An innovative new service from Reflex Vehicle Hire provides fleets with essential insights on the most suitable electric vehicles to replace their current diesel and petrol cars and vans.
EV:IE (Electric Vehicle Information Exchange) is part of a suite of services that supports fleets as they transition from internal combustion engined (ICE) vehicles in response to the government’s plan to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans, starting in 2030.
The service uses data about a company’s fleet and journey patterns (including information collected through telematics) to identify cars and vans that could transition to plug-in technology immediately and also helps to create a longer-term transition plan.
EV:IE gives simple, actionable insights derived from a wealth of complex data that it can analyse. The unique vehicle evaluation tool provides a solid platform on which fleet managers can build their EV strategy, particularly those in SMEs where it can be a struggle to find the time and resource to plan for the transition to plug-in vehicles.
Analysis using EV:IE focuses on three areas:
EV Range – EV:IE uses daily driving patterns to cross check against currently available plug-in cars and vans that deliver the required range, even considering the impact of payload and equipment.
Recharging – EV:IE identifies daily charging requirements, where they occur, and provides valuable insights on optimum recharging time for managers, such as a quick 10-minute stop at a public charger to add the range needed for the day’s tasks.
Cost – EV:IE avoids ‘greenflation’ through a detailed cost comparison between ICE and EV, including everything from funding to SMR. A highly detailed analysis includes variables such as the proportion of public/private charging, speed of the charging service and tariff being used. EV:IE establishes a clear TCO comparison between current models and potential replacements.
A final vital element of the service is an environmental impact summary, with a full calculation of potential CO2 savings from making the switch.
Lisa Spong, Reflex Vehicle Hire Sales Director, said: “EV:IE is the result of more than a year of discussions with fleet operators. It empowers a conversation between fleets, management and suppliers about the future, so businesses can prepare for 2030 and beyond.
“EV:IE saves managers hours of work trawling through data; instead, we provide an immediate vision of the future, with vital insights on fleet transition without the need for extensive additional analysis or research by under-resourced fleet departments. Our innovation provides a solid foundation on which to build the future of fleet, allowing managers to maintain their focus on day-to-day operation of safe and efficient vehicles.”
EV:IE is one element of the Reflex Vehicle Hire EV ecosystem, which can support every aspect of transition, from securing the latest electric vehicles to installing charging point infrastructure, introducing payment solutions and linking to management software.
Initiatives include Reflex Renewable Drive, which provides managers with first-hand experience of the latest electric cars and vans, giving them essential insights to guide decision-making and generating valuable feedback for manufacturers.
EV:IE is part of Driive with Reflex, the award-winning suite of services from Reflex Vehicle Hire, which also includes innovations such as speed limiters as standard, vehicle tracking, dashcams, and a distraction and tiredness monitoring system that can identify the use of hand-held devices behind the wheel.
Aaron Cawrey, Head of Fleet added: “Our early intervention to support electric vehicle adoption means more than one million miles have been driven in zero-emission capable vehicles from Reflex Vehicle Hire. EV:IE is the latest stage in our campaign to support the industry’s transition while ensuring fleets remain safe and efficient, whichever fuel they use.”