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As of December 2018, there are 202,000 plug-in cars registered in the UK along with 10,000 plug-in vans. These numbers are set to continue growing rapidly, as electric vehicles increase in popularity and measures such as clean air zones from April 2019 are put in place to meet the ‘Road to Zero’ target of no petrol or diesel cars or vans being sold by 2040.

There are many reasons why now is the time to invest in electric vehicles for your business.

Economic Benefits

It has been demonstrated on several occasions that switching from petrol or diesel vehicles to electric vehicles will save you a considerable amount of money. The Royal Mail save £1200/year per vehicle on fuel by using electric vehicles for their fleet. Meanwhile, a six-month trial by ALD Automotive in 2017-18 found that businesses could save up to £2000 for every petrol/diesel vehicle they replace with a PHEV (plug-in hybrid vehicles).

Electric vehicles will also save your drivers from having to pay extra emissions charges. The ULEZ emission zone becomes active in London on 8^th April 2019, while Clear Air Zones are set to follow in Birmingham, Derby, Leeds, Nottingham and Southampton by 2020. There are also huge tax benefits, as zero-emission vehicles incur lower tax charges.

With reducing battery production costs and growing competition between manufacturers, the price of electric vehicles is falling, making them a more attractive proposition for car buyers and businesses alike.

Environmental Benefits

We all know that EVs are zero emission vehicles, resulting in a huge reduction in the amount of CO2 pumped into the atmosphere. There are many examples of the environmental benefits reaped by businesses who have swapped out ICE vehicles for EVs. The ALD trial resulted in a reduction 14.8 tonnes of CO2 emissions across the PHEV fleet, while the Royal Mail avoided a massive 321 tonnes by using electric vehicles in their fleet.

Furthermore, EVs do not only cut out carbon dioxide emissions, but also the emission of nitrogen oxides. These gases can be damaging to health and contribute to the formation of smog. The Royal Mail avoided the emission of approximately 60 tonnes of NO_x by using electric vehicles in their fleet.

Performance Benefits

Some drivers may be sceptical of the performance of electric vehicles compared to their more traditional petrol or diesel counterparts, but there is plenty of appeal in EV performance. Unlike in ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) vehicles , power is delivered instantly to the wheels, resulting in sharp throttle response and instantaneous torque for an engaging driving experience.

Electric vehicles are also far quieter than ICEs, making almost no noise on the roads, meaning they are unbeatable in terms of refinement. You also get the ingenious technological benefit of regenerative braking, which recaptures the car’s kinetic energy when you brake and stores it for recharging the battery.

Easy Charging

30% of electric vehicle recharging sessions take place at the workplace. By installing charging facilities at your premises, you will be making life easier for your customers and employees, whilst also saving yourself money in the long term.

You may find the cost and hassle of installing charge points off-putting, but it is easier than you think. There are many companies out there that can help you with the design, installation and maintenance of your charging points. In addition, the government's Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) means you can claim financial support to fund your facilities. This depends on certain criteria, but you could receive £500 towards the cost of each charge point, up to a maximum of £10,000 in total.

Furthermore, installing charging points is a worthwhile investment for your business. It will supply convenient on-site charging for your electric fleet vehicles, whilst also providing an extra incentive for EV drivers to stop at your premises, therefore attracting more customers.