Electric Vehicle Consultancy

Electric vehicle consultancy service: the transition of your fleet to a zero emission future

Electric vehicle consultancy provides an analysis of your current fleet and providing a roadmap that details the steps required, policy changes and the costs involved. Technology and product ranges in this arena are constantly evolving, and our knowledge of the market can help to guide your decision making and avoid costly errors.

Moreover, our experience covers the operation of company cars, commercial vehicles and electric vehicle salary sacrifice schemes.

We work across the private, public and third sectors, helping organisations plan and deliver a lower carbon fleet. Get in touch with a member of our team for more information.

Moving to electric is now not optional as the government have announced the ban of sales of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles by 2035. Therefore, utilising our expertise will ensure your business is in the best position to make the transition to electric.

How our Electric Vehicle Consultancy has helped our customers

EV Salary Sacrifice

Large Defence Business

EVP reviewed the market for electric vehicle salary sacrifice, ran a successful procurement process then helped the client implement the scheme

Electric Vehicle Suitability

Housing Association

EVP reviewed the operations for a housing association, assessing which vehicles could subsequently convert to electric alternatives. EVP then supported the procurement process for the electric vehicles and the supporting supply chain

Net Zero

Water Company

EVP supported a water company through creating a fleet strategy which created a roadmap for the fleet to be net zero by 2030.

Our structured approach to Electrification

As a specialist in electric vehicle fleets, we can assist you in selecting the best vehicles for your needs based on what you intend to use them for. The following outlines our approach to electrifying your fleet of vehicles and the information we gather:

EVP Solutions Electric Vehicle Consultancy v1.01

If you are a fleet owner in need of advice before making the conversion to electric vehicles, we can provide this service for yourself and your business. So, why not get in touch with a member of our team today for a detailed discussion?

Get In Touch

Electric Vehicles Step By Step

New technology is advancing rapidly, and nowhere is this more apparent than with the mass-market introduction of the electric vehicle. Due to stricter emissions regimes, manufacturers are developing alternatives to internal combustion engine power trains.

Where Tesla started the industry is now keen to follow in an electric gold rush. The introduction of new models every month means the market is constantly evolving, covering a range of requirements. In addition, bigger and more powerful batteries are bridging the range gap to fossil-fuelled vehicles.

If you are looking at your first electric vehicle, read on as we have all the information you will need to decide.

Types of Electric Vehicles

There are different technologies available in the market, including:

Plug-In Electric Vehicle (PHEV)

A type of vehicle that has an internal combustion engine as well as an electrical unit. The vehicle is plugged into a charge point to charge its electrical batteries. Regenerative braking supplements the vehicle charge.

When the vehicle operates at low speeds in an urban environment, it can run on electrical power only. Depending on the engine model, the power will come from the ICE (Internal combustion engine) or combined ICE/Electric power at higher speeds.

PHEV vehicles normally have an electric only range of between 10 and 30 miles.

For example, you can find this power train in the BMW 530e.

Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV)

Vehicles that have an internal combustion engine as well as an electrical power unit. Power for the batteries comes from regenerative braking or by drawing power from the petrol or diesel engine.

When in urban environments, the vehicle uses electric power.

Alternatively, it supplements the ICE at higher speeds. An example is the original Toyota Prius.

Mild Hybrid (MHEV)

Vehicles have a small electrical motor to support the ICE engine. As the battery is small, it generally will not power the vehicle by itself but support the main ICE power unit to make it more fuel-efficient. An example of this type of vehicle is the Kia Sportage ECO Dynamics+.

Electric Vehicle (BEV)

Vehicles that operate on an electrically powered motor only without an internal combustion engine.

The battery is charged through an external charging unit and the vehicle has zero tailpipe emissions.

The range of the vehicle will depend on the size and efficiency of the vehicle battery. Most electric cars now have a range of between 150 and 300 miles with light commercial vehicles (LCVs) typically between 100 and 180 miles.

Both cars and LCV’s range will be impacted through conditions of use such as load, temperature, operating cycle and use of air conditioning.

Examples include the Tesla Model 3 and the Renault Zoe.

Is an electric vehicle right for you?

Fully electric vehicles may not suit everyone.

The range on some models is less than an ICE vehicle. Therefore, understanding how you plan to use your vehicles is vital before making a decision.

EV’s lend themselves to being more suitable in urban environments with low mileage, low speed, stop-start driving. However, advances in the size and efficiency of battery technology have provided longer potential ranges.

The Tesla Model 3 standard model has a range of 254 miles with the long-range version up to 348 miles between charges.

