Operational Changes and Fleet Management in the EV Era (Continued)
term, a number of organizations choose to outsource EV maintenance until their own staff gain experience. It’s also wise to stock certain EV-specific spare parts (like charging cables, brake fluid compatible with regenerative systems, etc.) and ensure workshops have the right tools, such as insulated gloves and hot sticks for high-voltage work. Another consideration is emergency response: local recovery providers or fire services may need awareness on handling EV incidents (like how to tow an EV or deal with a rare battery fire). While these events are infrequent, having a protocol in place adds resilience. By 2035, we can expect EV maintenance to be “business as usual” , but during this transition period, investing in workforce training and possibly offering incentives to retain EV-trained technicians will pay dividends for fleet reliability. Driver Training and Acceptance: People are at the heart of any fleet operation, and getting driver buy-in is pivotal. Drivers used to diesel vans or pool cars might have anxieties about range (so-called “range anxiety”) or simply be resistant to change. Early on, fleets have encountered issues like employees not plugging vehicles in overnight (due to forgetfulness or unfamiliarity), or inefficient driving that drains the battery faster than expected. To counter this, many organizations are providing training sessions for new EV drivers , covering practical topics like how to use various charge point types, efficient driving techniques (e.g. gentle acceleration, using regenerative braking effectively), and even safety topics like the quietness of EVs around pedestrians. Some councils and companies have created EV driver handbooks and internal forums for drivers to share
charging sessions for each vehicle during idle periods and even reserving public charging slots if possible in advance. In the next few years, we’ll see more smart fleet charging platforms that integrate with telematics and job scheduling, effectively treating battery level as another resource to be managed alongside fuel and driver hours. Maintenance and Technical Skills: EVs generally have lower routine maintenance needs (no oil changes, longer brake life, simpler transmissions), which is a positive for fleets, less downtime and potentially lower servicing costs. However, maintaining EVs requires new skills and safety precautions. High-voltage electrical systems mean fleet mechanics must be specially trained and certified to work on EVs. The UK is currently facing a potential shortage of EV-qualified technicians ; one analysis warned the country could be short 25,000 skilled EV mechanics by 2030 if training doesn’t ramp up [70][71] . As of 2021, only around 6.5% of the automotive service workforce was EV-trained [72] , though that percentage is rising now. Fleet operators should plan for how they will service and repair their electric vehicles. Some options include upskilling in-house technicians (through IMI-approved EV courses, for example), partnering with manufacturers or dealers for maintenance, or using mobile maintenance providers that specialize in EV fleets. In the near
‘People are at the heart of any fleet operation, and getting driver buy-in is pivotal.
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Electrifying UK Fleet Operations: Challenges, Strategies, and the 2035 Deadline
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