This is the fun part. Most Fleet Managers think it should be the first step. Though with the rapid pace of development with zero emission vehicles, the vehicles on sale are changing each month. If you complete the first 4 steps, your organisation will be for any EV that suits the operational requirements of the business.
Step 5 – Evaluate the available EVs in the market to determine a suitable vehicle.
Now you can move onto the fun part because all the hard work is done. The data from Step 1, and the employee feedback from Step 3 will guide your decision when combined with a Total Cost of Ownership Calculation (TOC).
This is not the first step because adding electric vehicles to your fleet is not simple process. For most businesses, the fleet is not considered an important part of delivering service to customers or generating. They are tools used by the business and nobody notices then until they stop working.
Switching to electric vehicles will bring the fleet into focus and if you haven’t prepared for the challenges and disruptions, the business will not accept the change. If the key stakeholders have been involved in the journey, they are more likely to get behind the project and make it a success.
So after all the hard work, multiple meeting and constructive driver feedback, it’s time to enjoy the traditional vehicle selection process and pick the EVs that are the right fit for your fleet.
What if you’re not ready for EVs?
So what can you do now with the current fleet to reduce emissions? You can start by taking a close look at how much petrol or diesel you currently buy. The total amount may surprise you. It’s often the second biggest cost in running a fleet after asset depreciation. Once you start measuring the number of litres each month you can start measuring it. And then finding ways to reduce it.
Hybrids vehicles are a good stepping stone to electric vehicles. They will reduce the carbon emissions from your fleet without the need to invest in charging infrastructure. Your employees will be given a taste of EV driving at low speeds and when braking.
