The company is providing DriveElectric’s ‘Complete’ salary sacrifice solution to its employees, which includes insurance and early termination protection.

Also, a Pod Point 7kW Solo 3 home charger with an exclusive EV tariff can be included in the package if required.

Salary sacrifice enables employees to save up to 40% on an EV by exchanging part of their salary; the gross amount sacrificed reduces the employee’s income tax and national insurance (NIC) liability, as well as the employer’s NIC liability.

The scheme also helps employers to attract, reward and retain the best employees, and accelerate an organisation’s progress towards its net zero goals.

Customers can search, select and order an EV entirely online and businesses can control and oversee salary sacrifice leases using DriveElectric’s EV Hub.

Founded in 1898, Norton has won eight World Championships and 94 TTs, and the company is currently developing an electric motorbike as part of an expansion programme.

Mike Potter, Managing Director of DriveElectric, said, “Employees can save thousands of pounds per year on new or used EVs, with zero tailpipe emissions minimising impacts on climate change and local air quality.

“Norton’s employees receive support throughout the journey from our EV experts, ensuring that knowledgeable answers are provided to any questions about electric cars and charging.”

Rob Ridgway, Head of Human Resources, Norton Motorcycles said, “Motorcycles already represent a sustainable way of getting around but giving our ‘Nortoneers’ the option to take an electric car via salary sacrifice amplifies our collective contribution to a decreased carbon footprint and is a lovely additional perk we’re offering to our enthusiastic team.”

The post Norton offers staff DriveElectric EV salary sacrifice scheme appeared first on theenergyst.com.

The rollout, part of a £9m UK-wide investment, sees the addition of both the fully electric Mercedes E-Vito Ambulance and Nissan Leaf pool car to the member-owned organisation’s operational fleet, as well as the introduction of the fully electric Ford Mustang Mach e Etive limousine and hearse.

These vehicles have already been made available across East London, Bristol and Leeds, and the rollout, which also includes the addition of EV charging points in all corresponding locations, will continue across the UK throughout 2024.

With each new EV averaging a one and a half tonne CO₂ reduction when driven compared to their hybrid predecessors, the move comes as part of a wider commitment by Co-op to be net zero across the entire business by 2040, as outlined in its latest Climate Plan.

Gill Stewart, Managing Director at Co-op Funeralcare, said, “Funerals are changing, and we know how important it is to our member owners and clients that we explore more sustainable options and elements of the service for when they come to us to arrange their loved one’s funeral.

“This is also a significant investment for us, and a key step in our ambition to replace our full fleet of vehicles with fully electric alternatives by 2035, alongside our priority to be net zero across our entire business by 2040.

“We’re pleased to be expanding our fleet with the addition of our brand new all-electric vehicles, and we look forward to expanding the rollout across the UK.”

The post Co-op begins rollout of all-electric funeral fleet appeared first on theenergyst.com.

The company selected the ID. Buzz Cargo to help reduce its fleet emissions footprint, with the van’s official test (WLTP) electric range of between 252 and 254 miles, depending on trim, allowing access to properties in the Ultra-Low Emissions Zone.

Volkswagen’s all-electric van offers a payload volume of 3.9m2 and a maximum loading width of 1.7m, height of 1.3m and length of 2.2m, providing practicality for Wates and its customers.

Craig Cavanagh, National Fleet Manager at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, said, “Wates Property Services selected our ID. Buzz Cargo and Transporter panel van due to their outstanding abilities as a work tool, paired with great comfort and flexibility for the drivers as they support their network of properties.

“We’re confident that the vehicles will exceed the expectations of the finance team, with low-running costs making it the perfect partner for the whole business.”

David Morgan, Executive Managing Director of Wates Property Services, said Wates required a fleet of larger vehicles that combine a good payload, space and flexibility for larger jobs.

He added, “Since 2021, we have introduced 55 fully electric vehicles, replacing some of our older diesel vans.

“Our latest investment into electrifying our fleet highlights our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint in our operations and the work we do on behalf of our customers to support a thriving planet.”

The post Wates adds 60 Volkswagen electric vans to fleet appeared first on theenergyst.com.

The vehicles, which have been supplied through Scot Group, trading as Thrifty Car and Van Rental, include seven Ford E-Transit electric vans and a zero emission BMW iX1.

They have been on the roads of the capital since March 2024, supporting campus operations between King’s College London sites at Denmark Hill, Guy’s, Waterloo and Strand.

