FAN: What’s the buzz at Chevin and among customers in the UK and Australia about EVs?
Ashley: As a fairly new addition to the automotive marketplace, there are a number of pros and cons to using EV vehicles in a fleet. Low emissions make them a strong contender for town and city driving – where charges or bans might apply for vehicles emitting harmful pollutants – not to mention the comparatively low cost of charging EVs, which provides significant potential for reducing fuel expenditure. Considerable savings can also be made thanks to low maintenance and fueling costs that are attached to EV models.
When it comes to adopting EV vehicles into fleet, a lot of organisations will also be concerned with corporate reputation. For those who are always in the public eye and wanting to actively promote their ‘green’ initiatives – for example local governments or universities – electric vehicles are a great first step in showing their commitment to the planet.
FAN: How viable are they presently in the UK/Australia?
Ashley: EVs require less servicing and maintenance than vehicles with internal combustion engines, however, there is only a very small range of models available compared to conventionally-fueled vehicles, initial purchase costs are considerably higher and, generally speaking, EV vehicles are better suited to short-distance journeys.
FAN: What would you like to see happen as quickly as possible?
Ashley: At Chevin, it’s our belief that implementing result-driven decisions based on sound and accurate knowledge about fleet operations is the best strategy for weathering changes in the most efficient manner – so we recommend taking steps to gather as much data as possible, to help make more balanced decisions about fuel choices. It’s less about staying on trend, and more about procuring the correct vehicles for your operation.
Ultimately, we don’t know exactly what changes the future will bring – and there’s really no single or simple answer to the question of what fuel to use in your fleet. But as always, the best decisions will be made by those organisations that are proactive rather than reactive.
