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There is a high pressure to electrify fleets, because fleet operations can be the largest CO2 contributor of a business. Learn more about what needs to be considered for electrification.
Challenges for EV transition
Mastering the transition to EV’s without losing service contracts, increasing costs or reducing productivity is a challenge for all fleets. Companies have tried to switch 1:1 from ICE (internal combustion engines) to EV (electric vehicles) and have failed because of concerns around payload, cargo capacity and range anxiety issues. We also see failure because they have concentrated too much on the vehicles themselves and not on the other factors involved in the whole picture.
- Companies didn’t make the right choice of vehicles due to inconsistent specifications; non-standardized processes; or too many people involved in decision making.
- Smaller vans have less space and lower payloads. Productivity is impacted due to a lack of proper inventory and/or spare parts.
- Limited driving range and lack of charging stations are a major concern for fleet managers and drivers on the go.
But surveys have also shown that fleet managers and drivers are both excited about and proud of the prospect of an electric fleet and the positive impact of the change on the environment. Many fleet managers expect to switch to some electric vehicles within the next two years. The introduction of a sustainable e-fleet for your customer base will therefore be a new standard, while productivity and costs should remain (at least) the same.
What do I need to know for a successful EV transition?
The goal should be to transition your service process to support your ‘Business efficiency’ not ‘Fleet efficiency’.
Whilst rightsizing and electrifying an LCV fleet pays obvious environmental and CO2 emissions dividends, there are some challenges in maintaining workflow productivity as the payload becomes smaller. Equipment and spares that were easily carried in a larger vehicle are now struggling to find space in the smaller vehicle.
To simplify the transition process to EV, you need to overcome questions about stock storage, user engagement and charging infrastructure.
- Analyze stock and your workflow – It is always the best to engage the users. The stock they need to carry and their daily workflows can then be analyzed together.
- Standardization – Standardization of your van fleet and shelving solution can also support a faster transition to an EV fleet. This is true in a global context, while still maintaining national flexibility.
- Choose the right EV – When choosing the electric vehicle, the goal should be to improve or sustain your performance in terms of employee productivity and revenue generation. Those organisations who are moving successfully to fleet electrification share a common approach: a focus on their core service processes and not primarily the vehicle!
- Decide how you’ll charge them – Your choice of charging solutions depends on where your vehicles spend their off-duty time. Some options are at-home charging, centralized charging at a depot or public charging.
How can Sortimo help?
Sortimo offers consultation to review your current status moving into EV, working together with you and a small group of your stakeholders.
We offer consulting services on how to rightsize and increase productivity with smarter designs.
Sortimo solutions have been EV ready for many years, with no-drill floors and SR5, as the most space- efficient van solution on the market. With the slim side profiles they are perfectly made for aerodynamic EVs with smaller load capacities. The space is efficiently used inside.
Sortimo already has one of the biggest European fleet of EV vehicles as their customer with over 1000 vehicles to be upfitted within a year.
We know what is important for EV vehicles and can share this experience with you.
Do you still have questions about electrification and want to get in contact? Our Sortimo team will be happy to help you in our branches and stations throughout Germany. Alternatively, the Sortimo Customer Service Centre will be happy to help you. You can find all contacts at: mySortimo.us/contact
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