With a range of 180 to 200 miles on a full charge – which is typical performance for one of the new vans – the switch will help decrease King’s long-term carbon footprint in line with its Climate & Sustainability Action Plan.

In addition, the vans are wrapped in a fully recyclable self-adhesive film and liner, and after their lifespan the liveries will be fully recycled.

Nick O’Donnell, Director of Estates and Facilities, said, “We are delighted to have introduced our new electric vehicle fleet for use on and around our campuses.

“These new vehicles represent another positive step toward reducing our carbon footprint at King’s.

“We have worked to source and wrap the new vehicles using fully recyclable self-adhesive film and liner which will now be seen across our campuses in their vibrant green branding showcasing King’s sustainability in action.”

Professor Frans Berkhout, Assistant Principal (King’s Climate & Sustainability), said, “In the past few years, we have made significant progress on decarbonising our electricity supply, investing in on-site renewables and signing a Power Purchase Agreement with wind farms to supply nearly one-fifth of our annual electricity baseload.

“Being able to welcome the electric fleet across King’s is another step toward a net zero carbon future.”

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A total of five electric vans will be used by neighbourhood wardens dealing with stray dogs. These join the electric refuse collection vehicles, eight electric pool cars and two other midi vans already on the fleet.

This year, Durham County Council hosted the third Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) roadshow at Durham Town Hall. The event, organised by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV), PA consultants, and the Energy Saving Trust, looked at accessible EV charging and how to expand EV fleets and secure procurement contracts, and attracted more than 100 attendees from local authorities across England.

A funding pot of £383 million is available over the next two years for councils to apply for EV infrastructure projects. Cllr Mark Wilkes, Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and climate change, said: “Reducing carbon emissions within our own services is a key priority for us as we aim to tackle climate change as a county.

“We are replacing smaller vehicles that are at the end of their use with electric versions, which in the long term will significantly reduce our carbon output as a council, and aim to be able to replace our larger vehicles with EVs in the future. We have also increased our renewable energy production to charge these vehicles. This scheme coincides with our aim to make electric charging more accessible across the county. We are currently in the process of installing 250 public EV charge points, so that residents have the option to travel more sustainably.”

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What’s better for business: pure EV or hybrid fleets?

There’s a fair amount of choice – and a lot of abbreviated names – around, though. So, it’s important to understand the options, their respective environmental credentials and their likely cost impact for your organisation.

Here, we compare the different technologies that could help electrify your fleet.

Battery electric vehicles

These are vehicles that run solely on electricity. They’ve got large batteries which drivers need to plug in to charge before driving. They haven’t got any other fuel inputs, so while their full abbreviation is BEV, the ‘B’ is optional.

As an increasing proportion of generated electricity comes from renewable sources, BEVs are a more sustainable alternative to ICE vehicles. They produce no carbon emissions or harmful ‘tailpipe’ pollution.

EVs are cheaper to run than ICE or hybrid (see below) vehicles, as electricity’s cheaper per mile than petrol or diesel, and carries no fuel duty. They’re also exempt from clean-air zone charges and offer tax benefits.

With fewer moving parts than traditionally powered or hybrid vehicles, EVs tend to incur lower maintenance costs, too.

Their upfront purchase or lease prices are high, though, so it’s worth carrying out total cost of ownership (TCO) calculations to project the financial impact of switching to an EV fleet. A pure EV fleet also has the potential to become an asset rather than a cost centre as vehicle to grid (V2G) charging comes onstream at scale.

Upsides of BEVs

• Zero ‘tailpipe’ emissions
• Valuable incentives to switch
• Potentially lower whole-life costs than petrol, diesel or hybrid vehicles
• A future-proof choice, particularly given the approaching ban on the manufacture of petrol and diesel vehicles

Downsides of BEVs

• Investment in charging facilities likely to be necessary
• On-site charging facilities may require additional electric infrastructure
• You may require an audit of your organisation’s – and your fleet drivers’ – needs before making the business case for EVs

Hybrid vehicles

Mild hybrid vehicles

‘MHEVs’ are effectively ICE vehicles with a more powerful starter motor called a belt alternator starter (or a 40V battery). This enables them to recover energy that’d normally be lost in braking.

MHEVs use this energy to recharge their battery, which then helps to turn the wheels, offering some improvements to torque and efficiency. They’re very rarely powered by electricity alone, often using petrol as a reserve for when the electricity runs out.

Mild hybrids are a step in the right direction towards sustainability. However, their reliance on a secondary fuel means that there are still associated tailpipe emissions.

