With the UK moving towards the 2030 legislation banning the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans, demand has increased for electric vehicles (EVs) for both commercial and private use. As a result, many fleet operations teams are starting to make the switch to EVs, with EVs in fleets predicted to grow by a factor of eight or more by 2023.
As fleet operators look to increase the number of EVs in their fleet, they are faced with a storm of confusing misinformation and myths around EVs, interfering with their decision-making on making the switch. Alongside this, fleet operators are also battling with the perceived challenges impacting fleet drivers’ attitudes surrounding the shift to an EV, including charging anxiety, rumours of a tax on tyres, and worries around driving range.
But are these myths wholly truthful? What do they mean for fleet operators and drivers? David Watts, Fleet Product Manager for Electric Vehicles, Volkswagen Financial Services (VWFS) Fleet, explores below.
“EV range will restrict my ability to travel long distances”
Despite rumours of EVs being unsuitable for long-distance journeys, the reality is there have been significant improvements to battery technology and range over the last 10 years, and the UK’s charging infrastructure is continuing to grow. Data from the latest Volkswagen Financial Services UK EV tracker report revealed London has seen the highest increase of charging points in the UK, with an increase of 6.1 units per 100,000 people, closely followed by the West Midlands at 6 units, with improvements also seen across other regions of the UK.
Although driving range differs across different EV models, the average real-life range of an EV today is often well over 200 miles, with many family cars able to travel 250-300 miles or more on a single charge. With the average UK car journey sitting at just 8.4 miles, most drivers find it unnecessary to charge EVs daily, and more often than not charge up weekly Looking at the potential long journeys of fleet drivers, which may occasionally require drivers to stop and charge up, this can be planned for in advance by fleet operations teams during journey planning.
ID.3 Tour
“EVs are meant to be more sustainable, but produce a higher level of particulate emissions”
EVs produce no tailpipe exhaust emissions, but recently conversations around particulate emissions (the small particles released from tyre/brake wear, which contribute to air pollution) have claimed that EVs produce more particulate emissions than international combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, due to their increased tyre size and weight. Rumours have circulated of a so-called ‘tyre tax’ being introduced to tackle this issue, however, there is nothing to suggest this rumour is true – as a such a tyre tax would go against the UK’s net zero goals.
Worries about increased particulate emissions resulting from brake wear of EVs, caused by the brake pads pressing against brake discs, are somewhat exaggerated. In reality, the majority of braking in an EV can be done through regenerative braking, with motors acting in reverse to slow the vehicle. As a result, brake wear is notably less in EVs than on an ICE vehicle, with the use of brakes reduced to the point of us starting to see a reintroduction of the drum brake, which could further reduce particulate emissions and reap sustainability benefits for fleet operations teams.
“Charging my EV is an inconvenience”
For many, EV charging can appear more complicated than filling up at a traditional fuel station, which is largely a standard experience each time. EV charging can take many different forms, which can be confusing for many and can therefore be perceived as an inconvenience.
However, for those fortunate enough to be able to charge at home or their workplace, it is many ways easier than filling up at a fuel station. For the majority of drivers’ daily mileage needs, charging the car while at work or overnight should be sufficient.
Drivers relying on the public charging network for routine charging may find recharging more difficult, but the public charging infrastructure in the UK is constantly growing and improving. Thousands of charge points are being installed every year across the UK on streets, in car parks and more, with recent reports highlighting a 38% increase in the total number of charging devices available in May 2023 compared to May 2022.
For occasional longer journeys that go beyond the maximum range of an EV, a small amount of planning is required by fleet teams or drivers to ensure the car can be charged during the journey. However, stopping to top up charge using rapid chargepoints can be built into natural journey breaks – meaning users can get back on the road sooner with minimal disruption.
In the UK, the rapid charging network is continuing to grow, and there is now a requirement for contactless payment facilities at each charge point, meaning users no longer have the confusion of multiple RFID cards or apps to recharge. This also simplifies the process for fleet teams, who can now simply work on an expense system rather than battling with multiple payment methods.
“Driving an electric vehicle is boring”
There’s a common misconception that EVs can be boring to drive, perhaps due to the lack of engine noise and gearbox. Although taste in vehicles is, of course, subjective, many EV drivers would not go back to an ICE vehicle, as they have found EVs to be great fun to drive.
Firstly, thanks to the instant maximum torque and readily available power, EVs are quick and offer great acceleration which isn’t possible in an ICE. This proves to be very useful when overtaking and makes them particularly fun to drive in towns – an experience for fleet drivers to enjoy.
EVs also provide a much smoother driving experience, as there is no engine noise or vibration throughout the vehicle, meaning they are quiet and give the driver the feeling of gliding through traffic. On long journeys, this can also make the driving experience more comfortable and less stressful – a key consideration for fleet drivers.
As an EV’s heavy battery pack is positioned in the floor, they have a very low centre of gravity which often gives driving much better handling performance in comparison to equivalent ICE vehicles, again making them more fun to drive.
VWFS Fleet has a number of tools to help businesses and drivers make the switch to electric vehicles. For more information, please visit https://www.vwfsfleet.co.uk/business-leasing/electric-vehicles/ev-transition/.
The Department for Transport and the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles has also published a comprehensive look at common misconceptions about EVs which can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1103266/common-misconceptions-about-electric-vehicles-leaflet.pdf.
Author: David Watts, Fleet Product Manager for Electric Vehicles, Volkswagen Financial Services Fleet.
