Reducing carbon emissions is also a major priority according to operators as Northgate has surveyed visitors to its latest electric vehicle (EV) roadshow event in Bristol.
Aimed at gauging perception of fleet electrification, Bristol fleets showed that while more than 40% of drivers are worried about the suitability of electric light commercial vehicles (eLCV) for their business activities, a greater percentage (57%) are worried about the choice and availability of eLCVs.
Meanwhile, nearly 50% of the fleets questioned stated the main reason for electrifying their fleets was to reduce their carbon emissions. The consultation of drivers by Northgate also revealed that while carrying capacity is often considered crucial by fleet managers and that eLCVs are perceived to lack the necessary payloads to fulfil their duties, in reality, Northgate’s research shows most vans are never driven with their maximum payload, or even a full cargo.
Melanie Creedy, Northgate’s EV business development manager, said: “When we dig into the usage of a fleet’s vehicles in greater detail, what we have found is that while the majority of our customers have always specified 3.5-tonne GVW vans in actual fact, the majority of drivers rarely use their vehicle’s capacity to the full. This negates any fears around the diminished payload of eLCVs, and in some cases, means drivers can shift to a smaller vehicle with no impact to their daily working lives.
“Bristol with its Low Emission Zone has proved to be an interesting test-bed for electrification, as a commuter hub from some of the more rural areas of the UK means that some drivers are travelling long distances before they arrive at work in their vans. In this instance, Northgate may recommend remaining in an ICE vehicle. If, however, as is likely, a driver is doing much lower mileage in an inner city, it could be a simple process to adopt an eLCV instead,” concluded Creedy.
Northgate’s EV roadshows have seen 56 fleets begin the process of EV adoption so far in 2023, and an 84% year on year increase in eLCVs on its fleet as a result.
“It’s crucial to begin such a change by understanding the actual usage of each vehicle on a fleet as well as the mileage and driving patterns of every driver. This highlights discrepancies between a fleet’s assumed usage and mileage, and the reality,” she added.