ABM_1 - Flipbook - Page 70
OPINION
FLEET
More than just
A
s more fleets transition
to electric vehicles (EVs),
businesses are preparing
for a future that is cleaner,
quieter and more costeffective in the long term. But
alongside the environmental
and operational benefits, the
shift to EVs introduces new challenges
– particularly when it comes to incident
management.
Helping business drivers of EVs or
internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles
get back on the road quickly after an
incident is vital for efficiency, minimising
the financial risk and hassle that
could occur.
As the UK’s car parc of vehicles evolves,
companies increasingly need to develop
strategies to accommodate different
powertrains.
While fleet vehicles and company cars
are reducing overall vehicle emissions by
driving uptake of fully electric cars, fleet
managers are finding that continuity of
service following an accident involves
more than just accessing a bodyshop
capable of repairing electric cars.
The industry has taken great strides to
win over sceptical drivers and to ensure
that EV drivers experience the same level
of customer service and fast turnaround
as ICE car drivers.
Having worked alongside fleet
operators for many years, we at AX
Motor Assist are aware of the potential
pain points and have support strategies
to help integrate EVs more efficiently.
It is one thing to procure a fleet of EVs,
but quite another to plan for unexpected
mishaps that might take them off the
road. By implementing preventive
measures and having a proactive plan in
place, businesses can anticipate, prepare
for and respond to any accident or
incident without additional stress or cost
to the business.
According to the Society of Motor
Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the
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AUTOMOTIVE BUSINESS Q4 2025
total number of vehicles in use
in the UK rose by 1.4% last
year, reaching 41.96 million.
There are now around 1.5
million fully electric cars
on the roads, and we are
seeing some initial impact
from the Electric Car Grant,
helping to push the battery
electric car share to 26.5% in
August, the highest recorded in 2025.
With company car drivers adopting EVs
at a faster rate than retail customers,
maintaining continuity and minimising
vehicle downtime by planning for when
incidents occur is crucial. This means
having access to a robust network of
repairers capable of safely and quickly
fixing any damage.
But that is far from the only
consideration, and on its own is not a
small undertaking, especially for smaller
fleets which often don’t have any thirdparty supplier support to help with
claims or accident management.
One of the potential pitfalls in
integrating EVs is assuming that
traditional fleet processes apply
seamlessly. Electric vehicles differ
significantly in construction, repair
protocols, and availability of
replacement parts.
In the event of an accident, these
differences can dramatically extend
downtime. For instance, minor damage
to a battery casing can render a vehicle
undriveable for weeks due to safety
protocols and a shortage of specialist
repairers.
We strongly recommend working with
an accident management partner that
has an established network of repairers
which are fully electric vehicle equipped
and capable.
Down with downtime
For fleet operators, vehicle downtime
means business disruption. Unlike ICE
vehicles, EVs require more specialised
