Volkswagen Financial Services | Fleet has launched a new tool to help fleets make the switch to electric vehicles.

The tool explores fleet EV progress in five areas of readiness – overall, driver, vehicle, infrastructure and cost – and provides guidance on future action

Dubbed the EV Maturity Tool, the new solution is designed to help fleet managers assess how far along they are in their journey to an electric fleet. Rather than simply looking at whether they are ready or not to make the switch, the tool helps fleet managers self-assess how ready they are to switch engine type against a series of categories.

At the end, users are presented with their actual position on the maturity scale, as well as their progress in five areas of readiness; overall, driver, vehicle, infrastructure, and cost. Finally, they are presented with a series of resources depending on the identified areas in need of development.

The tool has been developed after research by VWFS | Fleet’s customer advisory board, a roundtable of existing customers including Manchester United FC and Eddie Stobart, found that many businesses feel uncertain and often overwhelmed when it comes to whether they’re ready to switch to EVs, if at all. The board also found that many customers thought they stood at a different stage in their EV journey compared to how ready they were in reality, and needed more guidance from their leasing company.

The new tool marks the third launched by the firm, following The Future Fleet Analysis tool and the EV-4-ME? tool also introduced by the multi-marque leasing company this year.

Tom Brewer, head of sales and marketing at VWFS | Fleet, commented: “We understand the pressure on fleets to consider switching to EV but with so many factors to consider, it can be overwhelming and often a costly decision that many fleet managers don’t feel able to make. Through our EV consideration hub, a growing suite of online tools and a team of experts we are here to support fleet operators, VWFS customers or not, feel confident in making the right decisions for the short and long term.”

The VWFS | Fleet EV Maturity Tool is now available at https://www.vwfsfleet.co.uk/electric-car-van-ready-tool/