As demand for eLCVs grows, Paul Starkey, product manager – commercial vehicles at Volkswagen Financial Services (VWFS) Fleet, says businesses should embrace the pivotal role telematics data can play in delivering the right eLCV transition strategy.
LCV fleet operators can’t afford to wait to transition to electric. The beginning of 2024 saw the introduction of the Government’s zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate. This requires manufacturers to ensure at least 10% of their total annual LCV sales for 2024 are zero emission, which will grow to 100% by 2035.
This will drive momentum for the transition from ICE vehicles to EVs. The availability of ICE vans will slowly decrease ahead of 2035. VWFS Fleet says telematics can hold the key to kickstarting the transition.
A shifting landscape
The inevitable result of the ZEV mandate is that the availability and price competitiveness of ICE vehicles will begin to falter in comparison with EVs.
But starting now, adopting a gradual transition strategy and using technology to plan effectively, can make the change as seamless as possible.
The insights delivered by telematics data can be invaluable in supporting eLCV transition. This can support the development of a robust eLCV transition strategy, while also helping to offset the logistical challenges that may be considered as potential barriers to adoption.
Using telematics to enable informed decision-making
Telematics data provides real-world figures across a variety of areas, from commercial vehicle driver behaviour and engine diagnostics to typical mileages, locations and vehicle activity. Using this insight can be a great way to build an effective transition strategy.
Telematics can provide accurate data to help fleet managers identify drivers who can immediately benefit from the eLCV switch. It shows who can transition sooner rather than later based on their current driving patterns. Companies can then prioritise these drivers as part of the overall fleet transition strategy to ignite the momentum of the switch to electric and help make a strong business case.
By making this gradual transition, businesses can also begin to understand where the challenges lie for their individual operation when it comes to electric. Fleet managers can then adapt their transition strategy to address these challenges, making the transition smoother for the remainder of their fleet.
Additionally, with the number of public charge points continuing to increase, and eLCV battery technology and range capability continuing to improve, it will only continue to get easier for fleets to make the switch.
Supporting the eLCV pathway to 2035
Alongside identifying which vehicles and drivers to switch, fleet managers can continue to use telematics data to ensure a smooth, highly efficient and evolving commercial vehicle transition process.
In the long term, and through the process of switching their van fleets ahead of the 2035 deadline, fleet managers can take advantage of telematics data in many ways. Telematics can provide fleet overviews in key areas, such as real-time range information, charging data and battery status.
The critical insight this can give, as fleets take the first steps in their eLCV adoption journey, can be fed into future decision-making. This creates a deeper understanding of how eLCV strategies can support operational challenges and underpin the ongoing transition journey to an electric-only future.
VWFS Fleet has a portfolio of tools designed to enable LCV fleet managers to gain a better understanding of eLCV fleet transition, as well as to help them build a seamless adoption strategy for the long term.