Fleets Contemplate Whether To Make The Switch To Electric Or Delay…
Recent research has indicated that fleet owners are conflicted over when to make the switch to a fully electric fleet.
Over the last few months, there have been conflicting reasons to push the button or to hit pause depending on your circumstances.
The government’s delay on the ban of the production of new petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicles to 2035 (from 2030) means that many will be reconsidering their position and whether the issue is as urgent as it previously was.
But recent advancements such as the number of electric vehicle (EV) chargers in the UK increasing by 45% during 2023 have increased confidence that the infrastructure is improving.
That figure doesn’t quite tell the whole picture, though, with the government missing its own target of having six or more 150-350kW chargers at every motorway service station in England by the end of December 2023.
Is Now The Time To Switch To EVs?
For many fleets, the changeover to EVs is already well underway (or complete!).
The issue has been both the infrastructure (access to rapid charging points at service stations and other locations) and the range of battery-electric vehicles.
And just a few months ago, a study found that three-quarters of fleets were postponing their plans to go electric because of rising costs.
The reality is that fleets are feeling the pinch more than most, with costs rising on the commodities they use such as fuel, energy in warehouses and depots and raw material costs.
Part of the issue is that there was an expectation that more EVs would be entering the market, but progress has been slowed by a variety of factors in recent years.
Recent figures indicated that EVs didn’t increase their market share in the way experts predicted in 2023, which leaves a slightly uncertain year ahead.
What About The Charging Point Problem?
Car industry experts have stated that the UK needs to install ‘millions’ more charging points for electric vehicles (EVs).
And while an uplift in the number of off-road charging points is a positive point, the concerns around access and availability still remain.
For fleets to have the confidence to put their longer-haul services in the hands of EVs will take a significant improvement in the infrastructure, which mainly means an increase in the number of public charging points around the country.
Experts believe the UK will need more than 2 million new charging points across the UK so that all drivers and fleets have the confidence to invest in the latest low-emission technology.
And given the pushback of the internal combustion engine (ICE) ban to 2035, it leaves questions for fleets that may well lead to a pause in their electric switch plans.
So, has your fleet made the switch to electric? If not, is it in the pipeline? And if not, what is your thought process – are you put off by the infrastructure or the pushback of the ICE ban?
