team Compleo UK were behind the wheels of a Hyundai Ioniq 5 and the Kia EV9, and proudly showcased their flagship installation at E
Paul Clifton with daughter Frankie drove a classic Porsche which had been converted to electric
Sam Clarke rode the 1,500 miles on an electric motorbike – an EV Rally first!
F Tingley Garden Centre on day two for a charge on one of their 56 EV chargers – an excellent example of hassle-free destination charging. Thanks to industry collaboration from Compleo, The AA, EZ-Charge, Formula Space,
and GREENFLEET, an all-female team was put together for Women Drive Electric – a community group that has been set up to be a “safe space” for women to discuss all things relating to EVs. Their presence in the
The Rally stopped at a new facility from AW Energy, featuring a wind turbine, battery storage, eHGV charging capability and ultra-rapid chargers
BMW & MINI hosted a checkpoint at their premises in Farnborough
striking pink-wrapped Tesla aimed to promote their aim of making electric vehicles more appealing and attainable for females, as well as promoting gender diversity in the fleet sector. BMW and Mini turned heads on the Rally, with their convoy of BMW iX2s, i5 Tourings and MINI Countrymen, showcasing the versatility of their electric vehicles offering. BMW also kindly provided GREENFLEET editor Angela Pisanu and Publisher George Petrou in a BMW iX2. Angela Pisanu noted a particular function that was useful in the vehicle: “The voice command is great; I did portions of E
Working together to prove the feasibility of electric HGVs
The EV Rally is a fantastic example of collaboration, helping push the boundaries of electric vehicle operation, especially relevant to those of us in the commercial vehicle sector, where those boundaries are all too apparent! By working together, we are helping prove the feasibility of electric trucks as well as highlighting the challenges that face operators – especially around access to a truck-friendly charger network. The team at GREENFLEET pull the event together with lots of hard work and professionalism and add a bit of fun for good measure!
Phil Moon, marketing manager, DAF Trucks
F the Rally on my own, so being able to just ask the vehicle where the nearest charging points were and not fiddle around, was a massive help.”
Team myenergi were behind the wheel of a Volkswagen ID. Buzz and BYD Seal, with cofounder Jordan Brompton hugely impressed with the 300+ mile range she was getting out of the BYD. As an electric vehicle driver for seven years, Jordan was not worried about the infrastructure and took part in the Rally to bust myths and misinformation about EVs.
Unpicking the data
The data uncovered from the Webfleet telematics revealed that Team National Grid came up top of the leaderboard for safe and sustainable driving in their Spartan EV,
and Team Women Drive Electric took the top spot for efficiency in their Tesla Y.
Data from Paua showed that 24,145 kWh was used on the Paua network during the Rally. The top three used networks were GRIDSERVE, Instavolt and Applegreen. Overall, the rally clocked up a total charge time of 479 hours. The single largest charge session was from the Mercedes-Benz Trucks UK in the eActros 600, and the single longest charge session was from Europcar, with the only overnight charge on a Connected Kerb point.
Final thoughts
The A-to-Z EV Rally concluded a success, with teams completing over 1,500 miles in their electric vehicles, whilst relying on the public charging network, without a hitch.
Teams were in agreement that the charging infrastructure is good, with those on previous rallies noting a big improvement from the earlier years, in terms of the amount of chargers, choice of speeds, and the reliability. Payment was simple (thanks to the Paua RFID card), and the technology to show location, type and availability of chargers was in abundance.
A good range of EV charging types, from fast charging hubs, to slower workplace and destination charging, were showcased, showing that EV charging can fit a range of scenarios.
The Rally also showed glimpses of truck friendly fast charging, demonstrating that the network is gearing up for a future where all vehicle sizes are catered for.
And crucially, the Rally showed the importance of industry collaboration in meeting net-zero targets. Event manager Colin Boyton summed up: “It’s been an epic five days, crammed full of innovation, clean energy, state of the art charging – and most crucially, it’s been an excellent example of collaboration. All the teams have come together with the collective aim of showcasing that electric vehicles and the public charging infrastructure is up for the job. I hope our “stress test” of public EV charging will go a long way in combatting EV negativity and misinformation.” L
Planning is now in session for 2025’s EV Rally, so keep your eyes on www.ev-rally.co.uk and the EV Rally LinkedIn page for more details.
SPONSOR’S COMMENT
EV infrastructure is availableeven in
rural locations
The charging infrastructure’s out there, including rural locations. That’s the clear message from Naomi Nye, head of sales at Drax Electric Vehicles, after taking part in this year’s EV Rally.
One day during the rally, Naomi and her co-driver Rosario Surace, EV charging specialist at Drax Electric Vehicles, travelled 370 miles and stopped for a very quick top-up charge whilst they also refuelled! It’s clear the industry still needs to do more, as people don’t understand the network. It’s no different from doing the same journey in a petrol or diesel vehicle. You’d probably make one or two stops to break up the journey, refuel, and get refreshments.
The highlight was the number and type of vehicles (from an electric motorbike to a 40tonne truck with trailer) involved in the rally. For me, this really demonstrates that EVs are suitable for a wide variety of commercial and operational scenarios. L
FURTHER INFORMATION
energy.drax.com/ev
Naomi Nye, head of sales, Drax Electric Vehicles
A green convoy turned heads … and changed minds
Four electric vehicles, four lead drivers, a host of guest drivers and passengers, as well as an EV record-breaker, made up the Europcar team on this year’s A-Z EV Rally
The vehicles on the starting grid – all fully liveried in head-turning Europcar green – were the Jeep Avenger, Skoda Enyaq, Mercedes EQE SUV and Renault Kangoo E-Tech Van. Europcar was also the official
vehicle partner for the rally, supplying Tesla Model 3s for the organisers and media crew.
As Tom Middleditch, head of electric mobility at Europcar explains, participating in the 2024 rally was all about dispelling the FUD – Fear,
Uncertainty and Doubt – around electric motoring. He said: “Europcar has invested in resources to help inform drivers of the reality of EV driving, as well as constantly adding to our fleet to provide the widest possible choice for renters. Being part of the EV Rally was another important step in helping us to deliver valuable, real-world insight into every aspect of electric motoring. And the experience was eye-opening from start to finish.”
Out of the comfort zone
Every member of the Europcar team already drives an EV as a company car. However, like most people who drive for business, much of their week uses the same roads and routes and the same charging routines, whether at home, the office or elsewhere. What the EV Rally did was take them out of their comfort zone – and it proved that going into the unknown wasn’t that unknown at all.
The Europcar team found that whilst charging infrastructure across the UK is good, spotting the signage for upcoming charge points can be challenging. However, once you find it, availability and accessibility is generally good.
With Kevin Booker, EV champion and record breaker part of the Europcar team on the rally, there were also important
learnings about driving behaviour which in turn delivered real world financial savings. Smooth, steady and consistent driving, reading the road and anticipating the conditions ahead were key to getting better performance. Gentler acceleration and letting the regenerative braking do the hard work to get the energy back were also good disciplines the team learned to adopt.
The role of rental
Overall, the A-Z EV Rally underlined just how useful it is to rent an EV for a week or more.
Putting an EV from Europcar through a normal weekly routine means drivers can experience charging at different locations; learn how different chargers work as well as how much they cost. It’s something the standard testdrive is rarely going to be able to deliver.
“It was a great experience to lead the green convoy”, concluded Tom Middleditch. “No one expects four green vehicles to come down the road. And certainly there were plenty of surprised looks at a green Mercedes EQE SUV.
“Europcar really is turning heads and changing minds about how easily electric motoring can become part of UK mobility.” M
Drax Electric Vehicles team takes part in GreenFleet EV Rally
Between the 1 st and 5 th, colleagues from across Drax participated in the GreenFleet EV Rally – in a Polestar and, from their fleet, a VW ID Buzz Cargo
Summing up why Drax took part in the event, Naomi Nye – head of sales for Drax Electric Vehicles – said: “The EV Rally helps to demonstrate what’s possible. By disproving negative media coverage about vehicle range, model availability, the UK charging infrastructure, and how electrification can help businesses achieve their net zero ambitions, it shows that electric’s the way forward. At Drax, we’re passionate about helping UK businesses electrify their fleets, so it makes perfect sense for us to participate.”
