Two-thirds of fleet vehicles ‘ready to go electric’
https://fleetservicessummit.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/electric-fleet-red-dot-iy8h-Cl8MLc-unsplash.jpg 960 640 Stuart O'Brien Stuart O'Brien https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/81af0597d5c9bfe2231f1397b411745a?s=96&d=mm&r=gNew research has found that two-thirds of vehicles (cars and vans) operated by private and public sector organisations in the UK are ready to go electric — contrary to increasing industry and media pessimism around electric vehicle (EV) adoption.
Geotab’s ‘Taking Charge: On the Road to an EV Future’ report analysed driver data from 1.3 million vehicles across seven countries over 12 months. It found that fleets switching to EVs could reduce 2.2 billion gallons of fuel from conventional vehicles while avoiding approximately 19 million metric tons of CO2 emissions over the next seven years.
From the analysis, the UK was also singled out as by far the most ‘EV suitable’ market in Europe. That is despite having some of the poorest national EV incentives on offer compared to the other European countries in the report. France, Germany, Italy and Spain all currently offer EV buyers up-front purchase incentives*, whereas the UK government withdrew the Plug-in Car Grant in 2022.
Geotab found that 66% of light-duty vehicles (cars and vans) in the UK are ready to go electric and, crucially, save money for the organisations running them. The UK’s EV suitability compares favourably to other markets covered in the report, which includes Canada (with an EV suitability of 50%), Spain (43%), the United States (38%), Germany (35%), Italy (28%), France (20%).
The 66% figure for the UK is based on a typical seven-year replacement cycle for a fleet vehicle. Expanding this period to 10 years would increase the percentage of fleet cars and vans in the UK ready to go electric to 73%, based on the fact that EVs have a longer usable lifespan than their petrol and diesel counterparts thanks to service, maintenance and repair (SMR) savings.
“The idea that the UK is not ready for mass EV adoption is a fallacy,” said David Savage, Vice President for the UK and Ireland at Geotab. “On the contrary, it’s time for British businesses to ‘double down’ on fleet electrification – not just for the good of the environment and our collective climate goals but for their bottom line. A visionary CEO of a business operating a vehicle fleet could effectively pay their own salary by going electric, thanks to EVs’ financial savings.”
The Taking Charge study delves into real-world telematics data to understand the feasibility of transitioning from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to EVs within light-duty fleets, and the potential financial and CO2 savings available.
The report reveals that by going electric, British private and public sector organisations could reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO) per vehicle by £13,279 over a seven-year period, equating to a saving of £876,414 on a large fleet of 100 vehicles.
These numbers were calculated using Geotab’s proven EV Suitability Assessment (EVSA) tool, which helps fleets transition to electric vehicles. EVSA uses telematics data to understand a fleet’s specific needs to make a tailored EV adoption recommendation. It maps the fleet’s driving patterns against real-world EV performance metrics to pinpoint which fleet vehicles can be replaced with an EV available in that market. The tool also provides a forecast of the financial savings and environmental benefits of making the switch, taking into consideration the purchase price along with fuel and maintenance costs.
When evaluating the suitability of replacing an ICE vehicle with an EV, Geotab looks at two essential factors: Is there a range-capable electric model that can meet the existing daily driving requirements and does it make economic sense to make the switch? Driving patterns can have a major impact on fleet electrification potential as they determine whether a suitable replacement vehicle is available that satisfies the vehicle’s range needs while saving money.
For a replacement to be considered range-capable, it needs to be able to drive 98% of the days that year on a single charge. This 2% margin allows outlier days to exclude abnormal driving distance days outside of standard usage. For it to be considered suitable, the EV would have to be both range-capable and economical, i.e. have a TCO that is lesser or equal to a new replacement ICE model.
It’s one of the more common road signs, but a surprising number of people are unaware of what this sign means. This sign tells drivers that the road is a ‘clearway’ – which means no stopping under any circumstances.
Typically seen on rural roads near military bases, this sign tells you to watch out for slow-moving military vehicles crossing or driving on the road. Tanks can weigh up to 70 tons, so it’s unsurprising that they’re often 
What kind of zone is this sign referring to? If you haven’t noticed any previous signs relating to parking restrictions, this sign can be confusing. But it simply means that any local parking restrictions are ending – so beyond this sign, parking is likely to be free. Always double check to be safe and avoid picking up a parking ticket.
This sign is another which commonly catches drivers out, thanks to its design (or lack of). If you see this sign, it means all vehicles are banned from using the road ahead. So, turn back or you could find yourself with a parking ticket!
No, your car isn’t automatically at risk of explosion if you see this sign. If you’re carrying explosives on behalf of your company or employer, however, you’ll be unable to enter this area. This sign means “No vehicles carrying explosives,” which could apply to couriers with sensitive cargo.
If you think this sign looks similar to the “no stopping” sign, that’s because it does. A blue circular background with a single diagonal red line across it means “no waiting” rather than no stopping. So, if you’re picking a passenger up in one of these areas, it’s worth avoiding stopping for too long.
If you’re often driving in rural areas, like Devon or Northumberland, you might’ve come across this sign before. It tells motorists that this road is a hotspot for Migratory Toad Crossings. Drivers should be aware of large numbers of toads crossing these roads, in order to reach their seasonal homes.
Usually seen near level crossings, or perhaps in tunnels, this sign denotes the fact that there are overhead electrical hazards in the area. It typically warns of danger, like the presence of overhead lines used for trains – particularly important for drivers of taller HGVs. You might also see similar signs near building sites where live overhead wires are providing power to large-scale plants or equipment.
Usually used when the road ahead splits into two, this sign tells drivers that both of the new lanes will direct people to the same location. This helps limit the need for drivers to merge or switch lanes – just stay the course and you’ll end up where you need to be.
This one seems fairly self-explanatory but it’s actually one of the UK’s rarer signs. This sign denotes a railway crossing with no marked barrier or gate to prevent crossing. Since most larger roads have gates to prevent people from crossing at the wrong time, you can expect these to primarily appear on smaller rural roads.
