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electric vehicles

The WhichEV Review: MG4 EV 2022

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
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By James Morris, WhichEV

Despite demand for diesel shrinking at rates close to 50% year on year, while demand for battery electric vehicles grows by close to 60%, one thing has plagued EVs has been ‘affordability at the point of purchase’

Largely, this has been down to battery tech, but the number of manufacturers competing for the buyer’s money, is also a factor

Looking at the publicly available data up to the start of August 2022, there were around 140 EV models on offer in the UK – with a further 36 products planned for the near future

One of those that has just launched is the brand new MG4 EV, with very attractive external styling and a full range of driver-comfort features

In a world where the average price of a new EV in the UK is just over £52,000 – the MG4 starts at a very respectable £26,000

The average WLTP range of EVs on offer today is 210 miles – so the 280 mile maximum range of the MG4 makes it stand out and it is able to pick up charge at the rate of 135kW from a public DC charger

What really makes this car stand out is the lease price

Without too much effort, you can see business leases starting at just £210 per month + vat:-

https://www.britanniacarleasing.co.uk/car-leasing/mg-motor-uk/mg4-hatchback/mg4-ev-hatch-5dr-elec-51kwh-125kw-170ps-se-5dr-auto-311094-1248050000?source=WhichEV

From a Fleet Manager’s perspective, that makes the MG4 a highly viable option when transitioning your employees to the new fuel technology

You can read/watch the full review on WhichEV here…   https://www.whichev.net/2022/08/26/mg4-ev-2022-review/

Everything you need to know about installing EV chargers at your workplace

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
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Installing a consumer charger is a relatively simple business. Contacting your local Distribution Network Operator (DNO) for an authorisation code, getting a qualified electrician in for the install and testing and then using your new home charger is really straightforward. However, doing the same thing for a commercial premises can be rather more complicated.

While at the recent opening of the new Osprey super hub at the Paisley Pear pub in Brackley, we met up with Adam Miller (CCO) from ESPUG, and he’s an expert at helping business customers get the charging set-up they need.

While most homes will have a 7kW charger installed, the Osprey Super Hub on Marston’s property is able to deliver 100kW to eight EVs at the same time, and up to 150kW to a few if others are less utilised. That needs physical space, access rights, grid capacity and a commercially viable point of connection – and it can be a complex process.

In this article, the experts at WhichEV will help you navigate the task with minimum fuss…

4 of the key challenges facing fleet electrification

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
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With less than a decade to go until sales of new petrol and diesel vehicles are banned throughout the UK, now is a critical time for fleet operators working towards their net zero goals to look ahead to their electric future.

However, preparing to transition a fleet to EVs comes with plenty of stumbling blocks, and many businesses are currently unsure of their readiness to make the switch. The challenges are multi-layered, with all areas of fleet operations impacted by the adoption of electric vehicles, from finance and procurement to maintenance and productivity.

There is also the issue of misinformation, with many myths and knowledge gaps surrounding the topic of fleet electrification. Lightfoot set out to discover how complex an issue the transition to EVs is for the fleet industry, surveying fleet operators from a range of fields to identify the key challenges facing UK fleets today.

To discover the biggest concerns, read the full story at Lightfoot.co.uk

All your EV questions answered by WhichEV

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
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The editorial team over at WhichEV have built a monthly audience of more than 1.2 million readers and they are in regular contact with their community across a range of social media platforms. As the number of electric vehicles in the UK approaches the 1million mark – with pure electric making up half of that number – more and more people are asking questions.

WhichEV has launched a new section on its site, called EV Answers. Twelve articles have already gone live with over 20 more due to go live in the coming weeks.

What kind of questions are answered?  Well, the section covers things like a detailed installation of a charger and all that entails, information about how long it will take to charge, where you can get accurate data (you can trust) about climate change and whether the National Grid can cope with the nation moving to EVs.

The team are also keen to hear any suggestions you may have, so please feel free to email their editor using james@whichev.net if you’d like a particular questions answered.