The Drax EVs team and other colleagues not only drove the whole distance between them,
but also hosted “Checkpoint I” (for Innovation) at the Drax Sports and Social Club. They welcomed over 100 EV experts – from companies including The AA, Europcar, Ovo Energy, National Grid and Paua – to this local community hub alongside their plant near Selby, North Yorkshire.
The teams arrived around lunchtime and took advantage of the much-needed refreshments on offer. Drax also provided access to an interactive exhibition about their power station’s 50th anniversary of generating electricity for the country, plus games (including golf and pinball). These helped explain other aspects of operations across the Drax Group.
They also took the opportunity to film interviews with the teams too, to better understand why they were taking part and hear their thoughts about important topics in the EV arena. You can see these short videos on the Drax Electric Vehicles LinkedIn page.
During the week, Drax teams recorded incar conversations about the public charging facilities they were using and the future of EVs. And after they crossed the finishing line, they were asked about their EV Rally highlights and what they’d learned.
Naomi said the biggest learning related to her driving style. “The telematics data we had from Webfleet, offered valuable insights into driver behaviour and energy efficiency over the five
days. That’s useful information I’ll carry forward into driving my Tesla.”
Terry Mohammed, head of EV charging installation and BD with BMM Energy Solutions (part of Drax), sums the rally up perfectly.
“Meeting like-minded people who have a passion and flair for decarbonisation is liberating! And, having seen the public network and EV trucks in action over the five days, everyone at BMM feels we should switch our fleet to electric as soon as we can.”
Drax are already looking forward to next year! M
Testing the progress of truck accessible chargers
If the EV Rally is a challenge for passenger cars, it is doubly so for trucks. So, what drove DAF to come back for the 2024 EV Rally, having successfully completed the 1,200-mile five capital cities event in 2023?
Whilst truck manufacturers like DAF have a growing number of electric models already in the market, uptake lags the passenger car sector by some years. Of course there are a number of reasons for this; the same concerns car buyers held about cost, range and recharging infrastructure, now need to be addressed for truck buyers. And those
truck buyers are hardnosed decision makers with a real appreciation of cost of operation and ownership, and how much impact any downtime due to charging could have on their businesses. Whilst, as in every tech shift, there are early adopters willing to take the plunge to benefit from early learnings and competitive advantage, there are many more that need to be convinced that the time is right for them to make the shift.
EV Rally
So, for the team at DAF the EV Rally plays a valuable role, helping demonstrate the capabilities of their Electric Truck Range. The DAF LF Electric, which has successfully
completed both events and started out as one of 20 similar trucks in the 18month Battery Electric Truck Trial, has delivered faultless performance to date.
“The EV Rally certainly grabbed the attention of the truck industry last year,” said Adam Bennett, EV & sustainability manager at DAF Trucks, “and this year’s event was bigger and better, and even more challenging given the extended route. Our LF Electric is a proven performer, however, and the 19-tonner took the five days in its stride.”
The second key objective of the rally for Team DAF is to explore the accessibility of chargers to trucks. Whilst the number of publicly accessible dedicated truck chargers is extremely limited, the DAF LF Electric has been able to charge up with little trouble. DAF marketing manager, Phil Moon explains how the team approached the challenge. “A number of the larger car charging stations have enough space to accommodate the LF Electric, which despite being over 10 metres long and almost four metres high, is actually very manoeuvrable. We try to find chargers of at least 150 kW to minimise waiting time – with a 254 kWh effective battery capacity, charging at 150 kW from 20 to 80 per cent takes around one hour.”
DAF is part of three separate consortia in the UK Government’s Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstration (ZEHID) which will see not only around 300 zero emission heavy-duty long-distance trucks deployed, but also a network of publicly accessible truck specific charging stations.
This should make future electric truck journeys on the strategic road network a breeze.
The DAF Dealer Network
The DAF Dealer Network is also investing in a network of chargers to support their customers and Team DAF capitalised on this during the rally. On the first day, a top up at DAF’s UK manufacturing plant Leyland Trucks in Lancashire was enough to reach that day’s finish in Carlisle. Similar stops at DAF Dealer Ford & Slater in Norwich and at DAF UK Headquarters in Haddenham, both of which have 180 kW chargers, on days three and four provided a boost for internal engagement as well as for the LFP batteries. That engagement is another key objective achieved through rally participation. Whilst a small team piloted the LF Electric and an electric van on loan from DAF Dealer Brian Currie, which acted as a support vehicle for the event, they were joined by a number of other drivers and passengers over the course of the event.
The verdict
And the verdict after all those zero emission miles? Phil Moon summed it up. “It was a resounding success, showcasing the capabilities of the DAF Electric Truck Range, testing the progress in truck accessible chargers and above all, great fun!” M
Grosvenor Leasing’s Salary Sacrifice scheme for Ultra Low Emission Vehicles and Electric Vehicles can save your employees as much as 40% per month compared to a personal lease, with financial and environmental advantages for your business too.
Risk Free and Minimal Administration
It also comes with protection against employees leaving the company, or going on extended sick or maternity/paternity leave, and there is minimal input required to put it in place.
It means businesses can implement the scheme with complete peace of mind, and without being overwhelmed with lots of administration.
Benefits to Employees and Employers
Employees sacrifice a portion of their gross salary in return for a fully maintained, taxed and insured company vehicle, at very competitive rates.
The employer gains by making Class 1A National Insurance savings as well as offering an additional staff benefit, at no extra cost.
With many exciting electric cars available, such as the Tesla Model Y, Cupra Born and Polestar 2 (all shown above), now is a great time to be offering a ULEV and EV Salary Sacrifice scheme.
For more information, why not speak to one of our Ultra Low Emission and Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice experts.
Telephone 01536 536 536 or email salsac@grosvenor-leasing.co.uk
EXPERTS PANEL
TRANSITION TO ELECTRIC
With the possibility that new petrol and diesel cars will be banned again from 2030 under a Labour government, our panel of experts examine what this means for fleets, and shares useful advice for those seeking to switch to electric vehicles
There is a new government in place, and with it comes a renewed focus on zero emission transport. Labour’s automotive sector plan says it will restore the phaseout date of 2030 for new cars with internal combustion engines. It will also work to accelerate the roll out of charge points and support buyers of second-hand electric cars by standardising the information supplied on the condition of batteries. Whether or not the ICE phase-out deadline moves, the ZEV mandate remains in place which is focusing the work of manufacturers to produce a growing number of electric vehicles, which means more models entering the market. Regardless of timelines and policies tweaks, the transition to zero emission vehicles is still happening. While some companies
have already begun to electrify their fleets, others may not have started. And some may have electrified the “low hanging fruit” – the easier to electrify vehicles such as passenger cars, but not their commercial or specialist vehicles, which can be more challenging.
This feature gathers views and advice from our expert panelists Mark Pymm from ChargedEV, Naomi Nye from Drax, Stephen George from E.ON Drive, Steve Beadle from The Grosvenor Group, and Darren Gardner from KEBA UK & Ireland. They give their views on Labour Government pledges, and delve into what is arguably the most important piece of the electrification puzzle – the drivers. To make electrification a success, they must be fully on-board with EV plans and confident, not only behind the wheel, but behind a chargepoint too. E
EXPERT
Mark Pymm, founder & managing director, ChargedEV
Mark Pymm, founder and managing director of ChargedEV, has been in the EV charging & renewable energy industry for over 13 years, paving the way in innovating and driving change in sustainable technology.
F Labour pledged in its election manifesto to bring back the ICE car ban deadline to 2030 – how likely is this to be achieved and how much disruption will this cause businesses? The reinstatement of the 2030 ban on the sale of new internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles is ambitious but feasible with coordinated efforts from government, industry, consumers and fleets. Key actions should include government subsidies for electric vehicles (EVs), investment in charging infrastructure, and policies encouraging EV adoption while discouraging ICE use. Major automakers are already moving towards electrification and can accelerate their timelines with the ban. Consumer acceptance is growing due to improved EV technology and environmental awareness, but incentives and education are crucial. Fleets will face challenges, needing to adjust procurement plans, which may strain finances. Expanding charging infrastructure, especially in remote areas, is essential, presenting growth opportunities for companies like ChargedEV. The transition will spur innovation, create jobs, and support economic growth. Despite challenges, particularly for businesses with complex fleets, proactive planning and
collaboration can make the 2030 target achievable and beneficial in the long term.