As a result of the secondary fuel, hybrids may have a greater range than BEVs. If greater sustainability is the goal, however, then hybrids won’t be the best solution.

Self-charging hybrid vehicles

These vehicles (often called just ‘hybrids’ or ‘HEVs’) combine an ICE – usually petrol driven – with an electric motor and a much bigger battery pack than their mild hybrid cousins. They charge their batteries through regenerative braking and via the ICE.

An HEV’s battery can power the vehicle on its own – though rarely for more than a couple of miles at a time. HEVs typically rely on a combination of battery and ICE for power.

Like mild hybrids, the use of a secondary fuel means HEVs still produce tailpipe emissions.

Plug-in hybrid vehicles

These combine an ICE with an electric motor and a much larger battery pack that can charge from mains electricity.

Battery-only driving range is generally greater than it is for self-charging hybrids. However, many plug-in hybrid owners charge their batteries infrequently. This makes them less efficient over time and leads to reliance on the ICE for the majority of mileage, leading to greater emissions and fuel costs.

Upsides of hybrids

• Potentially greater fuel economy than comparable ICE vehicles
• Lower carbon emissions than comparable ICE vehicles
• Cheaper vehicle excise duty than comparable ICE vehicles
• Exempt from some ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ) and congestion charging zone fees

Downsides of hybrids

• All hybrids still produce carbon emissions and tailpipe pollution unless in electric-only mode
• Less opportunity to benefit financially from smart charging and potential V2G services
• Interim technology that may become outdated as the Government’s 2030 deadline for ICE-vehicle manufacture approaches

BEVs are the most sustainable option when it comes to commercial fleets.

Any progress, however, is better than no progress. If hybrid EVs are more appropriate for your organisation’s specific needs, they’re the right option – and still a step in the right direction in terms of reducing emissions.

If you’re thinking of switching from ICEs to EVs, get in touch with the Drax Electric Vehicles team today to find out how they can help you.

The post Understanding the options for transitioning your business fleet appeared first on theenergyst.com.

But the cost savings that EVs bring on fuel aren’t always fully appreciated.

Those savings can be enormous – especially when multiplied across a whole commercial fleet over its entire lifetime.

The cost of electricity per unit tends to be much cheaper than petrol and diesel. And you can amplify the saving by charging your EVs at off-peak times when electricity’s even cheaper.

If you generate low-carbon electricity through your own renewable assets – e.g. by having wind turbines or solar panels – then the power your fleet depends on could be even cheaper. And, as vehicle-to-grid (V2G) charging develops, your fleet could become a revenue stream too, driving greater value for your organisation.

So, how do you quantify fuel cost savings after the switch to EVs? First, discover how much it might cost to give a ‘typical’ EV fleet one full charge of electricity from the grid.

How much does it cost to charge a typical fleet EV?

INSERT IMAGE 1

It costs roughly £22 to charge the EV and travel 245 miles. But how does that compare with a ‘typical’ internal combustion engine (ICE) fleet vehicle?

By dividing the total cost of fuel by the range, we can calculate a fuel cost per mile for each vehicle.

Costs per mile of typical fleet EV versus its ICE equivalent

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A typical EV’s cost per mile is almost half the price of its ICE counterpart. And it’s producing zero tailpipe emissions at the same time. So it’s much cleaner, better for the environment and your organisation’s sustainability targets, and delivers a significant saving.

Switching to EVs makes it easier to keep your fleet fuelled, too. You can choose to have chargers at your premises and, if necessary and feasible, at the homes of your fleet drivers.

There’s a wide range of grants and incentives available to help cover the costs of installing the charging infrastructure you’ll need. And if you’re using self-generated electricity – provided you put the right points in the right places – your fuelling costs could fall even further.

In fact, with the right infrastructure in place, your EV fleet could generate income in the future thanks to V2G charging. This allows operators to benefit from selling the power stored in their EV batteries back to the grid at times when demand – and prices – are high. And you can’t do that with the diesel in your tanks.

The majority of fleet vehicle journeys don’t use the full range of an EV. So your drivers shouldn’t need to ‘top up’ at filling stations as often as they do in their ICE vehicles. Even if they do top up, electricity at motorway service station chargers will most likely remain cheaper than diesel or petrol.

Want to find out how you can start saving?

Switching your fleet to EVs isn’t a challenge you need to face alone. Drax are supporting customers as they make the change.

We can guide you through the entire process and help you get the right answer for your organisation, your drivers and your fleet manager.

If you’d like to know more, contact their EV team today.

The post How much does it cost to charge a commercial EV fleet? appeared first on theenergyst.com.

