Driving and charging an EV can be complex. When it comes to large corporate electric fleets, the complexity only increases. Firstly, they have to contend with a charging infrastructure that is uneven across geographical areas. Secondly, company car fleets usually comprise vehicles of different makes and models that are meant to operate under one set of specific business rules. Clearly, charging an EV requires some extra planning, and corporations need to accompany employees through the process.
However, electrifying a fleet presents excellent benefits. First and foremost, is the TCO (Total Cost of Ownership). Dutch experts Leaseplan calculate fuel and maintenance as 26% and 10% of gas fleet costs, respectively. Both of these can be slashed by switching to electric vehicles. In addition to that, each country has a different fiscal regulation that usually brings down taxes on EVs. According to Transport and Environment, electric company cars are already the cheapest option today, both for large/premium and medium models.
Leasing companies have the knowledge and resources to help corporate customers transition their fleets from traditional ICE vehicles to EVs, accelerating the adoption of sustainable mobility.
Offer a smart tool stack
Each corporate customer has its specific needs and objectives in terms of fleet management. With increasing numbers of corporations switching to electric cars because of sustainability benefits and a lower TCO, the way forward for leasing companies is to offer tailored integrated systems that harmonize and improve the user experience for both EV fleet managers and drivers.
Below is a list of 3 tools leasing companies should adopt to help their corporate customers electrify their fleet.
1. Telematics
Integrating a telematics API to collect and analyze real-time vehicle data could provide corporate customers insights to make informed decisions. For example, telematics data of ICE vehicles on the road can be collected to identify the best EV replacement; quantify fuel savings, and understand what type of charge station would be needed and where. In addition, for those clients who already have an electric fleet, telematics data is helpful in determining the State of Charge of a vehicle and where it should charge. This brings us to the second point.
2. EV routing
To help drivers with the extra planning required by EVs, Chargetrip has developed a routing software specifically designed for electric cars that can be integrated into a more comprehensive fleet management software stack. The Chargetrip routing engine considers 15 dynamic and static variables such as weather, elevation, and station availability to compute the best route to a user’s destination, highlighting the optimal charge stations in between. EV routing makes unpredictable trips predictable, overcoming range and charge anxiety. Furthermore, EV routing does more than just enabling EV drivers to move away from opportunity charging (charging at a random station). By considering the dynamic energy price, historic charge station availability, and a customer’s preferred charge point operator, we suggest to drivers exactly when and where to charge. As a result, leasing companies and corporate customers can save up to 40% of their energy costs. To maximize EV routing capabilities, such software should be integrated into a charge management platform, which leads us to the next point.
3. Charging Services
Corporate clients that lease your EVs will also look for a charging partner. This will be a party that provides home and workplace charging solutions, charge cards for drivers on the go to access public chargers, and a charge management software for invoices and charging insights. Whether you, as a leasing company, also operate as an e-Mobility Service Provider, or you have partnerships with third parties, you’ll need to carefully assess energy prices to offer customers an all-inclusive monthly fee that doesn’t erode margins. Predictive energy price models integrated into the charging management software are key to forecast costs.
On top of the 3 services described above, more could be integrated by lease companies to help your corporate customers electrify their fleet. Parking spaces that offer charge stations, smart tolling systems, and dedicated insurance packages are just some of the additional services that could be incorporated. Establishing strategic partnerships with specialized companies that can help you offer robust and customizable tools will be essential to success in a sustainable future, whether you have a large EV fleet or have just started to lease electric cars.