There are some companies, including SMEs, that have not yet begun any form of electrification – what advice would you give them to get started? What are the main points to consider? For SMEs starting their electrification journey, the process is manageable with the right approach. Begin by assessing your current fleet’s usage, mileage, and routes to determine which vehicles are best suited for electrification. Set clear objectives, such as reducing emissions or cutting fuel costs, and create a phased roadmap with short, medium, and long-term goals. Explore financial incentives like grants and subsidies to reduce initial costs. Implement a pilot program to test a small number of electric vehicles, gather data, and refine your approach. Invest in charging infrastructure gradually, ensuring chargers are accessible and partnering with companies like ChargedEV. Train and educate drivers on efficient EV operation and charging practices. Utilise fleet management software for data-driven decisions and improved efficiency. Consider long-term savings in fuel and maintenance, and plan for future growth. This transition aligns with sustainability goals and positions companies to benefit from the evolving transportation landscape.
There are many fleets that have begun electrifying the “low hanging fruit” – the easier to transition vehicles, such as passenger cars. What barriers do you hear about electrifying remaining vehicles, such as vans, HGVs and specialist vehicles? Electrifying vans, HGVs, and specialist vehicles presents several challenges. A major barrier is the limited range of these larger vehicles, which current battery technology struggles to support. Advances in battery technology are essential to increase capacity and efficiency. Insufficient charging infrastructure, especially on long-haul routes, is another significant issue. Expanding high-capacity charging stations along major transport routes and in industrial areas is crucial and can be accelerated through government and private sector partnerships.
Higher upfront costs of electric vans and HGVs compared to internal combustion
engine vehicles also pose a challenge. Financial incentives like subsidies, grants, and tax breaks can help mitigate these costs. Educating businesses on long-term savings from lower fuel and maintenance costs can further encourage investment.
The lack of available electric models for vans and HGVs limits options for businesses. Encouraging manufacturers to expand their offerings through supportive policies and incentives can help increase the availability of suitable models. However, in some scenarios, electric may not be the optimal solution. Alternative green fuels such as hydrogen and biofuels might be more viable for certain heavy-duty and specialised vehicles, offering a more practical path to sustainability.
Drivers are arguably the most important piece of the electrification puzzle. What should employers put in place to ensure drivers are fully on-board with fleet electrification plans, and confident when they get behind the wheel? To ensure drivers are confident with fleet electrification, employers should focus on taking drivers on their electrification journey by creating EV champions within the fleet. This approach involves engaging both enthusiastic drivers and those who might be more reluctant.
Start with comprehensive training that covers operating and maintaining electric vehicles. Hands-on sessions and test drives can help all drivers become familiar with the new technology. Selecting a mix of enthusiastic and skeptical drivers for these sessions can create a balanced team of EV champions who can share their experiences with their peers.
Clear communication about the benefits of EVs is essential. Highlight the environmental advantages, cost savings, improved performance, and reduced maintenance. Connect these benefits to the company’s sustainability goals to help drivers understand their role in the transition. Open discussions can address concerns and misconceptions, especially from those who are hesitant.
Establish ongoing support by creating a system where drivers can ask questions and receive assistance. This includes a dedicated support team, accessible resources, and regular feedback sessions. Incentives and recognition can motivate drivers. Offer bonuses, recognition programs, or rewards for those who excel in using EVs. Utilise fleet management software to provide drivers with real-time data on range, charging stations, and maintenance schedules. E
EXPERT
Naomi Nye, head of sales, Drax
Naomi has been heavily involved in the adoption of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, holding senior sales positions within the industry for over a decade. Her role at Drax Electric Vehicles is Head of Sales, leading the sales team helping customers develop their strategic plans for EV roll-out.
F Labour pledged in its election manifesto to bring back the ICE car ban deadline to 2030 – how likely is this to be achieved and how much disruption will this cause businesses? It was encouraging to hear the Labour Party pledging to reinstate the 2030 date on the ban of new ICE-vehicle sales in its election manifesto. However, currently, it hasn’t reaffirmed the date change, leading to market uncertainty. Fleet managers, in particular, will be anxiously awaiting announcements as fleets generally work on three-to-five-year replacement cycles. Whether the date changes or not, there’s a long way to go to deliver the necessary charging infrastructure transition required. However, there’s never been a better time for organisations to electrify. Grants are still available to help with the cost of preparatory and installation works – and with the cost of vehicle and hardware purchase. And financing options enable organisations to spread the upfront cost of electrification over a number of years.
The sooner organisations make the switch, the sooner they’ll be able to reap the financial, environmental and reputational rewards electrification offers.
There are some companies, including SMEs, that have not yet begun any form of electrification – what advice would you give them to get started? The main points to consider relate to operational requirements and business funds.
Engaging with a specialist partner can help with both. As well as providing endto-end support, they’ll bring the ability to see the bigger picture and make sure your investment’s practical, suitable, economical and future-proof.
Whether organisations engage with specialist partners or not, understanding their vehicles’ operational requirements is vital to a successful transition. Capturing the right data – such as vehicle mileage, average trip distance and dwell locations is key to identifying effective EV and charging solutions.
In terms of available finance, it’s worth remembering that often the most successful transition programmes start with small trials. Phasing the transition by department or use-case, and over a series of financial years, helps spread the cost and provides valuable learnings along the way.
Organisations should also look into support that’s available – particularly via government grants and financing options. These can make upfront costs far more manageable.
There are many fleets that have begun electrifying the “low hanging fruit” – the easier to transition vehicles, such as passenger cars. What barriers do you hear about electrifying remaining vehicles, such as vans, HGVs and specialist vehicles? And what do you believe are the solutions?
The most common barriers to electrifying larger and specialist vehicles are cost, practicality and lack of suitable electric-vehicle solutions.
Large van and HGV fleets are way behind cars in electrification and currently, they all (with the exception of HGVs over 26 tonnes) face the same ICE deadlines as cars.
The percentage difference between electric and ICE vehicle cost prices is generally comparable across vehicle sizes. However, the absolute monetary uplift is much larger for HGVs. In terms of charging facilities for larger electric vehicles, power requirements will often necessitate costly electrical capacity upgrades through the Distribution Network Operator.
The UK’s haulage industry’s therefore likely to become reliant on the development of hydrogen-fuelled eHGVs – alongside electric vans and smaller trucks for city-based transport – to beat the ICE ban. Hydrogen offers the benefits of very fast refilling and longer range, but the hydrogen refilling network is still very much in its infancy.
Drivers are arguably the most important piece of the electrification puzzle, as they are the ones driving the vehicles. What should employers put in place to ensure drivers are fully on-board with fleet electrification plans, and confident when they get behind the wheel? It’s important organisations are open and honest with their drivers about electrification plans.
Holding demonstration days is a great way to educate, inspire and tackle in-built prejudices. Being able to appreciate the driving experience of EVs and the simplicity of using chargers first-hand helps drivers’ knowledge and belief. But it can also change other staff members’ perceptions and inform C-level decision-making.
When implementation’s imminent, and particularly if your plans involve installing home chargers, hold training sessions with
There’s
never been a better time for organisations to electrify. Grants are still available to help with the cost of preparatory and installation works – and with the cost of vehicle and hardware. And financing options enable the upfront cost to be spread out
affected drivers. Promote the benefits and cover best practice, health and safety guidance and impact on operations and daily schedules. Offering an additional reference guide – like a driver onboarding pack or online support package – will enable employees to ‘self-serve’ when faced with issues.
Also, present drivers with a chargingpayment solution that won’t cause delays or administrative burden. RFID cards with relevant access and back-office support are a great way of keeping drivers on the road and avoiding payment reconciliation complexities. E
FURTHER INFORMATION
Download Drax’s guide now and get your fleet transition on the road to success.