To ensure a smooth transition, it’s important to conduct a thorough assessment for each driver before they make the switch. Having all the necessary paperwork in place will help you electrify without any disruption to your operations.

Here’s a handy checklist of the most important things you need to consider.

Pre-assessment

Have you completed a full assessment of each driver’s suitability for an electric vehicle (EV)? This should take the driver’s travel profile into account and may be something the driver completes or readily available via telematics. You may also have profiles based on job function or organisational need (e.g. ‘field sales’ or ‘commuter’). The travel profile should consider:

• Daily mileage – Many EVs now have at least a 200-mile range, which may be enough to justify leaving ICE vehicles behind.
• Journey type – Does the driver spend most of their time in urban areas, or on dual carriageways and motorways?
• Journey purpose – Is it a straightforward commute, a vehicle with a delivery schedule, or one with random destinations (e.g. breakdown vehicles)?
• Dwell time and downtime – When’s the vehicle stationary at your depot, other site, driver’s house, or elsewhere?
• Charge point access – How easy will it be for the driver to recharge their EV, publicly or privately? (See below for additional points about access.)

You’ll also need to consider the total cost of ownership of fleet vehicles rather than up-front costs when working out financial forecasts.

Vehicle assessment

It’s important that the vehicle is suitable for the driver and their requirements. You may want drivers to select from your approved list of EVs, which will create a smoother process than reviewing selections case-by-case. Such a list will also mean that each vehicle’s fit for purpose, ensuring maximum efficiency across your fleet and helping to prevent unnecessary downtime.

You should also look at both vehicle range and speed of charging when determining what’s best for each driver. If your business is committed to EVs, working with an external partner like Drax will support you with on running test drive days. This is when your drivers get a feel for the EVs and experience the different models on offer.

Vehicle training

While driving an EV isn’t especially different to driving a petrol or diesel vehicle, drivers may need time to get used to one-pedal driving and regenerative braking. Teaching the driver how to operate – and maintain – their new vehicle could be done in a one-off training session. You can add refresher sessions at a later date, based upon driver requests, issues flagged in the vehicle’s telematics, or a predetermined calendar invitation.

Data collection

Has the driver signed a data collection consent form? This should state they agree to you capturing their driving data so you can use it to improve fleet performance. If your organisation has a fleet of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, you may already capture data around driving behaviours and locations, so you should have existing policies already in place.

Driver negligence agreement

Is the driver aware of any penalties or charges they are liable to pay in the event of their negligence? This will include parking fines and end-of-contract fees (as it would for ICE vehicles), but for an EV may also include running out of charge (and requiring rescue). Most breakdown companies offer one free call-out, but any additional ones will incur a charge.

Reimbursement

Have you communicated to the driver what mileage expenses they can claim back? Most companies use the HMRC-set rate of 45p per mile – is this your organisation’s rate?

Charge point access

Have you agreed with the driver who’s responsible for ensuring they have suitable access to charge points? This includes resolving the issue of who pays to install any home charger and what happens if the driver moves. When assigning EVs to drivers, or they’re relocating, establish these points early so you can organise a site survey and (if feasible) installation as quickly as possible.

Drax are experts in both fleet electrification and energy. So, whether you’re just starting your fleet electrification journey or you’re some way down the track with EVs embedded into your mobility mix, they have the information you need.

Get in touch to supercharge your journey.

The post The transition to electric: A fleet manager’s checklist appeared first on theenergyst.com.

The latest EV roll-out, that saw Mitie pass the 50% mark, was a fleet of Vauxhall Vivaro-Es, which will be driven by Mitie’s Technical Services mobile engineers.

Last month, Mitie deployed 60 EVs across some of its major contracts including Magnox, where EVs are used by engineers conducting essential maintenance services to critical nuclear infrastructure.

In addition, Mitie recently supported the Defence Infrastructure Organisation in securing 20 EVs at its Gibraltar site.

Other examples include the roll-out of more than 100 EV vans across major contracts including the Home Office and National Grid.

Mitie’s range of EVs are used by its staff across the country, in different operations, from engineering and maintenance to security and landscaping.

To support the rapid growth of its EV fleet, Mitie has also installed 2,800 EV charging stations across customer sites and employees’ homes.

The company’s EV transition started in 2018 and the company introduced its 3,000th EV last December.

Heidi Thompson, group fleet manager, Mitie, said, “Reaching the halfway stage in our roadmap to achieve a zero-emission fleet is an important milestone which underscores our commitment to our Plan Zero pledge, and our goal of fully electrifying our vehicles by the end of 2025.

