Whether it’s produced via a coal-fired power plant or a solar panel, it looks like electricity’s the long-term fuel of choice for our vehicles. If you’re thinking of bringing EVs into your business, however, there’s a few things you need to think about.
On face value, electric vehicles for electric contractors seems to make a lot of sense.
They’re very ‘on brand’, and with customers – both residential and commercial – increasingly environmentally conscious and getting EVs of their own, you’d probably choose a business that has a fleet of EVs to install your chargers over a business that didn’t show any interest in EVs.
Of course, EVs are still a bit of a controversial subject. The charging infrastructure, range, the true lifetime cost, write-off rates and the environmental impact of making batteries and at the end of life are all legitimate concerns.
But as far as the figures go, EV purchases grew 60% in 2023 on 2022 figures, with almost 100,000 EVs sold in the country during 2023. In 2024, more than 70,000 had been sold to September – a 6.6% increase on 2023. However, monthly sales in May-August 2024 had been lower than the previous year.
There’s not a great deal of choice in Australia at present when it comes to EV utes, but that’s slowly changing, with a number of options now on the market.
And that’s probably good news, because if you are looking to bring EVs into your business, there’s a lot more to consider and figure out than if you were buying a new petrol or diesel vehicle.
By following these steps, you can make it work for your business in a few different ways.
Get clear on why you’re bringing EVs into your fleet
First and foremost, it’s important to understand, as a business, why you want to make the change. Is it for environmental reasons? Is it for brand reasons? Is it something else? Getting that clear is key to telling the story – internally and externally – and putting some form of measurement in place. Because you’re going to need to measure impact to realise the maximum benefits.
Measure the EV impact
OK, so here’s where you need to put some groundwork in. By measuring the impact of EVs in your fleet, you can create a good story to tell your customers and the wider world. For example, if you replace three regular vehicles with three EVs, you can measure the distance travelled and calculate the carbon omissions you’ve saved. Whether that matters to you or not, it’ll matter to some of your customers – and when you’re working with business clients, it could matter from a procurement perspective.
Understand the costs of EVs
EVs can be more expensive upfront than regular vehicles, so it’s important you calculate costs over the lifespan of the vehicle. Servicing and maintenance costs of EVs are typically lower, while depending on how and where you plan to charge the vehicles, fuelling could be very efficient, too.
Establish your EV charging network
If you buy an EV, you need a charger – so it’s important to consider the cost of this, too. Of course, you’ll know the Gemcell suppliers to contact to provide EV chargers. Next, how that power is produced in the first place needs consideration. Is it through the mains or solar? A battery to store solar power during the day to charge EVs at night may need some upfront outlay,but could be a winner in the long term.
Establish the right policies for EVs
The right policies and procedures need to be put in place, too. For example, if the vehicles are left at work and need to be charged overnight, who’s responsible for making sure that happens? If your vehicles typically go home with team members, do they get charged at their home? If so, do you need to install a charger there? And how do you reimburse them for the electricity? What happens when they leave the business? And what about personal trips in the vehicle? The fuelling side of EVs is a lot more complex than a diesel or petrol vehicle, so you need to take that into account, too.
Choose your EV drivers
EVs are different to diesel or petrol vehicles. They’re quiet, for one, and the immediate torque means acceleration is significantly faster. So choose the drivers who you want to lead your new EV fleet carefully…
Coming soon, to a site near you
Three EV utes that are either on the market, or almost here!
Isuzu D-Max BEV
The D-Max is a popular choice already, which makes Isuzu’s battery EV an attractive proposition. It was unveiled globally last year, and it’ll be launched in select left-hand drive countries in 2025 – before hitting Australia in 2026.
KIA Tasman EV
Another that’s set to appear next year, the EV version of the Tasman is due to follow this year’s launch of the Tasman – the South Korean company’s first foray into the ute scene.
Ford F-150 Lightning
One that’s here now – but it’s accompanied by a hefty price tag (from $224,990). It’s not technically available through Ford – it comes through manufacturer AUSEV, and has a driving range of 515km.
What about hydrogen?
But wait! Is hydrogen the long-term answer? Maybe. After all, manufacturers aren’t ready to hitch their wagon completely to EVs just yet. Toyota – which has been somewhat sceptical about EVs – joined forces with BMW last year to develop hydrogen fuel cell powertrain technology, while the likes of Honda and Hyundai are also developing hydrogen-fuelled vehicles too. A quicker refuelling time (3-5 minutes) and a greater range means that hydrogen is favoured in certain quarters – particularly for commercial vehicles. Could EVs end up being the 21st century equivalent of Betamax? It’s unlikely, given the progress that’s already been made, but it’s certainly not an impossibility.
