ABM_1 - Flipbook - Page 69
OPINION
FLEET
Future-proof business
the smart way
→ Joe Fogel is CEO at waEV-charge
T
he commercial fleet sector
is undergoing the most
profound transformation in
decades. Electrification is no
longer a distant aspiration,
but fast becoming a business
imperative.
I’m seeing every day how
fleet managers are wrestling with
tough questions: How do I control costs
while meeting sustainability targets?
How do I future-proof operations
without disrupting service? How
can I adopt new technologies while
safeguarding cashflow?
The good news is that electric vehicles
(EVs) can deliver immediate and lasting
answers to these questions. Crucially,
fleets need to know how to unlock
the cost-efficiency advantages of
electrification today, while laying the
groundwork for a smarter, more resilient
future that’s just around the corner.
Cost efficiency advantage
For fleet managers, where margins are
often razor-thin, even small savings per
vehicle add up to substantial bottomline gains.
Electricity is significantly cheaper per
mile than diesel or petrol, especially
when charged overnight at off-peak
rates. For high-mileage fleets, this
translates into thousands of pounds in
annual fuel savings per vehicle. Service
and maintenance costs are considerably
less – EVs have fewer moving parts, no oil
changes, and far less wear on brakes.
There are tax benefits, too. The
Government is incentivising businesses
to go electric, from reduced Benefit-inKind (BiK) rates for drivers, to exemptions
on congestion charges, to grants
for infrastructure. These aren’t just
environmental perks; they’re concrete
financial levers fleet managers can pull
straight away.
Independent studies suggest fleets
can expect maintenance costs to drop
by up to 30% compared to internal
combustion (ICE) vehicles.
When you combine these savings, the
total cost of ownership (TCO) for EVs is
already favourable in many use cases,
particularly in urban logistics, service
fleets, and last-mile delivery.
Simple transition
The reality is that transitioning a
fleet doesn’t need to be disruptive or
capital-intensive if you follow a phased,
pragmatic approach:
Start with data: Audit your fleet’s duty
cycles, mileage, and routes. Identify
vehicles that are clear candidates –
typically high-mileage urban units.
Pilot and prove: Introduce EVs
incrementally, testing performance
under real-world conditions. This builds
organisational confidence and provides
data for scaling.
Scale with infrastructure: Develop
a phased charging infrastructure plan,
balancing depot charging with public.
Train and engage: Bring drivers and
fleet managers into the transition.
Confidence in new technology is as much
about people as vehicles.
One of the biggest barriers we’ve
heard from small and medium-sized
enterprise (SME) fleets is not the will
to go electric, but the upfront cost of
installing chargers.
We’ve developed a subscription model
designed to smooth cashflow. Instead
of a heavy capital outlay, businesses
have a 24-48 month payment option
for chargers, installation, and ongoing
support. By turning infrastructure into a
manageable operating expense, rather
than a daunting capital investment, it’s
about helping SMEs electrify faster and
with less risk.
Electrification isn’t something any
single company can deliver alone. That’s
why collaboration is central to our
strategy at waEV-charge. i
Q4 2025 AUTOMOTIVE BUSINESS
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