The transportation sector is electrified: Because climate targets are becoming stricter, the topic of e-mobility is gaining momentum. In our series of articles on e-mobility, we shed light on what the trend means for companies with vehicle fleets and for municipalities with vehicle fleets.
The hunger for energy in road transport is great. That's why the German government is putting the transport sector on a particularly strict diet: in 2020, vehicles emitted 146 million tons of CO2, but by 2030, transport emissions are to be no more than 85 million tons of CO2. Alternative forms of propulsion are expected to help achieve this ambitious target.
While the switch from the familiar internal combustion engine to a modern electric vehicle is often a question of faith for consumers, completely different considerations play a role for companies and, above all, local authorities.
The advantages of e-mobility are obvious: Electricity in the battery is cleaner than fossil fuels in the tank. In addition, electric driving means: less noise and lower emissions.
At the same time, vehicles with electric drives can store energy. In times of fluctuating wind and solar power, and with appropriate management, they could fulfill a buffering function as decentralized energy storage systems.
Switching to electromobility makes a valuable contribution to environmental protection. Companies, municipal utilities or mobility service providers that operate a fleet of vehicles can also enhance their image. By saying yes to e-mobility, they are demonstrating that sustainability plays an important role in their values.
However, companies and municipalities that want to electrify their vehicle fleets face a number of challenges in doing so: For example, operating an e-fleet requires efficient fleet management. This is the only way to ensure that no vehicle runs out of power and that maintenance is carried out in a timely manner.
Typically, the following tasks fall under fleet management:
Employees who assume the role of vehicle manager in companies therefore need a comprehensive view of the condition and use of the vehicle fleet. They are also in close contact with drivers, insurance companies, technicians, car manufacturers and various departments in their company, such as accounting and management.
Their knowledge is indispensable for the electrification of the fleet. That's because the following considerations, among others, are relevant:
Switching to electric vehicles in the fleet requires good planning and some changes. Processes have to be rethought and adapted, and the existing fleet users have to rethink and accept the change. However, with thorough preparation and the involvement of all stakeholders, the best solution for converting the vehicle fleet to electric mobility can be found for every company.
The most important thing for a smoothly running e-fleet is maintenance. For companies that want to integrate electric cars into their fleet or switch to e-mobility altogether, maintenance is usually not a problem. They can sign maintenance contracts and thus have one less thing to worry about.
But what is the situation like, for example, for a city cleaning service that has special vehicles in use? Part 2 of this series of articles provides the answers. There is already a foretaste: software for interactive spare parts catalogs plays an important role in the smooth maintenance of municipal vehicles.
