Jason Chamberlain, sales and marketing director at Rivus Fleet Solutions, has marked Clean Air Day by speaking up on the importance of switching to electric vehicles now.

Jason Chamberlain, sales and marketing director at Rivus Fleet Solutions

The business is already preparing for the switch to electric itself and is calling for more fleets and drivers to explore EVs now, rather than waiting for the 2030 ICE ban to loom.

There are numerous health and environmental benefits for buying an electric vehicle; according to www.cleanairday.org.uk, air pollution causes up to 36,000 deaths in the UK every year.

But Rivus says many don’t know about the long-term financial advantages of EVs. Analysis from Rivus Fleet Solutions shows making the switch from petrol and diesel vehicles can be just as cost-effective in the long run. Even though the price of an electric vehicle may currently cost more than a petrol or diesel model upfront, the total running costs are lower which makes switching a longer-term investment.

Work is also underway to resolve charging issues; 2.8% of all 24,201 UK charging points (663) were installed in the 30 days prior to 10 June 2021.

Jason Chamberlain said: “We regularly speak to customers to identify the pressure points of switching to electric vehicles and although more needs to be done to educate and break down barriers, there are positive signs when it comes to UK infrastructure and support.

“The Government has just consulted on improving the customer experience in the public charging network and incentives are already in place to support the installation of chargers at home or at the workplace. We feel this will help build confidence towards electric vehicle uptake.

“Demand for electric light commercial vehicles is very high at the moment and this is putting pressure on manufacturers to deliver. When electric vehicle technology and infrastructure improves, it’s likely we’ll see an increase in manufacturer competition and production. This can only be good for the roll-out of electric vehicles and more competitive prices for customers.”