In addition to the increased vehicle range, the supporting charging infrastructure is steadily improving. For example, Tesla operates a network of fast-charging stations, and other charge point providers are installing units at existing refuelling sites up and down the UK. As a result, it is possible to conduct long journeys without worrying about running out of charge.

For drivers who are unsure about their driving patterns, some helpful technology-based solutions are entering the market. For example, CleanCar (www.cleancar.io) offer a GPS Dongle solution whereby drivers can plug a device into the vehicle for a period of time. Once the test period has elapsed, the driver sends the device back for analysis. A suitability report studies whether the driver’s behaviours and patterns will suit an EV.

This method is handy as it looks at actual driving patterns. It also identifies those journeys which may be unsuitable for EV use.

It is possible to hire vehicles for one-off journeys, which may not suit EV use.

What vehicles are available?

Electric vehicle choice is constantly evolving and improving. From hatchbacks to large SUVs, there is an option for you. There are even electric pickup trucks arriving shortly!

When will I be able to get my EV?

After the supply chain strain on the automotive industry and the recent announcement that the ban on Internal Combustion Engine vehicles has been pushed back to 2035, there can be some uncertainty around when you will be able to get an Electric Vehicle.

Currently, EV lead times vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Generally, you can expect the time from order to delivery to be between 6-12 months.

Some manufacturers can provide shorter lead times, such as Tesla, who are currently able to deliver vehicles in 1-2 months from the date of order.

Charging

Once you have decided that an electric vehicle is for you, it is crucial to think about charging the vehicle.

This is likely to fall into three areas: home, work and public charging.

Home Charging

Home charging is often the easiest way to charge a vehicle especially if the vehicle is parked up overnight and the property has off road parking.

Although charging EVs with a standard socket is possible in some cases, it is recommended you fit a standalone charger in your home (dependent on having space and off-road parking).

Many charging options are available, and an excellent site to compare options is Rightcharge (www.rightcharge.co.uk).

Typically a home installation will cost between £700 and £1,000. Costs can increase where upgrades are required to a property electrical board or where the property may exceed the network operators maximum load.

Some electricity companies offer tariffs for cheaper overnight energy which are worthwhile considering to minimise charging costs.

Workplace Charging

The workplace can be a good place to recharge your batteries. Companies are now starting to offer charging facilities, so it is worth checking the availability of such facilities with your employer.

Public Charging

More than 43,000 charge points at 25,000 different locations are available in the UK if you can’t charge at home or work. Plus, networks are adding points every week. A great source of information on charge point locations, specifications and availability can be found at ZapMap (www.zap-map.com).

It is important to note that different charging providers require you to sign up with their services, which can be a pain as there is no universal offering.

Charging at a rental property

For renters or flat owners, the UK Government can provide an EV Charge Point Grant. This grant can help towards the installation costs at your flat or property. The grant offers £350 or 75% of the cost of the charge point, whichever amount is lower.

Eligibility

You can apply for this grant if:

You own and live in a flat.
Your home has its own private off-street parking facility.
You own a vehicle that is eligible (EV).

You cannot apply if you:

Have already previously claimed for the grant.
Are in the process of or planning to move property.
Current car is not compatible with charge points.
Live in a house you own.

Find out more about eligibility and application for the grant via the Gov.UK website.

EV Charge Cards

EV charge cards are the EV equivalent of the traditional fuel card for petrol and diesel vehicles, offering fleet vehicle drivers a simple way to charge up and pay for electricity.

Like traditional fuel cards, EV charge cards can be tied to a range of different brands and charge point providers.

Holders of an EV charge card can benefit from electricity savings and access to the wide range of charge point sites across the UK. Many cards also offer savings on traditional fuels making them a great option for hybrid vehicle drivers.

With users benefitting from reduced costs through efficiency and less consumption, fleet managers will quickly see the economical benefits of introducing both EVs and EV charge cards to the fleet.

Electricity Tariffs

Some companies offer special tariffs for EV drivers. Some of these tariffs take advantage of when electricity is at its cheapest during the night. This helps reduce the cost of recharging the vehicle.

Electric vehicles will likely be able to store electricity on behalf of the national grid in the future. Able to supply the grid at peak hours and recharge during quieter times. This V2G (Vehicle to Grid) technology may mean that electric vehicles can be run for free; by effectively being used as mobile storage units for the grid. This will become of increased importance as the power from renewables increases, and the reliance on gas and coal-fired power stations diminishes over time.

One area which requires improvement is payment mechanisms for vehicle charging. Different companies currently use different payment methods. Therefore, a universal payment must be put into place to simplify EV charging.

What are the different types of charge points?

Slow

Slow charge points provide power from 2kw-6kw and charges a typical vehicle between 6 and 12 hours.

