A recent article in industry-leading magazine Fleet News has revealed that SG Fleet is in a leading position when it comes to the rollout of electric light commercial vehicles (e-LVCs).
“SG Fleet has enjoyed more success than many leasing companies in leading its customer towards electrification,” writes fleet journalist Jonathan Manning, who cites numbers of “almost one-in-five of its LCV orders in the past 12 months being for an electric model.”
That one-in-five equates to 20% of our van leases in 2021 being electric options. Incredibly, that’s around five-and-a-half times the broader industry average of 3.6%, making our eStart leasing offering currently one of the most impactful and effective ways for fleets to go green anywhere in the UK.
As part of its ten-point plan for a green industrial revolution, the UK Government is set to ban the sale of all new petrol and diesel cars in 2030. That means fleet businesses will need to have invested in electric charging capabilities by 2030 in order to both conform and compete. That aside, the switch to an electric fleet also carries considerable benefits, from lower fuel and maintenance costs, to better climate control for drivers, and even potentially a superior driving experience. Put together, there are many compelling reasons to make the switch.
There are, admittedly, some challenges to overcome for electric vehicles to become the norm for fleets.
Specifically, the Fleet News article mention that “the distance that e-LCVs can drive between charges [that] remains a major barrier to overcome.” Thankfully, a project is already underway to not only roll out electric charge points nationwide, but to make them every bit as iconic as the red phone boxes of decades past. With more charge points than ever promised by 2022, fleets feeling range anxiety should soon be a thing of the past.
The up-front cost of going electric is also a concern for some. However, the combination of UK plug-in grants (even despite the recent changes) together with the knowledge that making the switch now will allow your fleet business to get ahead of the curve on lowering its legally-mandated carbon limit, makes a convincing case for at least beginning to plan for an electric fleet future.
In short, improvements are happening all the time, and that in our own experience, getting ahead of the curve and electric-ready of the deadline is a good thing for fleet businesses.
While the up-front costs of vehicles and installing charging points are a consideration, when timed correctly, there is a significant upside to going green in terms of whole-life costs (or, if not leasing, the total costs of ownership).
“It’s incredibly important to be realistic about the move to electric vehicles,” our own Chris Salmon told Fleet News. “And to transition at the most appropriate time for the customer including any possible changes in working practices needed to move away from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.”
In other words, we recognise that it’s important to make the switch at the right time for your business – and that you have the right partner helping you to make the change every step of the way.
At SG Fleet, the team behind our eStart solution brings together extensive fleet, facilities management, and energy sector experience. This cross-industry experience allows us to review the vehicles currently in your fleet and your site, then work with you to identify the infrastructure upgrades and logistical changes you’ll need to make the switch to e-friendly operations.
Our team will also look at data from telematics systems, driver surveys, fuel expenditure, current vehicle performance, load usage assessments and more, all in aid of giving you the best recommendation for your journey on the road to a zero-emissions fleet business.
To learn more, visit our eStart page, then get in touch with us by using the contact form on the page or by emailing CSalmon@sgfleet.com.
