As discussed in the previous sections on the sustainable transport hierarchy, the most effective way to reduce emissions from travel is to remove vehicle mileage and rationalise your fleet. However, where mileage must be completed in a vehicle, it should be done in a way that generates the lowest emissions possible.

The successful implementation of ZEVs

When internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles are due for replacement, they should be replaced with zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) wherever possible.

This includes battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). At present, there are more BEVs available on the market than FCEVs, although this may change for heavier vehicle categories.

The range of ZEVs available continues to grow and is expected to expand significantly over the coming years. The UK Government website lists many of the ZEVs currently available. In general, the larger the vehicle, the fewer zero emission replacement options there are. For example, there are many zero emission car models available, but fewer zero emission heavy-duty and specialist vehicles. We recommend investigating all available options and transitioning as many fleet vehicles as possible to zero emission alternatives.

It is important to foster a culture that encourages the use of ZEVs over non-ZEVs. This can help address any concerns employees may have about adopting new technologies.

Targets for ZEV adoption should focus on increasing zero emission mileage, rather than simply counting the number of ICE vehicles replaced with BEVs. If drivers are reluctant to use electric vehicles, they may continue to favour the remaining ICE vehicles in the fleet. This can shift mileage away from ZEVs and reduce potential emissions and cost savings.

If it is not possible to replace vehicles with ZEVs immediately, you should prioritise shifting mileage from higher-emitting vehicles to lower-emitting vehicles. Making greater use of cleaner vehicles already within the fleet can deliver short-term emissions and cost reductions.

Education and engagement can help dispel common misconceptions about ZEVs and ensure employees understand the benefits of the technology. This can also improve driver confidence, efficiency and vehicle utilisation.

Some organisations have successfully appointed ‘ZEV champions’ to encourage uptake. These are employees who are enthusiastic about zero emission vehicles and can help promote their benefits to colleagues. Union representatives and team members can also play an important role in encouraging adoption. Supporting test drives and driver training sessions can be particularly effective, as first-hand experience is often the best way to improve driver acceptance and confidence.

Key considerations when adopting zero emission vehicles

It’s important to develop a good knowledge of the current ZEVs and keep up to date with new models as they arrive on the market. Supply constraints can be an issue, so placing orders early can be helpful. Once you find a ZEV that could replace a current ICE vehicle, with the correct size, load-carrying capacity, seats and equipment, the next step is to assess its operational viability.

The key considerations for operational viability are:

• Maximum required driving range on a single charge.
• Charging time.
• Vehicle efficiency (Wh/km or kWh/100km).
• Total cost of ownership.

Although BEVs have a lower range on a single charge than most ICE vehicles on a full fuel tank, this may not affect their viability as replacement vehicles. It’s important to understand the journey demands of the vehicle being replaced. Some of your vehicles may drive long distances, but the route may have regular stops with access to a charge point. In this case, a vehicle with a relatively small battery could be a suitable alternative.

Choosing a vehicle with a smaller battery will reduce your capital costs, as the battery is often the most expensive part of the vehicle. It will reduce CO2e emissions, as there are embedded CO2e emissions in battery production. Also, driving with the extra weight of a large battery is less efficient.

Installing and using telematics will highlight how often vehicles are driving high mileages. You can make your fleet more efficient by assigning large-battery vehicles to high-mileage journeys and smaller-battery vehicles to shorter trips.

Replacing all vehicles with zero emission alternatives will be vital in reaching net zero. Further action will, however, be required in addition to vehicle replacements, as electricity generation and hydrogen production both generate CO2 emissions, as does the production of BEVs themselves. To further reduce emissions, we will need to minimise the number of vehicles we use and the miles we drive.

Service, maintenance and repair

When transitioning to zero emission vehicles, there are changes to how fleets approach service, maintenance and repair. BEVs have simpler powertrains than ICE vehicles, with significantly fewer moving parts. This reduces the need for some routine service tasks and can lead to savings in consumables, parts and labour over time.

Weight load

BEVs generally need increased tyre maintenance as they are heavier vehicles. The extra weight can also create issues with steering and suspension due to torque. However, these effects can be reduced by encouraging consistent, smooth driving habits, including steady acceleration, controlled braking and appropriate speeds.

Outsourced service, maintenance and repair

Servicing your BEVs in local or independent garages might be more challenging than for ICE vehicles. However, large franchises offer EV services, and increasing numbers of smaller garages are training their mechanics to deal with EV repairs.

In-house service, maintenance and repair

The Institute of the Motor Industry offers an EV technician training programme for organisations with their own in-house servicing workshops. Servicing EVs is simpler than petrol or diesel vehicles. This means you can expect to save in the long term after making the initial investment in training.

As you may need fewer staff to maintain and service fleet vehicles, you could combine teams or workshops with other public bodies. You could also consider offering commercial EV servicing to the wider community.