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How can fleets promote electric vehicle (EV) adoption with their drivers? We’re here to help you to establish strong EV governance, make strategic choices, and select drivers who will be advocates for your fleet electrification program.
There are four main factors to consider when developing frameworks and policies to promote driver EV adoption.
Vehicle selection Bloomberg points out that electric cars have set a record with an almost 300-mile average range. In the United States, EV range has quadrupled since 2011 and is today a third higher than the average globally. EVs are the most efficient vehicles in the market and can fit most driving scenarios.
Vehicle assignment When developing your EV framework, you should outline the criteria for vehicle assignment to address one-off situations. This will help you identify the potential number of drivers ready for an EV.
Charging infrastructure EV charging policy: Home charging and depot charging are the best solutions to recharge EVs, as they are more cost-effective, widely available, quicker to deploy, and provide the best charging experience for drivers.
Be sure to include these situations, as you develop your broad EV company policy and ensure that all stakeholders are aware of the terms.
Charging reimbursement A reimbursement policy with electricity billing reporting should be in place. Consider how you will reimburse drivers for their electricity costs from a home charging and public charging standpoint. Encourage drivers to charge at home as much as possible, and to charge vehicles when not in use at lower energy rates. Your telematics data that collects GPS charging events will continue to be a powerful tool, to support your efforts to compensate drivers for energy use.
Whenever you change the status quo, it is important to select those drivers that want to become EV ambassadors of change. These first adopters will enjoy the benefits of the leading edge of technology that EVs bring and will speak from experience to their peers. These drivers will provide you with the best feedback for your specific operations.
Consider the following:
Driver survey You can use this tool to identify drivers that may be more interested in piloting an EV. The survey provides insights into the driver’s primary residence and if this is conducive to pre-qualify for home charging. It will highlight your best candidates to start an EV deployment program.
Daily distance driven For a great EV driving experience, you should consider looking into the average daily distances that your drivers need to complete their routes. Your goal would be to select drivers that drive enough miles to lower variable costs but not so many miles that they need to charge during the day. While analyzing routes, you will have the opportunity to assess supporting public charging networks at your driver’s disposal, to top-up their EV battery when needed.
Driving experience Drivers that have experienced new ways of driving, such as driving a hybrid vehicle, could be a good fit for an EV deployment program. Drivers of hybrids are potentially used to features like regenerative braking to recharge the battery of the vehicle while driving, and they may appreciate utilizing vehicles that are quieter and smoother. EVs will bring these and more advances!
Telematics Leverage our strategic consultants and telematics data to select drivers to deploy EVs. Their analysis can determine a set of drivers whose routes fit the EV’s range, proximity to public chargers, and environmental and special weather conditions better suited for your EV operations.
Communication is key to engaging drivers. Setting clear expectations from the beginning and introducing new processes in stages will set the tone for a smooth driver EV transition. Change management, upfront planning, and laying out the framework will help garner driver support.
Conveying the role drivers play in achieving corporate sustainability goals, and the benefits of EV adoption, will add purpose to your mission and encourage participation in the program.
Key step: You will need an initial driver meeting to walk your ambassadors through the differences between operating an EV and their current internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle, to set drivers up for success. This would include extensive training on the new technology, and best practices to optimize range, leverage vehicle preconditioning, prolong battery life, and boost overall vehicle performance. When drivers have a positive experience, they will be strong advocates for driver EV adoption.
Arc by Element provides clients with holistic support in EV fleet deployment. Clients achieve desired sustainability outcomes, while controlling costs and driving operational efficiencies. Partnering with Element will give you the right frameworks and policies for your EV fleet.
Element’s strategic consulting team has the experience and expertise to simplify the EV adoption process. Get in touch with us to learn more.