Fleet Fix, the total EV charging solution

Andy Gray shares the secret to a smooth transition to electric vehicles

Since the government has brought forward its intended ban on the sale of internal combustion engined (ICE) vehicles to 2030, it’s now more important than ever for fleet managers to consider the alternatives. And in most cases, that’s electric vehicles (EVs).

Alongside this, there are many other reasons why a business may be interested in transitioning to an electric fleet, such as reaching sustainability goals or lowering maintenance and fuelling costs. However, fleet electrification is complex and it’s easy to overlook details when it comes to planning the transition. Factors to take into account include operational impact, vehicle replacement, workplace charging infrastructure and charging needs for vehicles that are taken home.

As I wrote in this blog, businesses face a number of hurdles moving from traditional fuel vehicles to electric. Above all, fleet managers need to ensure any transition does not disrupt their operations.

To mitigate the risks of this and to avoid costly mistakes, it’s vitally important to work with the right business partner – one that can provide experience-based advice and guidance, is independent and not tied to any particular EV charger manufacturer.

At Ground Control, we have worked with businesses and fleet managers across the UK to identify their specific requirements and find ways to tailor a solution that meets them. The questions that always need answering are:

What is the right vehicle for their needs?
How will people charge the vehicle when at home?
What happens if they do not have off-street parking to charge their vehicle?
How will users charge the vehicles when out on business?
How will they charge vehicles at depots and offices?
How can they integrate these things to work seamlessly and simply?

While we are not able to specifically answer the first question, our experience of transitioning our own national fleet, working with companies embarking on a similar journey and our innovative products and services can help with the remainder.

Our specialist teams are available to advise on the most suitable hardware and software solutions for workplace charging, but in our experience, home charging remains the most cost-effective place for EV drivers to charge their vehicles if they can. So if your business allows fleet vehicles to be taken home at night, providing home charging facilities can be a key element in facilitating a smooth transition from ICE to EV.

Of course, where no off street parking is available or where businesses need to charge their EVs while out and about, getting the right advice on platforms, hardware and apps is crucial. In these cases, a total solutions package should be considered as part of any EV transition feasibility study.

That’s where our unique ‘Fleet Fix’ solution comes in. Fleet Fix provides a simple, seamless process from employee selection (when the business identifies someone who needs an electric vehicle) to vehicle delivery – and manages all the steps in between. It can even set up automated home reimbursement for electricity used to charge the company vehicle.

Fleet Fix provides total visibility through the EV HUB, a bespoke system designed and built around the fleet charging market that provides a dedicated portal for clients to monitor and track the entire installation process. It can even liaise with fleet lease providers on behalf of the business.

Whether you’re aiming to improve your overall environmental performance or just looking to update your fleet beyond 2030, Fleet Fix is the solution that can help make the whole process a great deal easier.