Read more here: https://www.whichev.net/category/ev-answers/

Charging your EV at home: Everything you need to know

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
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By WhichEV
As the pace picks up in the (r)evolution from fossil fuel to electric vehicles, one question get asked more than any other: How can I charge my EV?
Commercial haulage operations will almost certainly need to have full charging stations installed at their key bases. This is something that companies like Renault Volvo and DAF will build into a complete quote for electrifying your company’s transportation system.
For travelling sales people and executives, a lot of the time they will be able to charge at home overnight but – when they are out and about – they may need to be part of a charging network like Juice from Octopus. That will allow them to get the best rates across thousands of different charging points (including very high speed chargers from Osprey etc) while helping your accounts team to stay in control of costs and the processing of expenses.
Whether you are charging for a personal or business vehicle the principles remain the same and you can find out more in this article…

UK firms embark on in £13.6bn EV investment drive

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
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UK businesses are set to adopt more than 163,000 electric vehicles (EVs) this year as part of a major investment in fleet electrification.

According to a new study by Centrica Business Solutions, the increase would see over a third (35%) more business operated EVs on the road by the end of 2022, compared to the 121,000 registered by firms last year.

The research also found businesses spent £11.6bn on EVs and supporting infrastructure in 2021 and are planning a 15% spending increase over the next year, taking the total investment in fleet electrification to £13.6bn.

The majority of fleet operating businesses (62%) said they expect to operate a 100% electric fleet within the next four years, comfortably ahead of the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles.

More than four in ten (44%) said they had increased the number of EVs in their fleet over the last 12 months.

Key drivers for take up include meeting sustainability targets (59%), demand from employees (45%) and pressure from customers to be more environmentally friendly (43%).

Despite the record levels of planned investment, almost two thirds (63%) of businesses are worried about accessing public charging points to keep their fleet moving.

To overcome the charging challenge, almost half (48%) of firms have installed EV charging points at their premises, with more than a third (36%) planning to invest in on-site charging infrastructure in the next 12 months.

The research also revealed that two fifths (40%) of businesses have invested in renewable energy generation technology such as solar panels to power their fleets, while a further two fifths (43%) plan to do so in the year ahead.

Greg McKenna, managing director of Centrica Business Solutions said: “The UK continues to make significant inroads towards achieving its electric vehicle ambitions and it’s encouraging to see UK businesses prioritising investment in the journey towards electrification over the next 12 months.

“Businesses will continue to play a vital role in achieving the UK’s green transport ambitions, but with a record number of EVs expected to enter the UK this year, we must ensure the supply of vehicles and wider charging infrastructure is robust enough to meet the demand. Combining energy technology such as solar panels and battery storage into the wider charging infrastructure will help harness renewables and reduce the demand on the grid during peak charging times.”

The report is available to download here.

Is the Einride Pod the future of autonomous electric freight vehicles?

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
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By Farooq Baloch, WhichEV

Since 2017, the UK Government has had in place the outline rules for testing autonomous vehicles on UK roads. Those rules have recently been updated and many more companies are looking at ways in which transportation in general (and goods in particular) can be automated with advanced electric vehicles across the nation’s road network.

Einride believes that the future of transport is electric, autonomous and digital – with a focus on zero-emissions and self-driving vehicles, coordinated by an intelligent network. This could well provide a cleaner and safer way to transport huge volumes of cargo, but how will we know if it is safe?

The Einride Pod has no room for a driver on board and, in that sense, is very similar to Volvo’s Vera – first showcases in London at the Freight in the City show back in 2019.

You can read more about Einride over at WhichEV.

Strategic partnership looks to accelerate transition to electric vehicles in the workplace

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
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Durham-based, Anglo Scottish Asset Finance, is partnering with Diode, an electric vehicle (EV) suitability assessment software platform, to help break down the barriers to EV adoption and drive forward electrification in the workplace.

The partnership has been spearheaded by Charlotte Enright, business development manager and sustainability lead at Anglo Scottish Asset Finance.

Following discussions with Diode, which was established in 2020 in response to the climate change emergency and is a recipient of Innovate UK and Department for Transport grant funding, the two companies are partnering to provide a full circle service for businesses looking to invest in EVs.

Diode, an innovative web-based software platform that provides an all-in-one solution to help businesses, employees and consumers assess their electric vehicle suitability, generate a tailored charge point roll-out plan and purchase charge points through an automated tender process, identified that initial investment for many businesses would require finance and, as such, the relationship between the two companies was agreed.

