What are the best ways to maximise EV fleet efficiency aside from vehicle line-up is one thing. Industry experts share their thoughts…

Smart habits and planning

Caroline Sandall-Mansergh, consultancy and channels development manager, Alphabet

When switching from ICE to EV, preparation and planning become an important part of the transition Education is key, and simple tips and tricks can help change driving habits and make a real impact.

Changing driving habits can make all the difference when it comes to extending battery range. Smooth and gentle driving will improve safety, increase range and reduce component wear. Reading the road ahead avoids unnecessary braking and acceleration, ultimately saving energy.

Considering energy efficiency when planning routes is essential. For instance, using motorways and A-roads is much more efficient than rural B-roads and urban roads. In low-speed limit areas, energy consumption and emissions increase, so effective journey and charging planning helps to avoid reducing the EV’s range by having to detour to find a charger.

Limiting climate control use can also improve range. During hot weather, preconditioning the car can provide a comfortable start to the journey. With cold temperatures, heated steering wheel and seat options offer a more energy-efficient option. While cold weather can reduce range more, EVs experience only about a 12% range reduction in the cold when heaters are off, as opposed to 41% with climate control in use.

Taking care of the battery is crucial as its health directly impacts range in the long term. Try to keep the state of charge (SoC) between 10 and 80%, only going to 100% for long journeys. Rapid chargers should be used sparingly to avoid overheating and degrading the battery.

While looking at range is an important factor when choosing an EV, drivers can also look beyond this if their range is not meeting their journey requirements when frequently charging away from home or work. For instance, EVs with quicker charging speeds can mitigate the time resource needed to charge on the go.

These simple considerations can make a huge difference when it comes to driving an EV day-to-day. Fleet managers, along with suppliers, can be trusted as expert sources to help drivers understand the best ways they can help to not only reduce the cost of driving by reducing energy consumption, but also lowering the risk of vehicle wear and tear.

Overcoming EV adoption challenges

Mark Newberry, commercial director, Europcar Mobility Group

Creating easy access to greener vehicles is critical to reduce the environmental impact of a company’s fleet. However, employers not only need to think about how to integrate EVs into their fleet and encourage efficient use, but how to get employees on board in the first place. It’s fundamental to win hearts and minds when it comes to making the switch to low and zero emissions, with recent Europcar research among 300 businesses finding that just over a quarter experience employee resistance to driving electric.

Businesses and drivers need to understand what is right for them, now and in the future – and a try-before-you-buy rental option gives the driver and employer a real-world picture of all areas of electric vehicle driving and ownership. This not only provides the reassurance that the investment in a greener fleet will work with operations and bring business benefits. It also provides the opportunity to dispel any concerns drivers have regarding charging infrastructure and driving range.

Where and when vehicles are charged is another factor that goes to the heart of EV fleet efficiency. And the more control that can be placed on this process, the better – not just for managing cost, but also employee time and productivity.

In our recent research more than half of organisations surveyed reported that they provide charging facilities; 52% contribute to the cost of at-home charging for their employees. Half also provide EV drivers with company charging cards for charging in other locations. Plus, there’s clear intent to adjust infrastructure in the future. A total of 89% of those businesses who don’t currently offer any charging facilities on-site were looking to change in the next three years.

It’s encouraging to see the investment companies are already making or willing to make to help cut costs and improve efficiency as well as reduce their impact on the environment. Europcar has a range of solutions and experts to help these organisations on their sustainability journey.

Data-driven EV fleet charging

Natasha Fry, head of sales, Mer Fleet Services

Understanding the data behind an electric fleet is key to maximising its efficiency. This not only includes the vehicles themselves – telematics offer important insights into how far a vehicle travels per shift and its battery charge status – but also the infrastructure that will be powering the fleet.

Fleet managers can make informed, considered judgements when choosing the right EV charging for their fleet with the right data. There are several important metrics to consider during the early stages of installing EV charging infrastructure, one of which is understanding the capacity of your grid connection. EV chargers use a considerable amount of energy, and increasing the number of EVs in a fleet will place higher demand on your grid connection.

Discovering how much power is available from the distribution network operator (DNO) will help deduce whether there is adequate capacity to supply the chargers a fleet requires, or whether a higher-capacity grid connection is needed. In calculating how much power is used (‘maximum demand’) by looking at energy bills or collecting insights from the energy management system, fleets can gain a clearer picture of the number and type of EV chargers that can be installed for their vehicles without risking a power outage.

Considering load balancing technology with EV chargers can also help overcome the power challenges that come with growing demand for fleet EV charging without the need for an expensive power connection upgrade.

Mer provides trusted EV charging solutions for fleets across the UK. To help fleet and last mile delivery logistics managers better understand the process of investing in the right EV charging infrastructure, Mer has produced a guide that covers a step-by-step approach to installing EV charging.