Transitioning your business’ fleet to electric has many benefits. Learn more about the benefits, and the assistance available to your business in Australia.
A changing landscape for electric vehicles
It has never been easier than it is today to own and drive an electric vehicle (EV) in Australia. Greater choice in the market, coupled with legislation and incentives across Australia, mean that businesses transitioning their fleets to EVs will see even greater benefits and savings.
Considering electric vehicles (EVs) for your business
It is important that you think about all the costs and benefits when considering your transition to EVs. Comparing just the upfront price of an EV with a petrol/diesel vehicle won’t give you the full picture, as EVs are cheaper to run and cheaper to maintain. So it’s not an apples-for-apples comparison on the purchase price as it would be when choosing between two petrol/diesel vehicles.
With an EV, the ‘fuel’ costs are lower than their petrol and diesel equivalents. With the average fleet car travelling around 30,000km a year, the savings in fuel costs alone can be over $3,000 a year. Charging your fleet vehicles overnight can also allow you to take advantage of cheaper electricity rates, and if your business has solar and battery storage you could be saving even more. If charging overnight is viable, a fleet vehicle can be fully charged and ready for the start of the day.
EVs require less maintenance too. They have fewer moving parts than their petrol or diesel equivalents, and don’t use engine oil that needs changing on a regular basis. The costs of changing and replacing these parts and components during regular scheduled services can all add up. Your electric fleet will be serviced less frequently, and generally need less parts replaced – all providing you with further savings.
With all of these ongoing savings through reduced running costs it helps to use a total cost of ownership model that looks at both the purchase price and the ongoing costs when evaluating a transition to an electric fleet for your business.
Highest safety standards for your team and leading technology for your business
Around 90% of the EVs listed on the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP SAFETY) website have a 5-star rating. With many EVs fitted with the latest driver assistance technology, your fleet of EVs will be keeping your drivers safe and reduce the risk of accidents.
An electric fleet is also a connected fleet. With the right fleet management system, you can maximise the efficiency of your fleet by tracking vehicles, optimising routes, and monitoring their energy and charging status. Some businesses are also helping their staff to charge fleet EVs at home, making it even easier for their EVs and their teams to stay on the road for longer and reducing downtime.
Being a sector leader
Beginning the transition to an electric fleet can position your organisation as a sector leader. Customers are more and more looking to align with environmentally conscious businesses. By positioning your organisation as a leader sustainability by decarbonising your fleet vehicles, you can get ahead of the pack and create a point of difference, all while maximising efficiency and lowering overheads.
Transitioning your fleet to electric can also help contribute towards your organisation’s sustainability goals. The transition to an electric fleet, coupled with other measures, like installing solar and battery storage, is a great way to accelerate your sustainability ambitions.
Making the transition
It can be difficult to find the best place to start your transition to an electric fleet. Some easy first steps can be speaking to peers in the sector, a fleet management organisation (FMO), or looking at information provided by peak industry bodies like the Australasian Fleet Management Association (AfMA). Learning from the experiences of others, and hearing about both their successes and challenges, will allow your business to plan your fleet’s transition more smoothly.
Look into what programs, assistance and incentives are available
There are a range of financial incentives and tax exemptions that can apply to EVs across Australia, including the fringe benefits tax exemption, and the removal of customs duty on EVs.
Where you are in Australia will impact which schemes and incentives you may be eligible for. Consult your relevant local, state or territory government websites to find out if they offer any help to make the switch.
To find out more about EVs, and the incentives and schemes that you can access in your area, you can follow the relevant links below: