IN the face of the climate emergency, the transition to electric vehicles is more important than ever, and a question of "when" rather than "if".
But the decision is not just about when to change the family car. The new Labour Government’s commitment to a green, sustainable future was writ large in their manifesto and the legislation that’s set to follow, so it’s important that transitioning all petrol and diesel vehicles, from buses to vans and lorries, remains a key priority.
Much of the focus to date has been on persuading domestic vehicle drivers to transition to EV, but the real prize lies in encouraging the owners and operators of the UK’s 60,000 fleets to make the switch with a degree of urgency. In Scotland, we know there are an estimated 5,500 fleets that need to transition, and the time to act is now.
But despite the inevitable move away from the fossil fuel-powered vehicle, to date the uptake amongst fleets has been relatively low. Fleet operators are concerned about the availability of EVs, getting the right kind of EVs, the complexity of delivering depot-based charging infrastructure, and the anticipated costs in a difficult economic climate.
The rollout of EV infrastructure across the UK has really picked up the pace in recent years, and that pattern is set to continue. This means "range anxiety" should be less of a consideration for businesses. The variety of commercial vehicles available, and their affordability, is also an ever-improving situation.
However, the complexity of installing depot charging to serve medium to large fleets does remain a challenge. It’s a skillset that fleet managers will either have to acquire themselves or develop a partnership approach with a charge place operator.
The costs associated with managing this transition can appear to be daunting, and that can create a barrier to change. The reality is that this service can be provided to suit the needs of businesses, and in fact can even lead to significant bottom-line savings.
The pace of transition to EVs across the UK is not uniform; in London and other densely populated areas, there is greater demand and the market is responding. But there are many areas, Scotland being a good example, where population densities and rurality mean demand is low today, and is likely to remain so for the foreseeable future. This creates inhibiting pressures on the roll-out of high-cost infrastructure.
Therefore, government support - by way of policy and financial incentives - will continue to be necessary to avoid market failure in large parts of the country. Targeting the fleet sector specifically should be a priority.
The real onus, though, is on businesses to act. I would encourage all organisations with fleets to start planning now, to get ahead of what will become a "race to transition" in the not-too-distant future.
Early adopters, such as Network Rail Scotland, for whom we recently installed fleet charging hubs at it Irvine and Cowlairs depots , can gain significant advantages. These include securing grid availability, reducing long-term running costs and enhancing sustainability credentials.
The task ahead is substantial, but achievable. The next decade will be critical for laying the groundwork for a sustainable future.
Steve Dunlop is Chief Executive Officer of FOR EV
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