The mass adoption of electric vehicles within UK businesses will require expert guidance for fleet managers and decision-makers so they can overcome the challenges of transition, according to a leading expert.
Giles Bolton, Grosvenor Leasing’s sales director, explains that in 2022 companies leased or purchased nearly 200,000 electric vehicles and, according to SMMT data, a total of 314,687 BEVs were registered throughout 2023.
Yet with a greater share of company fleets being taken by EVs, fleet managers will also encounter the ‘hard yards’ of the zero-emission transition.
“In the very early years, our experience was that electric vehicle uptake was typically led by drivers who were EV evangelists,” said Giles. “These were early adopters who were knowledgeable, keen to change and advocates of emission-free driving.
“The second, larger phase, of EV uptake at Grosvenor Leasing has been down to the proactivity and expertise of our 0Zone team.
“Since 2017, the 0Zone team has been working closely with our fleet customers to develop appealing ULEV and EV choice lists and car policies as well as educating, supporting and advising drivers. This has been extremely successful with over 90% of vehicles ordered by Grosvenor Leasing customers now having plug-in or self-charging capability.
“However, there is still resistance to moving to fully electric vehicles by some drivers and, where this is the case, companies will need even greater proactivity and support.
“This will involve heightened education and training on EVs, reassurance and advice regarding charging and range, raising awareness about the financial and tax benefits of choosing an EV, and more support around the suitability of electric vehicles to meet drivers’ job roles and personal lifestyles.
“It will also be important to demonstrate that a complete support structure is in place for drivers of EVs, as resistance to change can often be due to a fear of the unknown.”
When Grosvenor Leasing launched its 0Zone solution 7 years ago, it was seen at the time as a pioneering step in the fleet sector. The 0Zone team was one of the first in the UK fleet sector to begin proactively advising and supporting companies and drivers with the transition to electric vehicles, offering guidance around the financial, operational and environmental benefits of adopting alternative fuels.
At the time there were very few viable electric company cars available, the charging infrastructure was in its relative infancy and uptake was low. However, by recognising back then that it was important to begin building a robust proposition around ULEVs and EVs, Grosvenor has steadily established itself as a market leader in the support it offers to electric vehicle drivers – from when they first begin choosing their EV through to their time on the road.
“By demonstrating to our customers and their drivers that we have a nationwide and accessible servicing, maintenance and repair network in place for EVs, as well as robust accident management and breakdown policies, helps encourage the less willing drivers to move out of the comfort zone of always having had a traditional petrol or diesel car,” continued Giles.
“Also providing support with charging concerns goes a long way to encourage the more resistant drivers into the new era of alternative fuels. It is important to give them maximum reassurance that having an EV is a good choice, particularly as many of the headlines they will read are about charging issues, the slow pace of growth of the public infrastructure and range anxiety.
“Of course, we have to be pragmatic as there are still drivers who may not yet be well-suited to a fully electric car; perhaps due to where they live and work, the type of job they do and the miles they cover.
“However, there are still large numbers of drivers who could very readily go fully electric with their next car, and it is important to support these in reaching the right decision. After all, any petrol or diesel car added to a fleet now is likely to be there until 2026 or 2027, which slows down the green agenda for the business.
“Leaving it until 2026 or 2027 to go electric also gives less time before the Government’s 2035 deadline comes into effect."
As part of its EV transition proposition, Grosvenor Leasing has seen a very large uptake in salary sacrifice schemes, which opens up another avenue for employees to move into their first electric car.
The popularity of Grosvenor Leasing’s scheme is down to drivers being able to save up to 40% on a salary sacrifice EV compared to a personal lease, as well as the Grosvenor scheme being virtually risk free for both employee and employer.
By including salary sacrifice into an employee benefits package can also go a long way to help reduce the strain on grey fleet management, the term used for drivers who use their own vehicle for business use, because it makes brand new, zero emission cars more affordable to those drivers who may otherwise have opted for a higher emission, and older, second hand car.
“Salary sacrifice for electric vehicles is definitely worth looking into if you have not done so already,” said Giles, “as the benefits are so widespread, and we have a specialist team at Grosvenor who can answer questions and quickly put a scheme in place for you.”