EXPERT
Stephen George, senior proposition manager, E.ON Drive
Steve has been with E.ON for over 25 years and has spent the last two years within the international E.ON Drive team. He values the once in a lifetime opportunity to positively affect the shift towards electrification and zero emission vehicles. His current role is focused on understanding customers’ needs, removing complexity, and helping businesses with simple and affordable charging solutions.
F Labour pledged in its election manifesto to bring back the ICE car ban deadline to 2030 – how likely is this to be achieved and how much disruption will this cause businesses? It’s ambitious, but achievable with concerted effort from the government, industry, and consumers. The level of disruption to business plans depends heavily on how far companies have progressed in their transition to an EV fleet. We’ll likely see a rapid increase in demand for vehicles, resulting in a bottleneck on an already strained supply chain when it comes to battery components. It’s important for companies to secure their required number of fleet vehicles as quickly as possible. In addition to this, we’re likely to see an increase in electricity use across the grid, companies shouldn’t rely solely on government intervention when it comes to security of supply or the delivery of substantial renewable energy generation. We’d encourage companies to have plans in place for on-site generation to mitigate the risk of loss of supply. Here at E.ON, beyond our EV charging capabilities, we also offer a range of on-site generation solutions and can provide a fully integrated energy eco-system for your business.
There are some companies, including SMEs, that have not yet begun any form of electrification – what advice would you give them to get started? Identify your quick-wins and create a roadmap that leads to a completely electric fleet. Perhaps you only require a handful of rapid chargers at your site to cater for the needs of your fleet and the distances they cover. Is it more cost-effective to have cheaper, overnight chargers installed at your employees’ homes and operate a reimbursement scheme? Can your fleet survive entirely on public charging? These are the sort of foundational questions you need to ask yourself when defining what the future looks like. In some cases, it may be a mixture of all of the above. We can work with you and provide extensive consultation on defining your bespoke needs, we can also deliver the full solution for you, at your site, on the road, and at your employees’ homes.
There are many fleets that have begun electrifying the “low hanging fruit” –the easier to transition vehicles, such as passenger cars. What barriers do you hear about electrifying remaining vehicles, such as vans, HGVs and specialist vehicles? And what do you believe are the solutions? There needs to be more focus on this area from a manufacturing perspective. It’s likely that right now there are certain companies who wouldn’t be able to find an e-HGV that
suits their current payload. Understanding the impact of freight weight on mileage is key. In the short term, companies may have to adjust their operating model to cater for a lighter payload. Whether that be extending SLAs or introducing more vehicles, the pros and cons of both need to be considered. In some cases, the cost of introducing extra vehicles into your fleet, along with extra drivers, could be a sound investment, given the money that is saved through the lower operating costs associated with an electric vehicle when compared with a traditional ICE vehicle. In addition to this, if you start charging your vehicles via a renewable source, such as solar panels, the operating costs of your fleet reduce even further.
Drivers are arguably the most important piece of the electrification puzzle, as they are the ones driving the vehicles. What should employers put in place to ensure drivers are fully on-board with fleet electrification plans, and confident when they get behind the wheel?
Training, engagement, and a reliable public charging network will be integral in winning over drivers. Initially, look at running pilots and getting driver feedback before a full rollout. Ensure you have robust training in place which covers driving, charging and
Initially, look at running pilots and getting driver feedback before a full rollout. Ensure you have robust training in place which covers driving, charging and troubleshooting
troubleshooting. Put in place the option for refresher courses as and when they’re needed. Is there an opportunity to introduce some form of incentive? A performance bonus for achieving an optimal driving range perhaps, or recognition for certain milestones achieved. Beyond ensuring adequate charging is available on your site, or at your employees’ homes, a reliable public network is going to be important. The government has ambitious plans for expansion, as well as introducing new legislation which imposes strict regulations on charging providers to ensure availability of chargers. In the past we’ve hard many stories of drivers turning up to a charger which is ‘out of order’, these experiences need to stay in the past. E
EXPERT
Steve Beadle, head of 0Zone, The Grosvenor Group
Steve Beadle is head of 0Zone, the Grosvenor Group’s innovative and market leading solution to help companies navigate their way smoothly towards ultra-low emission and electric vehicles. With extensive experience of helping companies make the smooth transition to ultra-low emission and electric vehicles, he offers a perfect balance between how fleets can drive down their emissions and the implications of policy setting. Steve joined the Grosvenor Group in 2012, and is well-known for his clear and inciteful advice for companies with car and light commercial vehicle fleets looking towards their zero emission futures.
F Labour pledged in its election manifesto to bring back the ICE car ban deadline to 2030 – how likely is this to be achieved and how much disruption will this cause businesses? I think its achievable for cars, and I don’t believe it will have any serious ramifications for company car drivers, or car manufacturers, as the shift towards zero emission motoring is already well underway. The BEV and PHEV products on the market are well established and we didn’t really notice any shift in behaviour by our customers following Rishi Sunak’s change of deadline last September. They continued to order EVs as previously and now over 80 per cent of Grosvenor’s new car orders have zero-emission capability and this continues to grow. Where there could be an issue is if Labour decide to change the deadline for vans as well, as there is a serious lack of progress in shifting van fleets to electric. Some might suggest commercial vehicle operators have been slow on the uptake,
however I would say that is harsh because they haven’t had access to enough suitable vehicles. This is one of the reasons we launched our Electric Van Flexible Switch programme as it means customers can source an ICE van when required through a flexible contract that enables them to switch to an EV without penalty when suitable zeroemission technology becomes available.
There are some companies, including SMEs, that have not yet begun any form of electrification – what advice would you give them to get started? Whole life costs are very important because it’s easy to become put off by the higher on the road cost of electric vehicles, however a whole life cost will give you a more balanced view of how much each electric vehicle will cost you over its lifetime on your fleet compared to an equivalent petrol or diesel. It’s also important to look at your current vehicles and drivers. What are the vehicles used for, what geographical areas do they cover, what are their daily mileages, and does the driver have the facility for a home charger to be installed?
You’re effectively trying to map out which drivers would be best suited to an EV and what are the options for those who may not be ready. We appreciate it can be a challenge, and at Grosvenor we’ve been trying to make it as easy and risk-free as possible. Our EValuate solution offers used electric vehicles over flexible lease periods, with an emphasis on electric cars and vans that are two to three years old. It means companies and drivers can try out an EV with a minimum commitment of one month and no penalty if they return the car after that. And if they can see after a month that the EV is working for them, they can either extend the lease, or return that vehicle and order a new EV.
There are many fleets that have begun electrifying the “low hanging fruit” – the easier to transition vehicles, such as cars. What barriers do you hear about electrifying remaining vehicles, such as vans and HGVs?
The reality is that there is not a ‘one solution fits all’ for commercial vehicle operators, which is why it is so much more challenging than cars. It’s worth noting that Grosvenor doesn’t lease or manage HGVs and so
our focus is largely on light commercial vehicles and some specialist vehicles too.
To fully understand the issues facing LCV operators, we held a round table event with transport managers from a diverse mix of operations, alongside electric commercial vehicle specialists. The overriding viewpoint was that change needs to be driven from Board level, as the electrification of a company’s van fleet is not a task that sits with the transport team alone.
Rather than see how electric vans can fit into a business’ current operating model, this is far more a case of how the business needs to adapt to electrification; there being an impact on operations, finance, human resources, property, facilities management, and customer service. Companies have built their operating models around diesel commercial vehicles.
Trying to fit electric vans into that same model is the classic square peg in a round hole, and the consensus from our panel was that this is an opportunity to review, and reengineer, your operations for a zero emission future – and that will require stakeholder buy-in from across an entire business.
For van fleet operators, we therefore recommend a five stage plan when it comes to electrification: communication, research, planning (using telematics data, route analysis, etc), trialling vehicles, and finally, the launch.
What should employers put in place to ensure drivers are fully on-board with fleet electrification plans?
It’s important to engage with drivers early to establish the suitability of an EV for both their work and personal needs. This can be done through a quick online survey of all drivers that have company vehicles and gather the data so that you can then make informed opinions. For example, asking questions about whether they have a driveway at home, what mileages they cover, do they live in an urban area or in the countryside, and what they use their cars for outside of work etc.
