October 13, 2023
Abby Nuttall
Articles
Are you looking at your fleet’s fuel source and thinking about making a change? Or are you wanting to go green but aren’t sure a fully electric fleet is viable for you? If you are then you’ll want to read this article in which we look at all of the benefits hybrid cars and vans could bring for you.
Improved Environmental Footprint with Hybrids
One of the most shouted about benefit of hybrid and electric cars is their reduced environmental impact. Whilst it’s true that a full electric vehicle (EV) will have a much smaller effect on the environment a hybrid can still make a difference, especially if you transition a lot of your older petrol and diesel vehicles into efficient hybrids.
Reducing your overall business pollution not only helps you meet your emission and carbon targets but also supports the environment around your business and drivers. Less pollution will improve air quality in areas where your drivers are travelling, their homes and the business,
Hybrids can also help reduce noise pollution when they are using the electric motor as they are nearly soundless. This might not seem like a lot but can make a significant difference in rural area where noise pollution can disrupt animal habitats.
Driver Acceptance of Hybrids
We know that one of the biggest challenges in electrifying a fleet is driver resistance, and this can be hard to overcome if you don’t help your drivers see the benefits of electric and hybrid models. If you are planning to make any changes to your fleet fuel then we recommend making sure you have resources available to distribute to your team as well as making sure your fleet team are available to answer any question drivers may have.
The two biggest concerns that drivers have about electric cars are not having a large enough mileage range and how they will charge the vehicle. Hybrids will alleviate both of these concerns!
With a hybrid, once the electric battery is depleted your vehicle will switch back to the internal combustion engine (ICE) that is powered by petrol or diesel and will run until the fuel is low. Monitoring and topping up a fuel tank is something your drivers are familiar with and feel comfortable doing, which makes a hybrid much easier for them to get accustom to than a full EV.
Depending on the type of hybrid vehicle it might not need charging either. Some hybrids (Plug-in hybrids or PHEVs) will need charging in order to use the electric system. These hybrids will have the longest rage as they can have a larger battery due to being recharged outside of the car and not needing an internal charging system.
However, not all hybrids need to be charged and self-charging hybrids completely take out the need to plug in your car to power the electric system.
Financial Support
Although the grants for EVs and hybrid cars are no longer on offer there are still some financial incentives available that can help you switch to an electric fleet.
The Workplace Charger Scheme is still available until 2024 and can help with up to 75% of the costs of installing chargers into your business car park. You can apply for up to 40 charging points across your company, and depending on the size of your business you’ll be able to claim up to £350 per socket or £850 per charging bay. You can find more information on the grant and how to apply on the government’s website.
Vehicle Maintenance on Fleet Hybrids
One thing to be mindful of with hybrid vehicles is that because they have both an electric and ICE system they have nearly double the components that need maintenance, servicing and looking after. This can lead to higher maintenance costs depending on how your fleet vehicles are cared for but you might also see that maintenance is needed less often which can balance out the higher cost in the long run.
Enjoyed this article? Read more of our latest blogs below:
- Pay as You Go Fleet Maintenance
- Understanding Car Sharing
- Three Things to Know About a Company Car
- Five Essentials for Your Fleet Vehicles
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