Here we are at World EV Day, a day to celebrate EV ownership across the globe. And yet all I’m currently witnessing is a blizzard of contradicting opinions about electric vehicles and their potential take up.
Talk about choking the subject in too much information.
At the beginning of this month, the Financial Times suggested that the appetite for electric vehicles was on the wane, thanks to a survey from Auto Trader. It suggested that cost had become an overriding factor in consumer minds fuelled by the COVID-19 pandemic.
But then the famous pink paper followed this report a few days later with the headline Electric car sales double in UK in August as the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders reported on August registrations. EVs had gone up nearly 77% to take 6.4% of the August market and nearly 5% of the total market on a year-to-date basis. So is the appetite for electric vehicles really on the wane?
Other headlines out recently suggest not – the AA’s survey (almost half of drivers are thinking of buying an EV) and Uswitch’s survey (12 million drivers are considering an electric vehicle in the next two years). Which is all very positive.
Yet against this positivity, the SMMT advises caution, with nearly half of UK motorists thinking 2035 is too soon to switch to an EV despite the billions invested in the technology. And that there was the requirement for 507 on-street chargers to be installed per day until 2035 at a cost of £16.7 billion.
All big scary numbers and not so encouraging. At all.
So against all that I welcome the World EV Day initiative. Electrification is something to be celebrated; to be embraced; to be welcomed.
As a business, Fleet Alliance is committed to switching the thousands of vehicles it has under management to EVs by 2030 as part of the UK Electric Fleets Coalition, an organisation which wants to accelerate the EV transition.
I do realise that people are naturally hesitant and cautious about change. And I can understand the reservations that many people have about the cost and the range of EVs.
But I would like to reassure you that these reservations can be put aside. Remember when we didn’t have computers and they were first introduced? People were scared of ‘pressing the wrong button’, or simply took technology fright. Now look at us today – the computer is everywhere, whether it’s your laptop, tablet or smartphone.
It’s the same for EVs. Just think of it as a car with a different driving technology.
While the cost of buying an EV might look expensive, the cost of leasing one is much more affordable. If you are personal leasing, then our sister site, Intelligent Car Leasing, has a range of affordable options including the Volkswagen e-Golf, a perfect way to start your electric car journey with a car that is familiar, yet powered by a battery.
And for fleets and businesses, there has never been a better opportunity to switch to a cleaner method of driving while also saving on costs and tax. To illustrate this we have just produced a factsheet to demonstrate why businesses and drivers should embrace the company car.
One final point – to challenge the range fear. It’s not anywhere near as bad as you think. Most EV drivers I know charge up at home and that’s it. They are very relaxed about it. Longer journeys do require some extra planning that is absolutely true, but it’s more a mindset change.
Naturally, I do recognise that drivers in residential streets without off-street parking and without lamp post charging are currently disadvantaged and are unlikely to be first movers into an EV.
But with rapid 50kWh chargers able to add 100 miles of charge in around 30 minutes and ultra fast charging becoming more widely available – where you can charge your car’s battery up to three times faster than a rapid charger – the requirement to electrify every street will lessen as these become more widely available at supermarkets, car parks and at fuel filling stations.
So let’s not get confused by EVs, blinded by too much information or put off by negative headlines.
Electric cars are a terrific way to get around. Let’s encourage their use – and truly celebrate World EV Day. Make the switch today.
Here we are at World EV Day, a day to celebrate EV ownership across the globe. And yet all I’m currently witnessing is a blizzard of contradicting opinions about electric vehicles and their potential take up. Talk about choking the subject in too much information. At the beginning of this month, the Financial Times suggested … Continued
It probably won’t come as a great surprise to hear that the Government needs to pull its fingers out. No, thought as much. And the BVRLA thinks the same way. The association says the Government needs to take some huge strides forward – and pronto, please – if it is to meet its own Road … Continued
As we step into the brave new world of 2019, I thought a fleet almanac of sorts might be in order. So, to greet 2019, here are 19 issues or products that will be facing fleet this year. So let’s go. And in no particular order… 1. Leasing becomes more attractive. Why? From the new tax … Continued
It’s not often you see an automotive headline that takes you aback. But in the last fortnight we’ve had two: the arrest of Carlos Ghosn, the infamous ‘Le cost cutter’ chief at the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance and one of the most significant automotive players in the world. And, closer to home, the announcement by Volkswagen and … Continued
Excuse me, did the Government say something? Was it joined up speech? No? OK, situation normal, then. I mean, you can’t really make this up: the Government wants us to head up the road to 70% ultra low emission cars by 2030 as announced in its Road to Zero Strategy. This was launched in July this … Continued
You know, I really don’t like to be much of a follower… but in this case, I am. I’m following Grant in going green. You might recall that Grant Boardman, our Client Services Director, wrote in a blog that he was going green – ditching his Land Rover Discovery Diesel for a plug-in hybrid Volvo … Continued
I found this report from Arval in my daily reading this week: it said that UK fleets were ahead of the game in adopting hybrid technology. Whether hybrid or plug-in hybrid, UK fleets were at the head of a table compared with 12 other European countries. The research came from Arval’s respected Corporate Vehicle Observatory … Continued
Imagine driving your electric car into a fuel station. You avoid the petrol and diesel pumps. Obviously. And glide silently (you’re an EV don’t forget) towards the ‘electric fuel’ pump. In about the same time that it’s taken your fellow motorists at the traditional pumps to refuel you have replenished the fuel in your battery. … Continued
It’s true. After years of company car driving I’m taking my first steps into greener motoring. I’m moving to a plug-in hybrid Volvo XC60. That’s the T8 Twin Engine model with the ability to run up to 28 miles on zero emission mode. Why? Well, there were twin drivers: Fleet Alliance has a big green … Continued
It might sound fanciful, but it’s true: blockchain technology may well underpin your fleet and your future mobility requirements. Now, don’t back because this sounds too technical. Because as you know, me and technology are not always the best bedfellows. So let me explain. Blockchain is essentially a highly secure form of ledgers – blocks … Continued