Also make it clear that a fully electric vehicle may not suit every driver immediately. This is about transitioning overtime, not necessarily converting your entire fleet to electric right now.
It’s also important to engage with the drivers, hear their concerns, and perhaps start to target those who have an appetite to try an electric vehicle so that they become advocates for the business over time. We also provide support with charging concerns and this goes a long way to encourage the more resistant drivers. E
EXPERT
Darren Gardner, country manager, KEBA UK & Ireland
Darren is the country manager of KEBA UK & Ireland, a manufacturer and distributer of the market leading carbon neutral AC EV Charging Wallbox made in Austria. Darren has been in the EV and energy industry since 2008 and has worked across a wide range of projects from fleet electrification, vehicle to grid and integration of eMobility with onsite generation and storage assets. Darren loves discussing all things eMobility and always has time for a coffee and some free advice.
F Labour pledged in its election manifesto to bring back the ICE car ban deadline to 2030 – how likely is this to be achieved and how much disruption could this cause business plans?
Labour wants to build a better Britain and we have already seen policy announcements relating to planning, construction of 1.5bn homes, onshore wind and GB energy. It would seem counter intuitive to keep the ICE ban to 2035 and not bring this back to 2030. Why? Labour needs quick wins in a short honey moon period and this is one. The country needs sustainable economic growth that leads to gross value added, jobs and skills and net zero carbon emissions. So moving the ICE ban back to 2030 helps deliver all of these ambitions. It also aligns with the quotas on automotive OEMs that already remain in place.
There are some companies, including SMEs, that have not yet begun any form of electrification – what advice would you give them to get started? What are the main points to consider? Talk to people – other companies that have done it, be those SME fleet operators or big corporates, and talk to industry experts.
Secondly consider all the angles. It’s not just infrastructure. It’s also about people: driver behaviour, customer journeys, driver prices and benefit in kind and systems and portals and everything in between Specifically though, invest in diagnostics first of all. That will tell you how your fleet is operating and will then help you decide if you want to charge your fleet at base, at drivers’ homes, on the go or a combination of all. This will inform your vehicle choices and also what type of infrastructure you need depending on where you charge. Then do the necessary spreadsheet and stakeholder work to calculate a total cost of ownership.
Finally – ask your customers and your colleagues what they think about you transitioning? Does it give a good feeling to them? Does it help you retain customers and top talent? Does it help you win extra work?
There are many fleets that have begun electrifying the “low hanging fruit” –the easier to transition vehicles, such as passenger cars. What barriers do you hear about electrifying remaining vehicles, such as vans, HGVs and specialist vehicles? And what do you believe are the solutions?
At KEBA, most of our EV infrastructure is used for charging cars and LCVs with 22kW AC charging infrastructure. One of our partners VEV have also used our charging points for bus charging so certainly 22kW AC as well as DC charging remains an option for heavier goods transportation. Even planes and boats are using similar infrastructure. I’m not a hydrogen expert but I suspect that has a role to play for heavy goods transport.
Drivers are arguably the most important piece of the electrification puzzle, as they are the ones driving the vehicles. What should employers put in place to ensure drivers are fully onboard with fleet electrification plans, and confident when they get behind the wheel?
Employers have a great responsibility to engage their employees which then has a ripple effect wider than the organisation itself. How to do that? Firstly, lead by example by electrifying the fleet and create positive case studies of how it is working and what you have learnt. Let employees try a few cars or vans! Let them take them home for a weekend, take a Tesla for a spin around the industrial estate and take them through the process of plugging in and charging. Show them it is fun, safe, sustainable and actually quite easy.
Invest in diagnostics. This will tell you how your fleet is operating and will then help you decide if you want to charge your fleet at base, at drivers’ homes, on the go, or a combination of all. This will inform your vehicle choices and also what type of
Salary sacrifice schemes are a great way of making an electric vehicle cost effective and perhaps you can do a special deal for a month or two which includes free or very low cost charging to get the utilisation of the charging points increasing Feedback what customers, suppliers and colleagues are saying. Tell the story in a variety of different ways as often as you can. Hold a mini event with friendly hardware manufactures (like us at KEBA), an automotive OEM, a platform provider and give people the space to ask lots of questions! M
GREENFLEET Road-to-Zero Roundtable: Cymru
On 18 July, GREENFLEET hosted its latest roundtable at Cardiff City Stadium, where delegates discussed the challenges and solutions to electrifying fleets, and agreed that collaboration is key to success
GREENFLEET’s latest roundtable was attended by representatives from the Welsh Government, industry experts, and public and private sector fleets. When it comes to the task of fleet electrification, roundtable delegates showed a real appetite for collaboration, and an understanding of the benefits that it could bring, both in terms of shared vehicles and also shared infrastructure. Quartix led a lively discussion on the value of telematics data, both to identify suitable vehicles, but also to inform charging strategies for home, public, and workplace. This would be particularly useful for local authorities and CPOs to understand where on-street charging infrastructure is needed. One fleet reported that only 10 per cent of their drivers had access to home charging.
Alun Davies from ElectrAssure raised that he has heard a lot more conversations regarding sharing of infrastructure – a hybrid private/public model – that increases utilisation and revenue opportunities. Roundtable delegates raised that many old buildings have aging electrical infrastructure with as little as 60amps –this is where battery storage and onsite solar PV is an attractive solution.
The session also heard how Cardiff is developing a combined energy and transport decarbonisation strategy, including how understanding the role of community renewable projects can be used to support low carbon, cost effective EV Charging. M
Watch the full roundtable discussion below.
Electrifying the future: the transition to electric fleets
The transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is no longer a distant dream but a pressing reality. With growing environmental concerns, regulatory pressures, and advancements in technology, the shift towards electric fleets is gaining momentum
Vehicle manufacturing is gearing up for this change with recent data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showing an increase EV production. This increase is once again being fuelled by fleets and businesses, which saw a 14 per cent growth in market share.
With manufacturers continuing to invest in greener technologies to meet Britain’s netzero ambitions, the market share of electrified vehicles set to rise even further. SMMT predicts that by 2035, almost half of all cars on the road will be zero-emission.
How we’re supporting the fleet industry
As a vehicle recycler, we play a key role in what will be an electric dominant future. Every day we seek to maximise both the financial and environmental value of every vehicle we receive.
The number of electric vehicles coming our way for salvage is indicative that the cost to repair EVs continues to be a challenge and is driving the increase in total loss vehicles. We have seen an increase of 55 per cent EVs compared to last year.
We have also made a commitment to provide an EV battery recycling solution to elevate some of the challenges the industry is facing. We’re working in collaboration with fleets, insurers and manufacturers across the UK to close the loop in the UK battery supply chain.
Collaboration is key
We’re giving EV batteries a new lease on life but we can’t do it alone. Through strategic collaborations with Altilium and Allye Energy, supplying businesses with batteries for reuse and recycling. Additionally, we have established an EV battery recycling working group, comprising of esteemed members across the industry, including fleet, to collaboratively develop a comprehensive charter on EV batteries.
Making the move to electric
The transition to electric fleets is not merely a trend but a fundamental shift towards a cleaner, more sustainable future. By embracing electric mobility, fleet operators can reduce their environmental footprint and comply with evolving regulations.
As a vehicle recycler, we’re preparing ourselves for an electrified future and have the solutions available to support fleets to keep their vehicles on the road for longer. M
Building the UK’s biggest e-cargo bike fleet
Pauline Potter, director of procurement and sustainability at Evri, shares how the company is electrifying its fleet as part of an ambitious decarbonisation strategy
Ever since we introduced our first low-carbon biomethane compressed natural gas (CNG) truck and electric vans in London in 2018, we’ve been on a mission to build one of the most sustainable fleets in the industry.
Our decarbonisation journey truly picked up pace when we launched our ambitious, wide-ranging ESG strategy in 2021, just ahead of the rebrand from Hermes UK to Evri. This ongoing initiative harnesses significant investment in fleet, buildings and innovation, and encompasses a host of stakeholders –from colleagues, senior management, drivers and couriers to suppliers and retail partners.