“With more than 3,500 electric-powered vehicles now in operation, we’re proud to boast one of the largest electric fleets in the UK.

“Mitie continues to lead the way in fleet electrification and is proud to be at the forefront of sustainable practices within our industry as well as supporting other organisations to achieve their own net zero targets.”

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So how do you identify the key people you’ll need to get on board?

Who’s in your electrification team?

While you’ll need support from your senior leadership team, you probably won’t want to approach your Managing Director or Chief Executive before you’ve built your case. Often, the next most influential leader is the person in charge of finance.

Finance director

Switching to an EV fleet’s going to require significant investment. So, you’ll need to understand the financial advantages of electrification.

These include lower lifetime costs compared to traditional vehicles, and much more besides. Charging at the right times can save money on fuel bills and EVs can even generate revenue if you use vehicle to grid (V2G) charging.

Your finance director can help you work out which of the many available government incentives for electrification apply to your fleet. And they should be able to say exactly how much financial support your organisation can expect to receive.

They’ll also be responsible for working out how to pay for the switch and for freeing up the capital required to invest in the new infrastructure that’ll make it all work.

It may be worthwhile reminding them of the possible reputational upside of switching to EVs. Positive PR around your organisation’s improved sustainability credentials should resonate well with your customers and prospects, and may even lead to increased loyalty and new sales.

You can also remind your FD about the possible downsides of delaying a transition or not switching at all. For instance, the 2030 ban on the sale and purchase of new diesel and petrol vehicles will soon be upon us all. And you should also consider the potential increase in operating costs of a fleet of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in areas with Clean Air Zones.

Sustainability director

The key environmental benefit of the switch to EVs is that they don’t emit carbon at the point of use. They also produce zero polluting tailpipe emissions. Which means they’re absolutely within the remit of the person responsible for sustainability in your organisation.

As noted already, switching to an EV fleet can help progress your organisation’s sustainability plans or deliver on your Environmental Social Governance goals (ESG). This could be a big draw for any colleague responsible for delivering carbon reduction targets.

To maximise decarbonisation, the contract to provide electricity to your EVs should be based on renewable energy. Further down the line, your organisation might also consider generating your own renewable power and using it (in part) to charge your EVs.

Your sustainability director will influence all these decisions, so they’re someone you need on your team.

Fleet manager

The person responsible for running your organisation’s fleet is central to the decision. If you’re not the fleet manager yourself, you’re going to need them on board.

They’ll be responsible for sourcing the vehicles, planning deployment, and ensuring the drivers have access to the infrastructure. And they’ll maintain the fleet and infrastructure moving forwards and be thinking about measurements for success.

The fleet manager will also be working with Operations to ensure the vehicles meet your organisation’s operational requirements. An EV fleet should make a fleet manager’s job easier – if they understand the benefits, there’ll be no issues gaining their endorsement.

Energy manager

Electrification is going to make the energy manager’s role more important than ever, since they’ll have the task of finding the right contract and tariffs.

This may be the first time your fleet and energy managers have worked closely together. But they’ll be key players if your organisation starts to exploit the potential of EVs as electric assets and tools for optimising your energy use.

Procurement lead

Depending on the size of your organisation, you may need to create a formal tendering process to find the right partners to assess your EV fleet needs.

Your procurement colleague will play a big part in the suitability assessment and making your business case. They’ll help you work out the right mix of EVs for your fleet, the right way to pay for them, and the right infrastructure to keep them going.

Facilities manager

Your facilities manager’s going to be responsible for making changes to the estate to accommodate new infrastructure, as well as for helping install that infrastructure and maintaining it.

Consider their needs early on and you’ll help them save a lot of time and money.

Operations manager

They’re going to need to understand how EVs will fit in with your current operations. When and where will drivers charge them? How will this affect the availability of each vehicle and driver?

The ops manager is at the sharp end of what your organisation does, and their support for electrification will be vital.

Drivers

Last, but not least, you need to get the people using your EV fleet involved with your team. They’ll need an introduction to the benefits of the electric driving experience and training on the differences between EVs and ICE vehicles.

Your organisation will only be able to realise the full benefits of EVs if this vital group is on-board with your plan too.

Want a step-by-step guide to creating a business case for electrification? This guide, created by Drax, takes you through the process from start to finish. Download your free copy today

The post Who do you need in your EV fleet transformation team? appeared first on theenergyst.com.

