The analysis of 85,365 fleet records by Michelin’s Connected Fleet’s data science team found the average ICE van travels 63 miles per day, compared with 28 miles an electric light commercial vehicle.
Michelin Connected Fleet also found that 59 percent of electric vehicles (EVs) are being plugged in when the state of charge is greater than 50 percent – which negatively impacts driver productivity, particularly given half of charging events occur during the daytime. This overcharging is also putting lithium-ion batteries through unnecessary charging cycles which could cause them to deteriorate faster, negatively impacting range and residuals.
Alberto De Monte, business segment director for EV and OEM at Michelin Connected Fleet, said: “Range anxiety is clearly impacting the fleet market’s confidence in electric vans, resulting in EVs being overcharged, and under-worked.
“In most applications the EVs you buy today have the range to do the job of a petrol or diesel-powered van in and around cities, but they’re being deployed on the lightest duty work – whilst ICE assets are being worked harder, which is less efficient and increases emissions.”
Michelin Connected Fleet’s analysis has also revealed that van drivers charged batteries to 90 percent or more in 76 percent of the charging events it studied – in comparison with car drivers who hit 90 percent or more in only 58 percent of instances.
De Monte added: “We know lithium-ion batteries perform best when the state of charge is maintained between 20 to 80 percent, and the general advice is to only charge the battery fully if you need that additional range for a particularly long journey.
“What we’re seeing points to more guidance being needed for fleets to ensure they are maximising the benefits which transitioning to EVs offer; and not storing up issues which could impact performance and residuals down the line.”
Michelin Connected Fleet offers a dedicated electric vehicle fleet management service called MoveElectric, designed to help businesses lower fleet carbon dioxide emissions, reduce operating costs, and to integrate EVs for the most efficient last-mile delivery strategy.
MoveElectric brings tools to help fleets plan all aspects of EV fleet management, from identifying routes to achieving roll-out. It forms part of a fleet management solution to help connect vehicles, optimise performance, and gain greater visibility across an entire fleet based upon informed data-driven choices.