Fleet electrification: finding the right partner

Many fleets are currently facing the challenge of making their fleet fit for electromobility. This is because Germany's company car fleet offers great leverage for reducing emissions. Commercially registered vehicles are responsible for three-quarters of_{CO2 emissions} from new cars in this country, according to the organization Transport und Environment.

Many fleet managers know that the electrification of fleets is essential in order to achieve the company's climate targets. And although many want to make an active contribution to climate protection, the complexity of converting to e-fleets often puts them off. This need not be the case if the following points are taken into account.

A viable concept is the key to success

Good advice and a solid concept are the basis for successful fleet electrification. Among other things, it is important to clarify right at the start: How many electric cars are in the fleet and how many cars will be electrified soon? How many company vehicles should be considered? Can charging infrastructure be provided for employees' homes? What about access to public charging stations? What kind of reporting and billing is required? What is the grid connection like? And what about subsidy programs and government requirements?

1. Smart chargers
   

   The installation of charging stations should be intelligently integrated into the overall infrastructure Especially in larger buildings, it is important that the chargers can be integrated into an appropriate load management system. This makes it possible to flexibly adapt the charging power to the available capacity of the house connection. This requires chargers that are connected to corresponding backends. This allows charging processes to be monitored and controlled via an app. Updates can be carried out "over the air" and more than 90 percent of service problems can be solved remotely.

2. Think green
   

   The advantages of an electric vehicle only come into play when the car is charged with 100 percent green electricity. It therefore makes the most sense to choose a green electricity provider from the outset, possibly with an explicit charging tariff. Of course, it is even better to supply the batteries with self-generated energy. Many federal states have decided that companies must install PV systems on new buildings, renovated roofs or on the parking spaces of larger parking lots. The best option is to use the green electricity produced in this way yourself.

3. Transparent billing
   

   Easy charging at any time and any place without tedious registration processes is essential. New technologies make it possible to register with just one RFID card or app and process the corresponding charging data automatically. The aggregation and automation of the costs of all charging stations in one invoice saves manual booking and reimbursement work and enables simple reporting.

4. Choose a complete solution
   
   To avoid a fragmented solution from different providers, it makes sense to opt for a solution that includes the complete package for all potential charging stations from a single provider and also guarantees speedy installation and maintenance. The solution should also be scalable. This allows a growing number of e-vehicles to be integrated into the fleet. Good advice and planning are key to the success of any electrification strategy.

Decide in favor of electromobility now