Are Electric Vehicles Right for Your Fleet?

With the uptick in action around the issue of global climate change, electric vehicles are taking center stage as the future of transportation. 

Electric vehicles (EV) have already been operating in North America, Europe, and some parts of Asia for some time, but with the deadline for CO2 initiatives arriving quickly, it’s becoming more and more imperative that businesses begin weighing their options for buying into EV technology for their fleet needs. 

So, how do you know if electric vehicles are the best move for your fleet? Here are some ideas to help you weigh your options. 

Benefits v. Challenges of EVs

The three biggest challenges to transitioning to an EV fleet: 

• Finding vehicles that fit the purpose of your business 
• Choosing best EV technology for your ROI 
• Making sure infrastructure exists that can support your fleet activities. 

Let’s address these one at a time. 

Find EVs that fit your needs

Every business is different, and the vehicles in your fleet are chosen with your customers in mind. That’s why companies like WalMart, FedEx, UPS, Anheuser-Busch, and more are buying EV fleets from top manufacturers like Volvo, Tesla, Ford, Daimler, Workhorse, and others that are building semi-trucks, buses, refuse trucks, vans, cars, and trucks that deliver to every industry need. 

If you need an electric semi-truck that can drive 500 miles on one charge, Tesla is building it. If you need a bus, BYD has it ready to go. If you need a truck, van, or car to deliver goods for your customers, Ford builds them. For more about this, check out this article from GreenBiz.  

Find best EV prices for your ROI

It’s been a long-help perception that a fleet of EVs was too expensive for most businesses around the globe; however, with subsidies and tax breaks in many countries, the cost of replacing fleet vehicles with EVs is about equal to replacing them with non-electric vehicles. 

Certainly it’s not yet completely possible for every business, but it’s getting there quickly due to global pressure to incentivize EV purchases. 

Infrastructure to support EVs?

Two major costs to consider: 

1. If you have a fleet large enough to need a fueling station on-site, you’ll need to consider the cost of replacing it with charging stations for EVs. 
   
   
2. If your drivers park their vehicles at home, many of their garages will need to be retrofitted to charge their EVs overnight. 

If your fleet depends on infrastructure, research EV charging stations in your area and on your driver’s routes. Here an article on apps and options to help you find charging stations for EVs. 

Consider how long the EVs you need for your fleet hold a charge. Compare the infrastructure in your area to the miles per charge. Is there enough? Maybe not now, but they’re coming fast.

The largest cost for an ICE fleet is in fossil fuel. Though the initial cost of transitioning to an EV fleet is large, the savings in fuel over time is larger. 

Fleet management software that integrates complete GPS tracking and telematics solutions is a tool that can give you the data you need to make a strong decision about the future of your fleet. 

Nexxo Fleet offers the most comprehensive software solution for fleet management, telematics, and GPS tracking in the business. Schedule a demo today and see for yourself what we can do for you.