Fast

Fast charge points provide power from 7kw-22kw and charges a typical vehicle between 2 and 6 hours.

Rapid

Rapid charge points provide power at 50kW (DC)/43kW (AC) and a charging time of 20 – 60 minutes (to 80%).

Ultra-Rapid

These charge points provide power at 100kW or more with charging time = 20 – 40 minutes (to 100%).

The Costs

Purchase

Purchase costs of a new EV will vary depending on the model. EV’s are generally more expensive than the petrol or diesel equivalent. However, we expect differentials to narrow as EV’s become more mainstream.

Maintenance

Maintenance costs for electric vehicles are likely to be 20%-35% lower than the equivalent petrol or diesel vehicle. This is due to the relatively simplistic nature of the drive train and reduced brake wear due to the regenerative braking deployed on most vehicles.

Cost Per Mile

The cost for charging your EV from a home charge unit will be around 3-4 pence per mile. This compares favourably with the equivalent ICE vehicle, which would typically be in the 11-15 pence per mile range. However, if you utilise the specialist tariffs available, the cost per mile can be reduced to 1-2 pence per mile!

As V2G technology becomes more mainstream, there will be an opportunity to make money from the vehicle as a storage facility, albeit this is not widely available.

Tax

Electric vehicles benefit from zero vehicle excise duty. For company car users, pure EV drivers will pay no company car tax in 2020-21, 1% in 2021-22 and 2% in 2022-23. However, when volumes for electric vehicles increase, the government will likely look to protect revenues by removing some of the tax incentives currently available.

Government Grants

Government plug in grants are available for both the purchase of the vehicle and for home charge point installation. You can find further information at the bottom of the blog.

Other Considerations

If you are purchasing an EV, it is worth noting that the second-hand market for EV’s is relatively immature due to the low volumes in circulation. This can lead to volatile prices for resale values.

One way of avoiding the volatility would be to look at leasing your EV. Octopus EV, for example, offer a bundled service that can include the car, charge point and electricity tariff.

Insurance can also be a relatively immature market, so it is worth looking at comparison sites like GoCompare.

Driving an electric vehicle can offer a different experience to that of a petrol or diesel. Although we find this a better experience, it may not be to everyone’s taste, so make sure you try before you buy!

Useful Sources of Information

Electric Vehicle Myths

EVP Solutions have decided to tackle some of the typical EV ‘myths’ – ideas and conceptions often associated with EVs. So, if you have any questions on the below, please feel free to email us at hello@evpsolutions.co.uk.

Myth 1 – “Are EVs a truly green solution or a silver bullet to solve climate change?”

Our first EV myth relates to the impact of vehicle production.

Detractors of EVs routinely highlight the carbon intensity of battery production, the carbon emissions from power generation and the disposal of batteries as to why EVs are not green. In some ways, they are right – EVs are not perfect, and there is much to improve in those elements.

However, EVs are still in their infancy and account for a fraction of all new vehicle sales – In the UK, it will comfortably take another 20 years before ICE cars are off our roads. Although, the government have tried to propel this date forward by banning the sale of all ICE vehicles by 2030. 2nd life and battery recycling will only increase as EVs become more mainstream and eventually mandatory.

We can also clearly see that carbon emissions from power production are rapidly falling and will continue to do so. The embedded carbon in batteries is an issue compared to ICE cars, although this balances out after about 20,000 miles. However, this is changing, as demonstrated by VW here. This is just another small step that is quietly happening to improve the overall environmental impact of EVs.

Myth 2 – “Electric Vehicles are not actually very environmentally friendly.”

“What happens to the battery in an EV at the end of the life of the vehicle?”

“Solar and Wind power are great, but they don’t always generate electricity when the Grid needs it”

Currently, traditional lead-acid batteries are widely recycled. However, this is not the case for lithium-ion batteries in EVs. But manufacturers are already starting to move forwards with new ways of ensuring their vehicles batteries do not end up in a landfill site. For instance, Volkswagen opened a recycling plant in 2021 to recycle up to 3,600 batteries a year. Nissan also utilises their Leaf batteries in guided vehicles that deliver vehicle parts to workers in their factories.

It is also true that solar and wind power alone will currently not suffice for the National Grid’s requirement. However, an ever-growing portion of the UK’s energy requirements is fulfilled with energy produced sustainably, helping the UK reach the carbon-neutral goal set for 2050.

Myth 3 – “I don’t have a driveway, so how can I charge my EV?”

This is something the industry empathises with and is constantly improving.

New technologies such as street light chargers and bollards are now being distributed around the UK and are constantly advancing. They provide those without driveways the opportunity to charge their vehicles when parked at home.

