If you’re a fleet manager or a business owner who relies heavily on their fleet, you may have considered making the switch to electric vehicles. EVs can be a great option for a commercial fleet, but they have some drawbacks you need to be aware of. Depending on your needs and setup, electric vehicles might severely limit you.
This is why you cannot only look at fuel savings and assume that EVs will work for you. Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of electric vehicles for commercial fleets so you can make a better decision.
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Electric Vehicles Can Save You Money in the Long Term
One of the biggest benefits of electric vehicles is that they have fewer moving parts, and you won’t have to deal with repairs as often. Not to mention that EVs don’t need oil changes. Brakes on electric vehicles don’t have to be changed as often either because of regenerative braking. So, in the long run, you can expect to make significant savings with EVs.
Electric Vehicles Will Cost You More Upfront
Electric vehicles can get pretty expensive. If you are thinking of getting Teslas for your fleet, a level entry Tesla Model 3 will set you back $40,000. That’s pretty steep, especially if you have a fleet of more than ten vehicles.
You should know, however, that you can look for a Tesla alternative which will give you all the benefits of electric vehicles without the large upfront cost. If you’re looking for options, we suggest you check out these Tesla alternatives.
Compare.com has taken the time to review some of the best Tesla alternatives on the market and run down some of their specs. This will allow you to check which vehicles would be the best for you depending on your needs and the nature of your operation.
Electric Vehicles are a Must for Green Companies
If you want to present yourself as a green company, you have no choice but to go for green vehicles. This is one of the first things people will judge you on, and if you didn’t bother to do something as simple as switching to electric for your fleet, they will let you know and this could be bad for your brand. So, if you’re serious about going green, switch to electric.
An Electric Fleet Might Require a Modification to Your Setup
One thing you have to worry about with electric vehicles is charging. If you want to charge your vehicles at your facility, you might have to make big changes to your electric setup.
You will need to have enough plugs for all the vehicles and make sure that your system can handle the surge in demand. This means that you might have to spend a lot of money to have an electrician come in and set up your system, so be prepared for that.
Electric Vehicles Come in all Shapes and Sizes
Most electric vehicles used to be compact or subcompacts but we’re seeing bigger options on the market nowadays like trucks, vans, and pick-ups.
Manufacturers like GM and Ford have committed to releasing more electric vehicles which could make them an option for a wider range of businesses. This could make EVs a good choice if you’re in a business such as construction, or you own a delivery service, for instance.
Electric Vehicles Have Range Limitations
With that being said, electric vehicles still have range limitations and this can be an issue if vehicles have to be on the road all day or travel long distances. There are more and more charging stations on the road, but having to charge a vehicle in the middle of a shift is not a viable option for everyone.
There’s also the chance that one of your reps ends up stranded because they couldn’t find a charging station. Electric vehicles could become a logistical nightmare depending on your operation. You will have to evaluate how much distance your vehicles need to travel and whether electric vehicles could work.
Benefits from Tax Incentives
Federal and state governments are taking climate change very seriously and are starting to incentivize the use of electric vehicles to help curb it.
The federal government already offers a $7,500 tax credit on all eligible electric vehicles. There may be many more in your state or city depending on how aggressive their stance toward climate issues is. So, you could end up saving tons of money not only on ownership costs, but on acquisition as well depending on the vehicle and where you are in the country.
Now that you know a bit more about the pros and cons of electric vehicles, you’ll be able to make a more informed decision. This is something you’ll need to look over with your team and see if the benefits are worth the limitations.