September 21, 2021

Why At-Home EV Charging Is a Gamechanger for Business Fleet Vehicles

3 Min. Read

Fleet vehicle electrification is on the rise in 2021

It will continue to grow as more businesses adopt EVs and policies are created in support of electrification.

Companies are adopting EVs into their business model for many reasons. Some have corporate sustainability initiatives to go green or decrease their carbon footprint for their brand image or culture. Others are implementing EVs because of the long-term cost savings. As more businesses join the mass adoption, there will be more companies getting into the EV market. More distributors and more options will decrease the cost to consumers and increase the number of EV adopters.

In fact, at least 15 states have EV policies or offer incentives and tax credits for charger installations. Over the next decade, we will see more policies and programs implemented to support EV. The transition will become more appealing and affordable as policies in support of EV increase.

At-home EV charging can save both time and money

The benefits of charging at home outweigh the advantages of charging in public.

Even though the availability of public charging stations has increased over the years, the consistency of available options has not. Indeed, some areas have limited or no options for public charging. For those areas that do, some stations are free, but others may charge ridiculously high rates.

Plus, not all public charging stations offer the same speeds or compatible plugs. Even still, almost none offer overnight charging, so they always require charging during business hours, which equals downtime. On the other hand, if employees have at-home EV charging, you decrease the need to invest in a large company charging site.

It is a huge convenience to the driver to be able to go to sleep and wake up with a fully charged and ready-to-roll vehicle each morning. They will not have to make stops on their way to or from work or schedule time during the workday just to “refuel.” This added convenience gives them more time to get other tasks done and be more productive overall.

Moreover, having limited public charging options can cause anxiety for a new EV driver, who may be worried that they will need a re-charge before they can find an available charger. By providing drivers with at-home charging options, you are offering them more than just charging convenience – you are offering them peace of mind and security so they can focus on their job.

You need to develop an at-home charging strategy

Maximize the benefits for the company and the convenience for the driver.

Drivers can be more productive with a little planning. With at-home EV charging, they will not have to stop at gas stations for fuel anymore, but they will need to be more aware of how far and how long they can drive each day before needing a recharge.

So, in addition to decreasing stops, this is a good time to improve on the routes and daily plans for your employees as well. You should see overall productivity increase by developing a strategy that encourages employees to take a proactive approach to their daily activities instead of being reactive and making decisions as they go.

Per an independent study, EVs cost less in their lifetime than their gas-powered counterparts. While gas is an obvious factor, one of the other biggest differences is maintenance expenses. There is no engine oil, timing belt or fuel pump to deal with. The battery, computer and motor do not have the same types of required routine maintenance as a standard gas vehicle, so budgeting for maintenance is less variable. As a result, it makes long-term planning more realistic, accurate and predictable. That is not something typically common with large gas and diesel fleets.

To strategize your at-home EV charging, optimize maintenance and best manage your fleet, you need a way to track data. Fortunately, there are several ways to track electricity consumption and charging for employee reimbursement:

• Networked and smart charging stations to track usage.
• Precise reports, which often use telematics data to provide location, length and quantity of charge received.

As more businesses enter the EV market, there will be even more options for companies to track employees. This will further simplify and smooth out the transition process and enable more fleets to make the switch.

Go electric with Qmerit Charge@Home™ for Fleets program

You can do your part for the environment and take advantage of cost savings with electrification. Help the global transition to renewable energy.

Guarantee your employees have the easiest and most successful @Home EV charging experience by letting Qmerit manage your installations. Contact us to learn more about how we can help you and your fleet with EV adoption.