There is certainly the opportunity to develop charging infrastructure available to people at the workplace. Many people commute to their workplace and leave their car sitting in the car park for significant parts of the day. Could this be the best opportunity for you to charge your EV?

Are you a forward-thinking employer making proactive decisions to ensure your workforce is EV ready? If so, EVP can assist in developing a plan to implement EV charging.

Myth 4 – “Public Charging for EVs is very awkward.”

The lack of roaming or charge point interoperability (i.e., you have an account/RFID card with one network but can use that account to pay at other networks) is seen as a barrier to EV uptake.

We believe that it’s an inconvenience rather than the barrier that many make it out to be – the idea that you currently need dozens of apps or RFID cards is an exaggeration.

Most people already have numerous apps on their phones for car parking. Therefore, utilising other apps for charging isn’t a huge issue.

However, making the process simpler and more convenient is a good thing and will only help improve living with an EV.

There will be problems, though. For example, who do you call if your RFID card doesn’t work at a charge point? The charge point operator (CPO) or the mobility service provider (MSP) – I foresee that there will be times when both parties say that the fault lies with the other and the driver is left stuck.

We will be keeping our separate apps, just in case!

Myth 5 – “There is a lack of choice in the Electric Vehicle market.”

Our next electric vehicle myth concentrates on the choice in the EV market.

Perhaps this may have been true in the past. However, there is now a wide range of products on the market for potential Electric Vehicle (EV) drivers.

Whether you need the top end, high specification vehicles, such as a Tesla – or a more affordable, practical smaller car such as the Nissan Leaf, there is an EV for everyone. In addition, multiple electric commercial vehicles also now being available.

Manufacturers continue to develop their EV range further (in line with the 2030 ban on petrol and diesel cars), so the vehicles on offer will continue to expand in choice. Even ‘classic’ hatchbacks such as the Volkswagen Golf have been updated to create the Volkswagen ‘e-Golf’.

Myth 6 – “They are too expensive.”

As with any car, electric or not, some are more expensive than others. The price of the vehicle depends on the specification chosen.

Although electric vehicles are generally more expensive to purchase initially, you must calculate the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) before choosing a vehicle.

For instance, the VW e-Golf 2020 edition has a total upfront cost of £34,400 (car = £27,900, PV = £6,000, home charger = £500, whereas the standard VW Golf has a total upfront cost of £26,500.

However, considering that monthly electricity costs for an individual travelling 10,000 miles would be £14, compared to £145 a month for the petrol equivalent. This represents a saving of £131 a month. In addition to this, you would not need to pay road tax on the e-Golf, further compounded by lower maintenance costs because of fewer moving parts.

Additionally, there is the OZEV grant available. Consumers can get up to £1,500 off an EV costing up to £32,000. Again, this makes purchasing EVs cheaper and more attractive.

Used EVs have also started to fall in price throughout 2023, dropping by 21.2% over the first four months of 2023.

Myth 7 – “The battery runs out of charge too quickly.”

When EVs first came to the UK market, electric hatchbacks could do between 70 and 100 miles. Today, EVs can easily cover over 200 miles, and some can reach 300 miles on a single charge.

For most people, that is plenty of charge for undertaking normal, day to day journeys.

However, a limited battery range will always be a factor when deciding whether an EV is suitable. ‘Range anxiety’ is a commonly used term when describing worry linked to the vehicle’s range.

To counteract range anxiety, consumers need to be aware of the improved battery life and more comprehensive charging infrastructure available. Furthermore, infrastructure will only continue to improve.

Also, most electric vehicles can guide the driver to the nearest charge point.

Myth 8 – “They are too slow.”

At the very top speeds, combustion engines do still slightly have the speed advantage of their electric counterparts. Although, we hope our readers are not trying to reach 200mph on UK roads!

However, this is not the case with the acceleration of the vehicle. Electric motors provide instant acceleration for the vehicle. This is advantageous when looking to overtake and makes EVs enjoyable to drive.

Myth 9 – “The national grid won’t be able to cope with the additional power demand.”

Our final, commonly heard electric vehicle myth focuses on the potential national grid challenge.

As more electrically powered vehicles begin to use our roads, there will undoubtedly be greater demand for energy from the national grid to power those vehicles.

Because of this additional demand, we sometimes hear that the national grid won’t cope, and we will have a power shortage.

The national grid has been proactive in developing a ‘Future Energy Scenarios’ report, which highlighted the need for the grid to work with the charging infrastructure industry to ensure most charging takes place at night utilising drip charging.

There will also be a need to continue developing and improving the renewable energy sources available in the UK, as it seems counter-productive to utilise non-renewable energy sources to power the eco-friendly car.

Electric Vehicle Consultancy