Fleet services company IFC Group and electric vehicle consultancy AnnexusEV have created a joint venture that can help businesses maximise the opportunities of switching to EVs.

The JV has gained significant traction since it was founded in the summer of 2021, and the firms say they’re being inundated with enquiries

The electric vehicle consultancy is designed to offer an end-to-end solution for fleets looking to go electric; from the vehicles themselves to charge points and the optimum green tariffs.

The partnership has already gained significant traction since it was founded in the summer of 2021, and the firms say they’re being inundated with enquiries from FTSE 100 and 250 companies eager to reduce their carbon footprint.

Paul Talbot, chairman of IFC Group, said the fleet vehicle sector is rapidly shifting as electric cars and vans become more affordable and their range improves, and added that there was a clear need for an all-in-one vehicle and charging solution.

“The challenges presented by the switch to electric vehicles have fleet managers and drivers scratching their heads, as they seek to encourage staff to relinquish internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in exchange for electric. With the traditional internal combustion engine, there is a source of fuel every few miles and now, to make the switch to a greener fleet, they need to install charge points, not only at the office but also at employees’ homes. That implies more cost and stress – the exact opposite of what we want to offer our clients. That was why we formed this JV with AnnexusEV, who really understand the EV charging market and green energy market and can guide the process of switching with ease.”

The JV is intended to “join up the dots” so businesses can ensure optimum carbon and cost savings from operating electric vehicles.

Jonny Duggan, CEO of AnnexusEV, explained: “By joining forces with IFC, we are able to offer fleet managers a complete ecosystem as they transition to a reduced CO2 fleet. We can support them to find the best vehicles, install charging points at the office and at employees’ homes and consult around electrical availability where needed.

“There is no point, however, in moving to a green fleet if the electricity supply powering these vehicles is coming from fossil fuels, so we also advise on the best green energy tariffs for both the company at all their premises and their staff members for their domestic supply. This further reduces the overall carbon footprint and also takes into account the change in usage EVs will present so possibly offers them savings.”

The electric vehicle consultancy can also provide ongoing support for fleets after the initial move to EVs and generate greenhouse gas emissions reports to demonstrate how the switch is making a difference.