From 2030 you will no longer be able to buy new petrol or diesel vehicles, with a subsequent ban on hybrids coming into force in 2035. In 2020, the UK Government brought forward the ban from 2045 in order to meet their Net Zero goals:

“The global momentum towards zero-emission vehicles is unstoppable. The UK is on course to be the fastest G7 nation to decarbonise cars and vans, and we want to see other countries following our lead.”

Cars, vans, and lorries will be affected by the bans. There are more than 1.5 million vans registered for use in British businesses today. While used petrol and diesel vans and vehicles will still be permitted on British roads, any new purchases, leased or financed vehicles will have to be electric.

Almost 20% of domestic emissions in the UK come from tailpipes, so get ready British businesses… change is coming!

Vans in your fleet could be among the worst offenders, with the lowest AIR Index Rating given to the Mercedes Citan 109 Dualiner 1.5 by Admiral Insurance. The Vauxhall Vivaro, which had over 13,000 new registrations in 2019 alone, didn’t fare much better.

Are electric vehicles viable for commercial use?

Electric vehicles are the future for Britain, but how can EVs affect your business's bottom line?

With no road tax to be paid on EVs and an average of 80% fewer fuel costs, switching to electric vehicles can lead to huge savings for your fleet. Plus, with 4 active low-emission zones in the UK already (London, Birmingham, Bath, and Glasgow) and 4 potential other ones coming into action soon (Manchester, Newcastle, Cardiff, and Bristol), EVs could save long-haul drivers thousands.

They are also a relatively easy way to openly demonstrate your business's commitment to environmental goals.

Studies have shown that hesitation around switching to EVs is driven by range anxiety and access to charging, rather than the upfront or monthly cost of an EV. However, an EV has a range of 150-350 miles typically which is comparable to a standard petrol or diesel vehicle.

Furthermore, while access to public charging infrastructure has increased vastly over the last few years, companies with electric fleets need their own charge points on-site to make it an efficient switch.

Is your business ready to power electric vehicles?

As of September 2022, there are almost 35,000 public EV charge points in the UK. However, solely relying on public charging infrastructure will not be suitable for companies with EVs.

Companies will need their own dedicated charge points on site in order to meet requirements. An electric Ford Transit can be charged from 20% to 80% in 2 hours at a 7kW charger, with an average cost of around £3.50 for a full charge. This can be improved even further with 22kW chargers, the most common choice for businesses with more than one EV in their fleet.

Will your business need commercial vehicle chargers?

Many businesses in the UK may not be aware that in June 2022, the UK government overhauled building regulations, particularly for new-build commercial properties or ones undergoing extensive renovations. Now, these commercial buildings must have EV charge points installed.

Therefore, yes, businesses need to make sure they are future-proof, and having electric vehicle charge points is an easy way to do that.

How many EV charge points does my business need?

This depends on a few different factors:

1) How quickly do you need your vehicles to charge?

Depending on how many miles you travel, you may not need to charge your EVs every day. However, the average range of an electric car in the UK is around 190 miles. If you are likely to do above-average mileage each day, then you may need more chargers or more powerful chargers.

2) How many electric vehicles do you have?

Your business doesn't necessarily need one charger per electric vehicle.

3) How big is your car park/the space you want to place the chargers?

Since used petrol and diesel cars will still be permitted after the 2030 ban, you need to make sure you have enough space for them to use the same car park. You also need to make sure the area is suitable for any drivers with disabilities.

4) How far are the chargers going to be from the main building?

Generally speaking, the further away the chargers are from the main power source, the more groundwork and cabling there will be.

There are government grants still active for businesses to install EV charge points, so make sure your business is future-proof before 2030.

https://www.chargeandrecharge.co.uk/