As a responsible carrier, currently delivering more than 730 million parcels a year, it’s no surprise that this is a fundamental focus for the business, and we’ve set a target of achieving net zero for direct and indirect carbon emissions by 2035.
One area in which we’ve been making a real difference in the past 12-18 months is the final mile, which involves moving a parcel from a local transportation hub to its destination. The use of electric bikes – e-cargo bikes – to deliver parcels in towns, cities and other busy urban areas has become a key element of our decarbonisation strategy.
Our zero-emission bikes are a key part of the groundwork for Evri to dial up on its ambition to become the UK’s most sustainable parcel carrier. There are other benefits for our customers and their communities too. The bikes also reduce noise pollution and congestion as the space-efficient design allows them to navigate the city streets easier and deliver an often-quicker service to customers.
Evri is committed to making a positive impact on the environment and delivering a sustainable future. Our multi-year ESG plans E
F represent a significant leap forward, and we are confident that these initiatives will propel us towards our net-zero goal.
Zero emissions in the final mile
Our e-cargo journey began in early 2022 when we trialled this delivery model in Driffield, East Yorkshire. We knew e-cargo bikes had long presented a sustainable delivery solution but many bike designs were limited by capacity. However, the EAV bike we trialled had a respectable 2m3 (2,000-litre) capacity, and was able to carry upwards of 130 parcels. Initial results showed an increase in productivity of around 13 per cent and up to 100 per cent reduction in tailpipe CO2 emissions –a very real proof of concept that could aid in the decarbonisation of the final mile.
Fast-forward two years and we’ve just announced a £19 million investment in our electric fleet, including a fast-tracked rollout of e-cargo bikes. We plan to grow the bike fleet from 33 to 99 in the next year, and to 3,000 within a decade. To help achieve this, we’ve set up a dedicated ‘final-mile electrification task force’, which will explore innovative solutions, establish partnerships and implement key initiatives to deliver on our strategy.
We already operate e-cargo bikes in London, Bristol, Cambridge and Oxford – in the latter city, we partnered with local cargo bike delivery firm Pedal & Post earlier this year to provide carbon-free deliveries to consumers’ homes within Oxford’s zero-emission zone. We now deliver 1.5 million parcels a year by bike or EV (electric vehicle) and aim to triple this number to around 4 million over the next 12 months. A single parcel delivery by e-cargo bike can produce up to a 200g carbon saving, and increasing the number of bike deliveries to 4 million could equate to carbon savings comparable to driving more than 400,000 miles.
Further electrification
This investment puts us in a great position as we enter the Electric Fleet Race, which is gathering serious momentum just six months after its launch. And we’re not only focused on e-cargo bikes – our fleet of electric vans is getting a major boost as well. Currently, we have 168 EVs, making up around 37 per cent of our total van fleet. They primarily serve Evri ParcelShops. Based in independent shops, selected Tesco Express stores and Post Office branches, ParcelShops offer a more most carbon-efficient way to send, receive and return a parcel, compared to a residential/workplace address delivery
or pick-up. Consolidating collections via ParcelShops and self-serve Lockers also means less time spent on the roads.
Our aim is to service our entire out-ofhome estate – currently the largest in the UK at over 15,000 locations – with EVs at the earliest opportunity. As part of our diesel phase-out, we plan to add 148 EVs to the fleet in time for this year’s busy peak period in the run up to Christmas, with an additional 122 to join in spring 2025. To support our growing electric fleet, we’ve invested £1 million across our depots and hubs to expand EV-charging infrastructure.
This builds on previous electrification progress we’ve made. Last September, we trialled two electric HGVs at our Rugby site to reduce emissions in the first and middle miles, traditionally the toughest parts of the parcel journey to decarbonise mainly due to range limitation. Last October we ordered a DAF XB eHGV, with a range of up to 350km. It can go from a 20 per cent to 80 per cent charge in less than 70 minutes and was in operation ahead of the Christmas peak.
Looking to the future
Our investment in electrification aligns with wider efforts we’re making in the ESG space
and decarbonisation. For example, last year we brought in 30 new bio-CNG tractor units, bringing the total to 202, which accounts for 52 per cent of our core HGV fleet. Each unit reduces CO2 emissions by up to 84 per cent when compared to an equivalent diesel vehicle.
Alternative fuel exploration is ongoing, and we successfully trialled a hydrogen HGV in 2023. We also use hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) as standard at our Brooklands depot in Surrey, and we’ve updated the company car policy so that all new cars must be hybrid or electric.
We’ll be keeping a close eye on current and emerging models to make sure we adopt at the right time to meet operational needs. We are not just investing in technology, but also in our people, empowering them to be part of the solution. Together, we can build a more sustainable future for the parcel delivery industry, as well as the communities we serve.
In 2023-24, overall, we emitted an average of 370g of CO2 per parcel, which is a 21 per cent reduction YOY. Decarbonisation is a challenging process, and we know there’s a long way to go. But we are making strong progress as we continue to deliver our vision of reaching net zero by 2035 –one truck, van and bike at a time. L
Quatrix: Telematics that work for business
Matthew Struczynski shares why he chose telematics company Quatrix for his company, Smiths (Gloucester) Ltd
“It is a leap of faith you have to take. It’s a big job in addition to the day job.”
Smiths (Gloucester) Ltd is one of the largest construction and waste management companies in the South West.
Specialising in demolition, construction and asbestos removal, transport and plant hire, skip and commercial waste management the business has around 500 vehicles on the road.
Fleet manager Matthew Struczynski said: “Effectively what we have here is six different industries under one roof, so we have different mindsets and different skill sets.”
When he joined the business, Struczynski evaluated their incumbent telematics setup and decided there was a need to look at alternatives.
“I needed something different, I needed something which worked for our business.”
A key challenge Smiths faced previously was the reliability of their telematics data.
“Especially with the HGV fleet, it’s vital that we understand where the vehicles are, where
they’re going, where we can re-route them to. In terms of road risk, we need really reliable data with strong integrity.”
Following a trial with Quartix, Struczynski was sure he had found the right fit, however changing supplier presented a potentially daunting task. He said: “It’s a big project that’s in addition to the day job...Not only do we need to put new trackers in, but I need to take trackers out.”
He was pleased with how Quartix handled the onboarding process.
“I was introduced to an implementation manager who very swiftly took my concerns and quite simply put them to bed...I wasn’t doing this on my own and that level of support was there. The communication was fantastic... The engineers went to other depots, they went to construction sites, colleague’s home addresses anywhere we asked them to go.”
“I understand the fear of moving trackers, whether it’s five vehicles or 500. It is a big step and ultimately you’ve got to get the stakeholders across the business engaged. Quartix effectively took care of that management side of it and just dealt with it for us. It had no negative effect on downtime, and no negative impact on resource or any division throughout the business.”
With his fleet fully onboarded and on the road, Struczynski continues to feel supported by his telematics partner.
“We’ve finished implementation and level of service is absolutely there. The relationship’s building. There’s a live chat, a telephone number, and an email address to get answers quickly.” Watch the full interview with Matt Struczynski here . M
Mike Boxwell, group CEO of Voltempo, speaks to Robyn Quick on the progress of the eFREIGHT 2030 project, which seeks to prove the business case for electric HGVs and truck-friendly charging
Can you tell me about the eFREIGHT 2030 project?
The eFREIGHT 2030 consortium brings together some of the UK’s leading specialist logistics providers, retailers, leading fleet operators and SMEs, all seeking to lead the way in decarbonising their operations and business sectors.
Our vision is to demonstrate how zeroemission e-HGVs can replace conventional HGVs (heavy goods vehicles) at scale, using British technology. We’re using next-generation e-HGVs from Renault Trucks, DAF and Scania, plus state-of-the-art British-designed 1MW charging technology from Voltempo, and Berkeley Bulldog’s range-extender e-trailer, built in Pembrokeshire, which can add a further 200-250km to the range of the vehicle without compromising the load capacity of the trailer.
By undertaking a genuine, real-world evaluation of the technical and commercial viability of electric trucks, we aim to prove the business cases for e-HGVs and a publicly accessible network of 1MW e-HGV charging hubs across the country. A key part of this will be to stretch boundaries by focusing on ‘difficult’ use cases, including long-
range, multi-shift and power take-off, using data modelling to resolve challenges.
