By Chris Chevalier-Moniz, CEO of EV charger supplier Volta EV

Businesses considering the switch to electric vehicles should not put their procurement plans on hold while the car and van markets continue to change.

It’s understandable that businesses want to know what’s happening in the market before making any big decisions, particularly when it comes to investing in new vehicles and charging infrastructure. But there’s always going to be something changing, whether that’s new models coming out, manufacturers changing their plans or policies affecting the industry. Waiting for everything to settle isn’t necessarily going to make the decision any easier.

Instead, businesses can start preparing by looking at how their fleets operate and what their sites will need to support electric vehicles.

Rather than trying to predict what the market will look like in a few years’ time, businesses can start by looking at how their vehicles are used day to day. The distances they travel, where they park and how long they spend off the road can all help determine what a switch to electric would involve.

I’d start by looking at the fleet itself. How far are your vehicles travelling? Are they returning to the same site every evening? How long are they parked for, and when do they need to be ready to go again?

Those questions give you a much clearer idea of what your charging requirements might look like. It means you’re making decisions based on how the business actually operates, rather than waiting for the market to give you a perfect moment to get started.

Charging infrastructure is another consideration that businesses may need to plan for well before they replace their existing vehicles. Depending on the site, installing charge points could involve checking the available electrical capacity, working out where vehicles will park and deciding how charging will be managed throughout the day.

It’s worth looking at your site early on, even if you’re not planning to switch the whole fleet straight away. You need to understand what your existing supply can support and whether you’ll need any additional work before you can install the chargers.

That doesn’t mean you have to commit to installing everything immediately. It’s about understanding what’s involved, what it might cost and how you could approach it in stages if that’s what works best for the business.

Businesses should also consider how their fleet might change over time. A charging set-up that works for a handful of electric vehicles today may need to accommodate more as the business gradually moves away from petrol and diesel.

The aim isn’t necessarily to install as many chargers as possible from day one. It’s about understanding what you need now and making sure there’s a sensible way to expand as more of your vehicles become electric.

If you leave all the planning until you’re ready to change the vehicles, you might find there are other things to sort out first. Looking at the charging side early gives you a better idea of what’s possible and helps you plan the transition around the needs of the business.

As the EV market continues to evolve, businesses do not need to have every future development figured out before they start preparing for electrification. Understanding how their fleets operate, checking what their sites can support and considering future requirements can help them make informed decisions without putting all their planning on hold.