Managing a mixed fleet can be tough, but there are ways of easing the pain. Mark Young, corporate account director at AX Motor Assist, explains how.

As more fleets transition to electric vehicles, businesses are preparing for a future that’s cleaner, quieter and more cost-effective in the long term. But alongside the environmental and operational benefits, the shift to EVs introduces new challenges – particularly when it comes to accident management.

Minimising the financial risk that could occur due to a motoring incident is essential for any fleet operator, but as the UK’s car parc of vehicles transforms, companies increasingly need to develop strategies to accommodate different powertrains.

While fleet vehicles and company cars are helping to reduce overall vehicle emissions in the UK by driving uptake of plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and fully electric cars, fleet managers are finding that ensuring continuity of service following a collision involves more than just accessing a bodyshop capable of repairing electric cars.

We still need to win over sceptical drivers and make sure that an EV owner receives the same level of customer service and fast turnaround as an ICE car driver. Having worked alongside fleet managers for over a decade with AX and Motor Assist – the group’s motor claims and accident management service – I have seen some potential pain points and strategies to combat these, helping fleets to integrate EVs more efficiently.

Proper preparation

It is one thing to procure a fleet of EVs, but quite another to plan for unexpected mishaps that might take them off the road. By implementing preventive measures and having a plan in place, businesses can anticipate, prepare for and respond to any accident or incident without additional stress or cost to the business.

New figures show that while the number of vehicles on UK roads reached an all-time high in 2024, average emissions from fleets and company cars saw a decline — driven largely by the growing popularity of electric vehicles.

According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the total number of vehicles in use in the UK rose by 1.4% in 2024, reaching 41.96 million. But, while the number of vehicles on our roads has increased, the rise in zero- and low-emission vehicles contributed to an overall 1.6% drop in average car CO2 emissions.

There are now more than 1.3 million fully electric cars on the roads in the UK – making up over 3.7% of all cars. When combined with PHEVs, plug-in vehicles now account for 5.1% (2.16 million) of the total vehicle parc. With businesses spearheading much of the growth in EV sales, the biggest increase came from the company car sector, where emissions fell 5.6%, helped by favourable BiK tax policies and an expanding range of electric models. By comparison, private car emissions dropped by only 1.0%.

With company car drivers adopting EVs at a faster rate than retail customers, for fleets, maintaining continuity and minimising vehicle downtime by planning for when incident occur is crucial. This means having access to a robust network of repairers capable of safely and quickly fixing any damage. But that is far from the only consideration and, on its own, is no small undertaking, especially for smaller fleets which often don’t have any third-party supplier support to help with claims or accident management.

In search of a quick fix

One of the biggest pitfalls in integrating EVs is assuming that traditional fleet processes apply seamlessly. Electric vehicles differ significantly in construction, repair protocols and availability of replacement parts. In the event of a collision, these differences can dramatically extend downtime. For instance, minor damage to a battery casing can render a vehicle undriveable for weeks due to safety protocols and a shortage of specialist repairers. We strongly recommend working with an accident management partner that has an established network of repairers which are fully EV-equipped and capable.

For fleet managers, vehicle downtime means business disruption. Unlike internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, EVs require more specialised recovery and repair services. Not all body shops are equipped to handle high-voltage systems – and sourcing EV-specific parts can take longer. Even a relatively minor incident can leave an EV off the road far longer than expected and that is why a tailored accident management strategy is extremely important.

Management plan

Even small fleets, especially those with job-need vehicles, will benefit from a well-thought-out plan. Motor Assist is known for its end-to-end accident management services, but businesses can also benefit from its modular approach which allows a company to select the exact services they require without committing to a full package.

Whether coordinated in-house or externally, accident management can mitigate risks by providing a structured, EV-appropriate response when things go wrong. From rapid recovery to coordinating with certified EV repair centres, in most cases it will help get vehicles back on the road faster. Some providers also offer telematics integration to improve incident detection, improve risk exposure and streamline claims reporting – vital for reducing delays at every step of the process.

Fleet operators should also consider having contingency plans for temporary replacement EVs. This can be achieved through short-term rental partnerships but that is not the most cost-effective or efficient route. Motor Assist provides an EV-for-EV guarantee, meaning business drivers do not have to step back into an ICE when theirs is off the road, which also benefits the business by not compromising its environmental policy. Replacing an EV for another EV ensures continuity of service, especially if a vehicle is awaiting specialist repair.

Intelligence and integration

Technology has an increasingly important role to play, too. As with ICE cars, fleet operators can benefit from accurate and integrated reporting. Data can be incredibly powerful, but it is the way it is packaged that determines its usefulness. Motor Assist ensures a seamless and consistent flow of data across our services which maximises operational efficiency for our own business and for our partners.

Recently, we have integrated our systems with a powerful data intelligence tool, enabling live and real-time data to be published exactly how our partners wish to see it, either through customised dashboards or into their own interfaces. This means they can make quicker, more accurate decisions and manage risk more effectively.

Integrating EVs into a fleet is more than just swapping vehicles – it’s about reorganising operational infrastructure. By planning for incidents before they happen, fleet managers can ensure a smoother, safer, and more efficient EV transition, helping to keep vehicles on the road without compromising the business or driver.