The partnership coincides with the recent publication of the government’s UK Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy. Included, was a £1.6 billion commitment towards achie3ving a tenfold increase in charge points by 2030, which will accelerate the government’s aim to end the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030 and ensure all new cars and vans are zero-emission by 2035.

With the average driver needing to charge for approximately seven hours per week at a standard 7kW charge point, installing charge points at workplaces will be a critical component if the target is to be achieved.

Established in 2007 and with headquarters in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, Anglo Scottish is an independent business finance broker, providing a range of financial services across the UK including asset finance, business loans and vendor and dealer finance, as well as personal vehicle solutions and vehicle sourcing.

Dan Eyre, co-founder and COO, Diode, said: “At current petrol and electricity prices, the cost per mile for electric vehicles is about half that of an equivalent petrol vehicle.

“The high upfront costs of the vehicles and charge points can put businesses and drivers off making the switch and is why finance options are so important, because it means our customers can start taking advantage of low-cost electric driving from day one.

“More than 90% of the drivers that complete our Electric Vehicle Readiness Assessment are in the position to make the switch. For some businesses, they may choose to make a full transition then and there, whilst others may wish to go at a slower pace. Diode can help companies that fit in to both of these groups and with Anglo Scottish as our finance partner, customers will quickly reap the benefits, both in terms of cost savings and accelerating their transition to electric vehicles.”

Charlotte Enright, sustainability lead, Anglo Scottish Asset Finance, said: “Recent figures published by The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders highlighted a huge increase in sales of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in 2021. In fact, more new battery electric vehicles were registered than over the previous five years combined. Interestingly, there were 190,727 battery electric vehicles and 114,554 plug-in hybrids, meaning 18.5% of all new cars registered in 2021 could be plugged in.

“As part of the UK’s transition to electric vehicles, Diode has identified the need for a streamlined, simple, data driven platform that requires very little in terms of time investment. Results are quick and the benefits for businesses that work with the platform are huge.

“Once employees have completed their assessments, and businesses have generated their roll-out plans, thoseseeking finance are directed to Anglo Scottish, where we will find the best possible finance deals for electric vehicles and charging stations, via our vast panel of lenders.

David Foster, managing director, Anglo Scottish Asset Finance, said: “As we continue to strengthen our sustainable finance offering, with the aim of becoming the leading provider in the UK, we need look no further than the current investment taking place within electrification.

“For many, the journey towards making workplace operations sustainable will be on-going and Anglo Scottish aims to make this transition as smooth as possible, both for existing and new customers.”

Here’s how to choose the best electric truck for your business

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
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Feep in the Bedfordshire countryside is a unique testing facility called the Millbrook Proving Grounds. Tucked behind a small forest of trees are several private tracks allowing you to test a vehicle in every environment possible – from small town to race track, extreme hills to extreme bumps and undulations. WhichEV was invited along to see the latest electric commercial vehicles from DAF, Volvo and Renault by the SMMT.

In one of the rare few places in the UK where you can drive a 26 ton truck without an HGV license, we put these silent monsters through their paces, trying to decide: Are UK businesses ready for the move to electrification and, if so, what would be the best electric truck for your business?

When WhichEV visited Renault’s new electric mobility factory in Blainville-Sur-Orne back in March, its team were given a detailed breakdown of their plans to move the world’s transport systems from diesel to electricity. Alongside Volvo (part of the same group) and DAF (which has been supplying commercial vehicles for close to 100 years), Renault will play a major role in moving commercial haulage away from fossil fuels.

Click here to read WhichEV’s hands-on with three of the main contenders for the switchover.

Factors to consider before getting your first electric car

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By James Morris, Which EV

Ten years after Nissan began selling the Leaf in UK showrooms, the UK market for electric vehicles finally took off in 2020. Now, almost 15% of all the cars sold so far in 2022 are pure electric, but with so many options to choose from, it can be difficult to pick the best car for your needs. To help you make that choice, we’ve covered the six most important questions you need to answer before making your purchase or starting a new lease.

So what are the major factors you need to consider? Click here to read WhichEV’s guide for fleet and private users.