The eFREIGHT 2030 consortium is introducing 100 demonstrator vehicles and 32 new charging locations, all of which will have megawattcharging capacity from day one. As well as our consortium fleets, our aim is to reach out to the wider industry, which is why we have reserved ten vehicles for short term use by Associate Members of the consortium.
This will enable smaller operators to evaluate the capabilities of electric trucks on a shortterm basis along with appropriate interim charging solutions, derisking confidence building activities before making decisions about permanent fleet replacement.
Consortium member Dynamon is bringing a full data and planning service using its ZERO software package.
This allows consortium operators to plan the most efficient use of their vehicle fleet, both diesel and electric, and analyse their business model to identify when specific vehicles or routes can be decarbonised.
This is just the starting point. As use-cases are proven in consortium fleets, the 100 test vehicles will be moved to new operations and E
F backfilled with new e-HGVs. We expect the initial £49.2 million in government support to help unlock some £500 million of private investment from consortium members in electric vehicles and charging hubs across the UK by 2030.
Our goal is to facilitate 2,000 electric HGVs on UK roads by 2030, which would eliminate around 60 million litres of diesel fuel from use.
What progress has been made?
How is it going so far?
Work on the eFREIGHT 2030 project began in early 2024 and will take seven years to complete. We are just entering the third quarter of the project, and right now we are on target and achieving everything we expected to at this stage. In the main, 2024 is a building year where we get infrastructure in place and plan the selected commercial routes, with a handful of electric HGVs expected to go on the road during Q4.
2025 is a rollout year, where vehicles and charging systems are rolled out across the fleets in the consortium, and I’m pleased to say that so far everything is on track.
Do you think the future looks bright for zero emission HGVs?
Absolutely! Our focus has always been wider than just the needs of the eFREIGHT 2030 consortium members when it comes to success, this is about revolutionising the industry for all involved.
There are a lot of hurdles to overcome: the infrastructure, the duty cycle and the costs. We’re working hard to understand the problems, to clearly communicate with the right stakeholders and, ultimately, to demonstrate the capabilities of a managed depot network and Fleete Charging Hubs to get real-world use of electric HGVs so we can learn how we can overcome the doubts and concerns and make electric HGVs the vehicles of choice in the future.
We’re engaging with the government to help them understand where legislation may need to change to enable electric HGVs to carry similar payloads to today’s diesel vehicles. We’re working with the electricity industry to provide long-term planning tools to overcome issues with the grid, we’re working with Truck OEMs to understand how electric HGVs will develop over the coming few years, and we’re working with the charge point operators to help them create fundable business models for infrastructure rollouts, and creating a nationwide HGV charging network.
Finally, we’re engaging with the end customers, to understand their needs for decarbonised freight movements and creating new business models for fleet operators to win new business using electrified transport.
As an industry, the progress we are making is remarkable, and technology continues to advance at pace. What is clear is that working collaboratively has been and will remain key to help accelerate our journey to zero emission HGVs. M
FURTHER INFORMATION
www.voltempo.com
Mike Boxwell, Voltempo
What’s happening at the Emergency Services Show?
In a first for The Emergency Services Show, the new Sustainability Stage is dedicated to decarbonising the blue light sector, exploring innovative solutions for green fleets, emissions reduction, and collaborative approaches to achieving net zero
The UK’s multi award-winning trade event dedicated to the UK blue light community – The Emergency Services Show – returns to the NEC Birmingham from 18-19 September 2024, and promises to break new ground as Europe’s largest and most comprehensive event series dedicated to product innovation, exclusive networking opportunities, and vital learnings for the UK and international emergency services sector. Co-located with The Emergency Tech Show (ETS) – now in its second year following its launch last September – The Emergency Services Show guarantees an impressive lineup of sector-leading exhibitors, an unrivalled content programme, and an essential destination for procurement specialists, decision-makers and frontline operational personnel from police, fire & rescue, ambulance,
search & rescue, support and voluntary sectors. Attendees will experience an exclusive firsthand look into the latest products and solutions on offer from over 600 exhibitors and over 1,000 brands who, working in partnership with frontline professionals, are dedicated to revolutionising emergency response.
The only event series of its kind for the sector, this exceptional showcase of technology innovation and ground-breaking solution providers covers the entire emergency services landscape, with products ranging from vehicle and fleet management, IT and communications, medical and fire fighting equipment, control room solutions, virtual reality training simulations, AI for predictive emergency response and planning, and so much more!
The Emergency Tech Show will again showcase the most advanced technologies driving
the digital transformation of the emergency services sector and provides vital insights into technological developments via the Technology Main Stage and Tech Hub seminar theatres.
New for 2024, ETS has proudly partnered with techUK for the exclusive techUK Pavilion, a hub for exploring innovative technology solutions from emerging SMEs and startups. Attendees can explore cutting-edge solutions tailored to the emergency services sector from up-and-coming tech trailblazers.
A host of new features are planned for 2024, including the NFCC Future Firefighter PPE Theatre, sponsored by Enduro Protect, which offers an exclusive opportunity to join the discussion on ensuring future personal protective equipment is fit for purpose for the next generation of firefighters.
In partnership with Coventry University Simulation Centre, the show’s new People & Skills Stage, focuses on the evolving training and development landscape to enhance your lifelong professional skills, ensuring you remain the vital, well-supported asset your community relies on for safety.
In a first for The Emergency Services Show, the new Sustainability Stage is dedicated to decarbonising the blue light sector, exploring innovative solutions for green fleets, emissions reduction, and collaborative approaches to achieving net zero. Supporting this green focus, the Emergency Services Environment and Sustainability Group, part of the National Police Estates Group (NPEG), will be hosting exclusive
member meetings on enhancing environmental management practices across the sector, and will offer their expert insights as we plan our environment and sustainability content agenda.
Returning for 2024, the Policing Stage features speakers from frontline policing and research, offering CPD-accredited sessions with valuable case studies and insights to enhance public trust and improve policing practices.
Networking remains a key focus of the ESS experience, with a host of exciting events planned to build upon the fantastic blue light community already established in past editions of The Emergency Services Show. The ever-popular Networking Café returns as a central hub for connecting with colleagues, whilst blue light tech experts and digital transformation leads can head over to the Tech Bar at The Emergency Tech Show to catch up and geek out over the coolest new kit and tech available from leading suppliers of ICT technologies.
Registration is now open, sponsored by MSA Safety, and offers access to both vital blue light events on one FREE pass and including complimentary parking at the NEC for the duration of your visit. Click here to get your free pass and connect with 16,000+ fellow emergency services staff at the UK’s foremost annual blue light event. M
FURTHER INFORMATION
www.emergencyuk.com www.emergencytechshow.com
First Drive: Kia EV9
The EV6 brought Kia a bold, new sense of style along with a new technical approach to the way it makes EVs. The EV9 continues the story, and as well as being the most expensive Kia to date, it’s also the most eye-catching. Richard Gooding discovers the newcomer also has family friendly space, technology, and range to please fleet drivers
What is it?
The first dedicated electric vehicle to be underpinned by the Hyundai Motor Group’s –parent of Kia – E-GMP (Electric Global Modular Platform) which introduces 800V charging technology, the EV6 reset many driver’s expectations of what a Kia EV is. A six or sevenseat SUV elevating the South Korean brand into luxury vehicle price and market territories, the EV9 does that to even more dramatic effect.
What range does it have?
All versions of the Kia EV9 are fitted with a 99.8kWh li-ion polymer battery. This gives the entry level Air specification model a range of up to 349 miles on the combined WLTP driving cycle, while the mid-spec GT-Line and top GT-Line S models can officially travel up to 313 miles on a single charge. Every EV9 also comes with a heat pump to eke out range.
How long does it take to charge?
Compatible with both 400V and 800V charging infrastructure, with a charging speed up to 210kW, the Kia EV9 can be recharged from 10-80 per cent in around 25 minutes when connected to an ultra fast charger. A 50kW DC chargepoint will fill the same percentage of the battery in just under 90 minutes, and connect the big SUV to a
7.4kW home wallbox, and a flat to full refill takes a little over 14 hours.
