As businesses face intensifying environmental targets and cost pressures, companies operating fleets of vans confront dual challenges: transitioning to electric vehicles (EVs) while simultaneously controlling escalating operating costs.
Giles Bolton, sales director at Kettering-based Grosvenor, explains how its commercial vehicle team is applying some clever thinking to solving these challenges.
The UK’s largest privately-owned contract hire and fleet management specialist has been in Northamptonshire for over 40 years and is enabling customers to reduce their cost base while successfully introducing electric vans onto their fleet.
“Switching entire fleets to electric vans involves significant upfront investment, infrastructure changes, and operational planning. At the same time, the need to control running costs is more critical than ever,” said Giles.
“The higher purchase price of electric vans remains a barrier, even with the Government’s Plug-in Van Grant scheme. Businesses also need to invest in charging infrastructure while adapting operations to accommodate charging downtime and, in some cases, managing payloads due to the battery weight.
“With regards to the higher upfront costs, we can reassure businesses through whole-life cost modelling that EVs actually offer far better value during their time on fleet than the upfront costs would suggest. For companies that currently purchase their vans, moving to contract hire also eliminates that upfront investment, providing low deposits, fixed costs and peace of mind budgeting.
“Through some financial modelling combined with careful planning of work schedules and charging, we have helped many businesses introduce EVs very successfully.”
Beyond electrification, Grosvenor offers solutions aimed at reducing operational downtime and costs through its Advanced Remote Connectivity (ARC) system and comprehensive commercial vehicle fleet management service. ARC integrates real-time data from each vehicle’s On-Board Diagnostics directly into Grosvenor’s award-winning OSCAR fleet management platform.
This data feed revolutionises servicing, maintenance and repair processes by providing up-to-the-minute information on vehicle status including odometer readings, maintenance schedules, fuel or battery levels, and warning lights. This enables Grosvenor’s maintenance teams to be far more proactive in minimising downtime and controlling costs.
Grosvenor’s van fleet management solution supports businesses regardless of vehicle funding sources, including managing vehicles funded by other suppliers. It also inherits companies’ existing procedures which minimises operational disruption.
Grosvenor also has a strategic alliance with Vanaways which helps clients simplify the transition to electric vans, combining financial solutions with expert guidance. All of which delivers reduced administrative burden, improved fleet utilisation, and a smoother, carefully scheduled transition to zero-emission motoring.
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