The firm’s sales team liaises with more than 68,000 restaurants and grocery stores in the UK and is changing its fleet of 175 diesel vehicles to EVs in a bid to reduce emissions.

Its new EV fleet will consist of Cupra Born and Volkswagen ID vehicles, due to having a range of more than 260 miles.

The initiative is part of a global plan to transition 100% of its corporate and sales car fleet to EVs by 2030, which contributes to the company’s net-zero target for its direct operations.

In 2020, Just Eat confirmed that it would change its ‘gig’ business model for couriers.

Staff had previously been self-employed, but will now have guaranteed access to benefits such as sick pay and pension contributions, as well as lower-emission vehicles.

Just Eat’s first big move into the EV market was in 2018, when it launched a discount scheme for restaurant partners looking to switch to e-mopeds and renewable energy.

Earlier this year, Just Eat also revealed it was adding traffic light labels to dishes from five of its partner restaurants in Brighton, communicating their carbon footprint to customers.

Leigh Phillipson, UK sales director at Just Eat said, “Our sales team is committed to providing services to restaurant partners up and down the UK and by replacing all our vehicles with electric vehicles, we are further reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting our environment for future generations.”

The post Just Eat to change UK corporate sales fleet to EVs by 2025 appeared first on theenergyst.com.

As EVs become more popular in the UK, electricity demand will inevitably rise. This’ll create new opportunities with commercial EV fleets. Ultimately, it could help turn what’s currently a cost centre – refuelling – into a potential revenue stream through optimisation of electricity use.

It’s difficult to predict precisely how much extra demand for electricity EVs will create, but alongside wider electrification, it’ll be significant.

Appetite for consumption

National Grid’s Future Energy Scenarios reports forecast possible energy outcomes on the way to 2050. Its 2020 report projected one scenario where peak daily electricity demand would rise to approximately 62 gigawatts (GW) by 2030 and 76-96GW by 2050.

To put that in context, in 2019, peak electricity demand on a cold winter’s day in the UK was in the region of 59GW. So, even by 2030, we could find ourselves needing approximately 5% more electricity at peak times. That requirement could be more like 50% extra by 2050.

From adversity comes opportunity

Increases in demand are likely to affect the price of electricity. That price volatility creates an opportunity for profit, through optimising bi-directional vehicle-to-grid (V2G) charging.

Organisations with large EV fleets are going to want to charge their vehicles when the price of electricity is at its lowest – typically overnight.

If millions of EVs are charging at the same time, electricity will become more expensive. A sharp rise followed by a sustained level of demand could even change the traditional pattern of daytime peak / night-time off-peak power pricing.

Changing price dynamics are already creating an opportunity for EV owners.

Optimisation and beyond

Drax are using their flexibility services to help some of their customers by:

1 Understanding their operational requirements – when they need machinery and offices to be switched on – and plotting it against electricity prices. This enables them to avoid unnecessary charges and limit consumption at peak times.

2 Finding optimal tariffs to help them reduce EV charging costs. By automating their systems to charge only when the electricity price has fallen to a given level, Drax are helping to reduce their costs.

But by going beyond optimisation and enabling bidirectional charging, these customers could use their electric fleets to generate income. EVs are effectively mobile batteries that can charge and discharge. Organisations can send any power in their fleet’s EVs back to the Grid with a V2G charger.

In this way, Drax are enabling more than just cost-saving practices, they’re introducing their customers to new revenue streams.

In one of National Grid’s Future Energy Scenarios, V2G charging could provide up to 38GW of flexible power from 5.5 million EVs. That extra electricity would cover all the extra peak power the UK needs in the highest-demand scenario for 2050.

Be prepared

Bidirectional charge points are available now, just not yet at a sufficient scale or an appropriate price to be viable.

However, the time will soon come when economies of scale make bidirectional charging technology more affordable and more widely available. Organisations with EV fleets will be in pole position to profit.

Drax are helping organisations across the UK to move from internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEs) to EVs. Their end-to-end partnership service plots a clear roadmap to cleaner fleets, lower emissions, regulatory compliance and reduced costs.

If you’re considering the switch to EVs, find out how Drax can help you on your journey.

The post Could your EV fleet help supply the extra electricity the UK needs? appeared first on theenergyst.com.

Is your organisation one of the many considering the switch to EVs? If so, here are five important reasons why on-site charging is a must.

1. Ensure your fleet is charged and ready to go

To ensure your vehicles are able to safely access chargepoints so you can keep them on the move.