How does it drive?
The EV9’s size makes a statement on its own, the car’s sharp-edged and futuristic ‘Opposites United’ design ethos detailing adding to the imposing appearance. It can’t be mistaken for anything else, and while introverts may stay away, Kia has to be applauded for making family EV transport this daring.
Inside, there’s a minimalist feel, with two 12.3-inch digital screens sandwiching a 5.3inch climate control display. The graphics are sharp and with a row of shortcut haptic buttons ‘etched’ into the dashboard below the screens, usability is given a helping hand. Materials feel as premium as rivals at this elevated price point, and sustainability is a selling point, with a big use of recycled plastics such as PET from postconsumer waste. A wheelbase of 3,100mm gives lots of room for everyone, and two USB-C ports in every seat row means every device should be catered for, too.
For such a big machine, the EV9 is incredibly refined on the move with hushed levels of wind and road noise. Performance from the 380bhp GT-Line S with all-wheel drive is brisk rather than outright quick, but the car hides its bulk
well, with the pace suitably quickened in ‘Sport’ mode, one of four available driving modes. The steering has heft with little feel, but is not artificially light. The car handles tidily and disguises its dimensions very well, although you are reminded of its size in more crowded urban streets. The ride is also very comfortable, as it should be for a family car. Regeneration is done by steering wheel-mounted paddles, which remains the best way to manage this function.
What does it cost?
Entering a new market and price sector, the EV9 sets out a stall almost as bold as its looks. The EV9 Air costs from £65,025 and is rearwheel drive only. Equipment includes 19-inch alloy wheels, auto flush exterior door handles, auto lights and wipers, LED headlights, heated, ventilated and powered front seats, rear privacy glass, a heated steering wheel, and three-zone climate control.
The GT-Line is priced from £73,275 and you’ll gain 21-inch alloy wheels, GT-Line exterior styling pack, adaptive LED headlights, alloy pedals, and a driver’s power adjustable memory seat with power adjustable front passenger seat. Starting at £76,025, the GT-Line S adds the option of six seats (with a choice of swivel seats in the second row), a head-up display, a tilt and slide sunroof, and a 14-speaker Meridian premium sound system.
How much does it cost to tax?
All Kia EV9 models are currently exempt from VED charges in their first and subsequent years of registration. The large South Korean EV SUV has a two per cent 2024-2025 Benefit In Kind (BIK) value.
Why does my fleet need one?
A flagship model with upmarket aspirations, the EV9 is a bold statement of intent. As a family car, it works well, its more than ample space and versatility key attributes that Kia has pleasingly recognised. High levels of finish and on-board technology are appealing and although the looks may be challenging for some drivers, the car is refreshingly different from its more
established and luxury-branded rivals. And for those, that should be a genuine worry.L
FURTHER INFORMATION
www.kia.co.uk
POWERTRAIN: 149kW (200bhp) electric motor, 99.8kWh battery, rear-wheel drive* / 281kW (378bhp) twin electric motors, 99.8kWh battery, all-wheel drive**
RANGE (WLTP, combined): 313**-349* miles
OFFICIAL EFFICIENCY (WLTP combined): 2.7**-3.0*mpkWh
CO2: 0g/km
VED: £0 first-year, £0 thereafter
BIK: 2%
PRICE (OTR): £65,025-£77,025 (including VAT)
*Air, **GT-Line / GT-Line S
KIA EV9
Hyundai Ioniq 6
Hyundai has taken many of the ingredients of its Ioniq 5 electric car and transplanted them into a more aerodynamically styled, but still spacious family EV. Richard Gooding finds out if the technological and efficiency recipe of the Ioniq 6 is even more enticing
What is it?
Previewed by the 2020 Hyundai Prophecy concept car, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 integrates many of its styling cues and technology from that vehicle. Launched in 2022, the South Korean company calls the Ioniq 6 an ‘electrified streamliner’. Designed for maximum efficiency, the car’s ‘fastback’ silhouette, low front surface, active air flaps and wheel gap reducers contribute to a low drag coefficient figure of 0.21. Sharing much of its charging and powertrain technology with the Ioniq 5 hatchback, just like that car, the Ioniq 6 is a boldly styled family EV with lots of onboard digital features.
What range does it have?
Just one 77.4kWh lithium-ion polymer battery is available on all Ioniq 6s, with an official WLTP combined single charge driving range of up to 322 miles on all-wheel drive models, and up to 338 miles on rear-wheel drive versions. A heat pump is standard on all Ioniq 6s.
How long does it take to charge?
Like the Kia EV9 also tested in this issue, the Ioniq 6 is based on the Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP EV 800V architecture. With a charging speed of up to 220kW, the battery will go from 10-80 per cent capacity in just 18 minutes. That same refill will take 73 minutes using a 50kW DC charger, and if you plug in the Hyundai to a 7.4kW connection,
a flat to full refill will take just under 12 hours. An 11kW on-board charger is standard.
The four-stage regenerative braking system is controlled by steering wheel-mounted paddles and tops up the battery on the move. A ‘smart’ function automatically controls the level of regen needed in reaction to the traffic ahead, and an ‘i-Pedal’ mode allows acceleration, deceleration, and stopping by only using the accelerator pedal.
How does it drive?
The Hyundai Ioniq 6’s ‘streamliner’ looks are divisively different from its Ioniq 5 relative, but whether you’re a fan or not, the Hyundai creates a striking impression with its curved styling and modern interpretations of retro features such as the ‘pixel’ rear lights.
Inside, ‘wings’ at either end of the dashboard house mirror cameras when optioned, but look good without them, adding a styling edge. Other neat touches include the semi-transparent door pockets and the mood lighting which reflects nicely on the ribbed door panels at night, and the twin 12.3-inch displays that add a futuristic feel. The screens are sharp, but some ‘easy’ functions are buried too deep in menus. However, a bank of physical shortcut buttons sits above the digital climate controls, for quick-recall guidance.
As with all EVs, the Ioniq 6 is very quiet on the move, no doubt helped by its slippery shape. Refined and comfortable, it handles tidily, and a
Model tested: Hyundai Ioniq 6 Ultimate 77.4kWh
selection of four driving modes – ‘Eco’, ‘Normal,’ ‘Sport’ and ‘Snow’ – allows you to tailor the driving experience. ‘Sport’ adds heft to the steering and dramatically ups the pace, but the car doesn’t really feel any more ‘sporty’ and you remain aware of its 2,000kg weight and family car-size dimensions. Those dimensions and near five-meter length does mean there is lots of room in the back, though.
What does it cost?
In a similar way to the simplified battery line-up, Hyundai has given drivers an easy choice of Ioniq 6 models. The £47,040.00 Premium is the entry point, and features 20-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, adaptive cruise control, a cloth interior, dual-zone climate control, heated front and rear outer seats, keyless entry, and a wireless smartphone charging pad.
The Ioniq 6 Ultimate as tested here is priced from £50,540. Additional highlights include autoflush exterior door handles, a Bose premium sound system, a head-up display, a sustainable leather interior, an electric tilt and slide sunroof, and a remote smart parking assist function. Both
trims can be chosen with either the rear-wheel drive, single motor, or all-wheel drive twin motor powertrain specification.
How much does it cost to tax?
As with all UK EVs, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 is currently exempt from VED charges in the first and subsequent years of registration. For 2024-2025, it attracts a two per cent Benefit In Kind (BIK) value.
Why does my fleet need one?
Its head turning looks won’t suit everyone, but the Ioniq 6 is a spacious EV that offers high levels of tech – from its powertrain, charging functionality as well as onboard features – in addition to a generous specification. Comfortable, quiet and different, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 will appeal to fleet drivers who want to stand out from the crowd but still desire premium car qualities and technology. L FURTHER
OFFICIAL EFFICIENCY (WLTP combined): 3.6**-3.8*mpkWh
GF EFFICIENCY: 3.1mpkWh
CO2: 0g/km
VED: £0 first-year, £0 thereafter
BIK: 2%
PRICE (OTR): £47,040-£50,540 (including VAT)
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