March 20, 2023
Abby Nuttall
Electric and Hybrid News
We’ve helped a lot of companies incorporate electric vehicles into their fleet and transition to blended, hybrid and fully electric fleets, which means that we’ve heard a lot of questions about electric vehicles (EVs). To help you and your drivers we’ve put together this article with some of the most commonly asked ones we get and the answers to them.
We’ve broken these FAQs into four sections:
You can browse them all together or click on the topic above to jump directly to that section.
One of the most common topics fleet managers get asked about is the range of EVs. This is understandable as its one of the main areas of concern that drivers have about switching to an electric model – whether the range will meet their needs.
Every EV has a different range depending on the battery size, performance and usage. Most will be advertised with an advised range, that will either be based on an expected range from the manufacturer or on Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) results, which involves the vehicle being tested in a range of different driving conditions.
If you are offering drivers an EV, then you’ll easily be able to get the mileage range of them with a quick look online. Alternatively, if Wessex Fleet is helping source your new fleet vehicles our team will advise on the mileage range of models.
The range that EVs are advertised with will be an achievable range that is achievable however it is usually based on the best driving conditions so the real-world range is likely to be a little lower. We recommend looking for a car that offers you at least 20-50 miles over what your daily needs as this will ensure your mileage needs are met.
The real-world mileage range of an EV will depend on several different factors, and will usually be a few miles lower than the WLTP range. This is because factors like your driving style, the terrain, the type of driving (whether it’s stop-start city traffic or constant high speed motorway driving), what car features you’re using, how much cargo and passengers weigh, and even the weather all have an impact on the battery usage which determines how far you can travel.
Once a driver is in a vehicle and using it with their regular habits and journeys they will get an understanding of a realistic range for their car.
When considering an EV a lot of drivers compare like-for-like mileage to a diesel or petrol counterpart but we don’t think this is the right approach. Most drivers will be able to access a charger every day, or every other day, and so the mileage range only really needs to meet your daily needs.
With a lot of modern models offering ranges of over 300 miles, we’re seeing concerns over ranges lessen, especially when drivers change how they think about their mileage.
We know that every driver has unique driving habits and journeys they need to take so the same vehicle mileage will last a different amount of time for each of them. A driver who only has a journey into their local office will not need to charge their vehicle as much as a travelling account manager.
Additionally, each car will have a different real-world mileage based on the driver, where it’s being driven and the specific model it is.
As mentioned above we think drivers should consider their EV range in terms of their daily mileage needs based on them being able to access a charger daily. Generally, we’d expect an average driver to need to charge their electric car every few days.
IMAGE OF CHARGING
The second most common topic that we get asked questions about is charging EVs. This is another area where drivers can have a lot of concerns as chargers aren’t as widespread as fuel stations.
We’ve got a detailed break down on chargers and charging an electric car in our EV charging guide that you might find useful to direct your drivers to as it helps explain the different types of chargers, speeds of charging and other useful information. And we’ve answered some of the most common questions about charging below for you as well.
EV chargers are becoming more and more accessible for drivers, with the public charging network rapidly developing to keep up with demand. This makes charging when you’re out on the road, or if you’re unable to have a home charger installed, much easier. Public chargers are available at service stations, fuel stations, and in public car parks including supermarket car parks.
A lot of drivers also have a charger installed at home. One thing to be mindful of is that not every household is able to have a home charger installed, they will need to have off-road parking so that the cable does not cause a hazard to the general public. Additionally, the home charger grant is no longer available to all drivers, so it is worth checking whether you are eligible.
Yes, you will be able to charge most EVs using a three-pin plug connector however the speed of charging will be very low over this type of connection and it will take much longer to charge your car using a regular plug socket.
The answer to this will depend on your business and whether you have workplace chargers installed or not. If you do then we recommend having clear guidelines for the use of these to avoid potential issues over the spaces arising.
Yes, there are still some home charger grants available from the government to support with the cost of purchasing and installing a home charger. However, these are not available to all drivers – the scheme changed last year so that it is now only available for renters and apartment owners. Homeowners who own a house are no longer eligible for the grant.
There are a lot of benefits to driving an electric car but there are some that are exclusively available for company car drivers. We know that when a driver is choosing their new company car they can have a lot of questions and this is especially true when there is something new or different about the car, for example if it is electric.
Yes, the government does now charge company car tax for electric cars, but it is much lower than the rates you would pay on any other type of car. It is currently a rate of 2% compared to 15 to 37%, depending on emission levels, for a petrol or diesel vehicle.
Hybrid vehicles sit between EVs and petrol / diesel cars, with rates based on the distance a vehicle can travel powered purely by the electric system with rates ranging between 2 and 14 %.
The current tax year is due to end this month but for 2023/24 the company car tax rate for EVs will remain at 2%.
The government has advised that the tax rate will remain at 2% until April 2025 and after that it will rise incrementally. It’s expected to rise by 1% annually in the few years following 2025.
Drivers may ask you about taking a hybrid vehicle rather than a full EV as many people see them as a stepping stone between the internal combustion engine (ICE) found in petrol and diesel cars and the electric motors of an EV. So, it’s little surprise that when you introduce electric cars to fleet drivers you’ll get questions about hybrids as well. We’ve answered some of the most common questions we get below.
There are three main different types of hybrid available in the UK:
These each have different benefits and drawbacks which you can find a detailed guide to in our business guides section or direct your drivers to the driver EV guide section.
There is no set answer to this question as it depends on the individual driver’s needs from their car as to which type of hybrid will be the best fit for them. We advise speaking to your drivers about their needs and working collaboratively to find the best option for them, whether this is a hybrid or a
The answer to this question will depend on your individual driver’s needs and what they require from their car. We recommend that if you’re able to you discuss your driver’s needs, what they use their car for and answering any questions they have about hybrids and electric vehicles.
You might also find it helpful to direct them towards our electric guides content which will help with any questions they may have and provide a detailed understanding of EVs, hybrids and their benefits.
The electric range of a hybrid will depend on the type of hybrid it is. Some hybrids will not have an electric only range, especially those that are only using mild hybrid technology.
PHEVs will have the longest electric range and some can reach up to 50 miles before they need to switch to the ICE.
The amount of company car tax you will pay for a hybrid vehicle will depend on the mileage range you get which is powered purely by the electric system. Please see the below table for the current rates and those for the next two years.
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