To date, more than 660,00 EVs have been registered for use on the UK’s roads. Yet there are only around 37,000 publicly-accessible chargepoints, spread across 22,000 locations around the country.

Recent reports highlight the worrying risks that some EV drivers are taking to charge their vehicles. Many admitted to using domestic multi-socket extension leads to charge their vehicles at home – sometimes in a ‘daisy chain’ arrangement. Given the associated dangers of both fire and electrocution, this method isn’t something a responsible organisation would sanction – but is it happening without your knowledge?

Having an in-house charging network means you can be sure your staff are charging their EVs simply, efficiently and – above all – safely.

2. A standardised charging system for your fleet

There are different – and sometimes competing – EV charging systems available publicly. Some offer faster charging, while others can be specific to a particular make of vehicle. To compound the issue, public charging points can be out of service when you need them.

Since the public charging infrastructure is still evolving, standardisation may yet be some time away. So having your own on-site charging network cuts through this uncertainty, making it easier, more efficient and more cost-effective for your organisation and your staff.

3. Save money – get the right tariff for your charging system

Charging a fleet of EVs can use a lot of electricity. To minimise your consumption and costs, make sure you’re on the right supply tariff with your supplier and paying the right price for the electricity your fleet needs.

A good supplier – like Drax – will have the energy know-how and EV knowledge to support your on-site charging network decisions and operations. This means ensuring you get the right tariff and assessing the needs of your fleet in the context of your entire organisation’s power requirements.

4. Improve your bottom line – use your EVs as battery storage

One relatively untapped feature of EVs is their ability to store a lot of electricity. However, savvy organisations are now looking at their electric fleet as a means of storing power. This can be the electricity they’ve generated themselves – through solar panels or wind turbines – or what they’ve purchased off the grid at relatively cheap rates.

Once the correct storage infrastructure and agreements are in place, these organisations could then take advantage of opportunities to sell the power back to the grid at a higher price (e.g. when demand increases). Alternatively, they can decide to use the stored power on-site.

5. Make your workplace more attractive to existing and prospective employees

Given how difficult it can be for EV drivers to find convenient charging points, providing an on-site network can be a real benefit – especially if it’s free of charge. Having your own charging facilities makes it easier for existing employees and job candidates (as well as suppliers and other visitors) to top up their EVs. This shows you’re a progressive and environmentally-friendly employer and partner organisation.

What’s next?

Choosing a charging system that meets your needs is a lot easier if you can count on unbiased and expert advice.

We’d always recommend you look for an ‘energy partner’ that can help with your decision-making and then deliver the right solution. Make sure you choose a supplier that’s prepared to invest in a long-term relationship and capable of providing support and advice throughout.

Drax offers destination and workplace EV charging solutions – click here to find out more.

The post 5 reasons why you need on-site charging for your electric vehicles appeared first on theenergyst.com.

Read on to find out.

Fleet managers and the paradox of choice

Despite the relatively limited range of EV models available compared to vehicles with an internal combustion engine (ICE), the transition to EV remains full of considerations and choices.

From electricity supply and power capacity to operational requirements and charging infrastructure, many fleet managers are entering unknown territory. And, since unnecessary procrastination doesn’t lead to progress, we’ve outlined below a few of the decisions you’ll need to take when debating a switch to EVs.

What are your operational requirements?

This is the very first step in your electrification journey. An accurate understanding of how your organisation uses its fleet is crucial for working out how EVs would fare under the same conditions as their ICE counterparts.

To understand your operational requirements, you’ll look at a variety of information including:

• Fleet size
• Mileage (both per trip and per day)
• The purpose of each journey
• Your geographical areas of operation
• Your required resting locations

Using insights from analysing this info, you can build a Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) calculation: the complete cost of electrification throughout a vehicle’s lifecycle. This is useful for showing where you have an operational need for EVs, and where you can make cost savings.

How do you choose the right EVs?

Once you understand your operational needs, you can start to consider the practicalities:

• Function: Do you use your vehicles for transporting people from A to B (e.g. salespeople, work crews, or maybe even passengers), or are they carrying other loads (e.g. heavy goods, parcels, tools)?
• Drivability: Just like ICE models, different EVs will be suited to different driving environments and this will affect your choices
• Form: Although looks aren’t everything, your fleet represents your organisation so you can use it to not only promote your sustainability credentials, but your brand’s styling too
• Range: You’ll need to know how far each vehicle goes (typically) in a single journey and how many journeys there’ll be each day
• Charging: While some operations will only need to slowly recharge EVs overnight, rapid charging might be the only option for other ways of working, again affecting your EV choices

Fast vs slow chargers

Once you’ve decided on your vehicles, you’ll need the infrastructure to power them. That means working out how many charge points you want, where they need to be, and of what type.

Charge points fall into one of three broad categories: slow, fast, and rapid (measured in output of power, kW). Rapid charge points are the ones you’re most likely to see at public pit stops like motorway services, and they also tend to be the most expensive.

The audit from your operational requirements assessment will determine whether rapid charging is necessary. The alternative is to save money by choosing fast charging in appropriate locations. Or, you may need a combination of the two approaches.

Future thinking and the bigger picture

Your first step to electrification might be swapping a few ICE vehicles for EVs and/or installing a couple of charge points. However, the need – nationally – to electrify transportation is only going to accelerate.

Throughout this process, keep thinking towards the future. For example, when it comes to charge point installation, consider where you want to be in 10 years’ time. This could lead to you doing all the groundworks now to minimise the disruption, downtime and expense in the future.

Forward-thinking also means staying on top of technological advancements and market launches. Doing so will help you decide when the time’s right to expand (and, possibly, enhance) your EV commitment.

There’s no ‘one size fits all’ approach with EV

While electrification brings new considerations and challenges, it’s best to see it as a great opportunity: a chance to design a fleet truly suited to your organisation’s needs.

What’s next?

8 steps to electrifying your business fleet, a guide from Drax, arranges the sometimes complex electrification process into easy-to-understand, manageable steps. It can help you save time, create a cost-effective EV infrastructure, and avoid the potential for costly wrong turns.

Download your copy today

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One way of making financial savings is to ensure your EV fleet drivers adopt best practices in relation to economising their driving style. But how can you do this? Read on to find out.

Multiple studies have identified the key issue with EV adoption: to succeed, the results must be on a par with ICE in terms of cost and performance.

So here are some everyday tips for your drivers to follow to make sure you’re getting the maximum range possible from your EV fleet.

Read the road ahead

Anticipating what’s ahead can help drivers minimise acceleration and braking. It’s worth nothing that harsh acceleration in an EV doesn’t have quite the same telematics penalty as it does with an ICE.

Conserving momentum is the number one approach to ensuring a journey’s completed in the most efficient manner.

Eliminate harsh braking

Regenerative braking’s a key feature for EVs, which take kinetic energy from the motion of the car and convert it into electricity.

Instead of braking, relaxing a foot on the accelerator causes the engine to act as a generator. This creates reverse torque to the front wheels, slowing the EV down. By trying to maximise the use of this technique, energy recapture can rise to 10% in normal conditions and 30% on descents.

Keep an eye on your speed

High speeds have a negative impact on an EV’s charge levels to a greater extent than they affect the fuel levels of a traditional vehicle. By trying to avoid long periods at high speed, EV drivers can minimise the drain on the battery.

The drag on any vehicle will make it consume more energy. ICE vehicles can combat this through their use of gears, but most EVs are automatic so can’t compensate in the same way.

Air conditioning and heaters cost energy

Features such as a horn, lights, indicators and windscreen wipers are necessary for driver safety and can’t be eliminated. On the other hand, heating and air conditioning are optional extras that affect energy depletion by up to 10%. Drivers must understand that these features are detrimental to the range of the vehicle and will have an impact on route planning.

EV heating systems can’t use excess heat from the engine like an ICE model does. Instead, it’ll either need to pre-heat the car using mains electricity or the battery. Pre-conditioning EV batteries ahead of departure is particularly effective in winter, when the air temperature may be below optimum levels for the battery. Air conditioning has less impact – although at speeds below 72kph (or 45mph), opening a window is more effective.

One way to combat this would be to use heated seats rather than space heating; the former use less energy and keep you warmer. Newer EVS such as the Tesla Model 3 use an air source heat pump to ‘scavenge’ heat from all parts of the car, improving battery performance.

Get to know your fleet’s eco features

Almost every EV comes with a host of features designed to help your drivers be smarter and more efficient when on the road.

Switching to eco mode or equivalent can reduce the energy usage on the journey by limiting the throttle as well as the power of air conditioning and heating options.

Having your drivers familiarise themselves with everything their vehicle has to offer will help. On long distance runs, you can then plan accordingly and help ensure they’re never scrambling to find the nearest charge point.

Getting the drivers within your fleet to adopt these measures should give you enhanced flexibility when planning your routes. Additionally, it should aid in reducing range anxiety within your driver group.

To find out how Drax can support your electrification journey, get in touch here.

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