Fleet & Mobility Live: Experts explain how fleets can transition to electric vehicles

Delegates attending Fleet & Mobility Live this year will gain access to expert sessions offering vital insight on how to make the transition to electric vehicles (EVs).

This year’s free to attend show at the NEC on October 5-6 will be the first big opportunity for the fleet industry to gather together face to face again to hear expert insights, share best practice, speak with new suppliers and catch-up with colleagues.

Olly Craughan, DPD head of corporate social responsibility, will explain how he made the business case to boost the UK’s delivery company’s fleet from 139 to over 1,100, a 600% increase, in a year and half.

The session is part of the Operational Excellence Theatre, which will deliver multiple “how to” sessions with simple, top tips and best practice advice that fleet professionals and business owners can take away and put into practice the next day.

You can register your attendance now.

Making the business case for EVs

DPD has already confirmed plans to deliver to 25 of the largest towns and cities in the UK entirely with zero and low-emission delivery means by 2025.

Oxford has already gone live as DPD's first all-electric city, with nine further UK 'green cities' to be confirmed this year.

It means Craughan has had to become well versed in putting together the business case for EVs.

Although, he explains that DPD UK was already on the front foot due to parent company La Poste having total buy-in on the transition to zero emissions from the start.  The business has backed the switch to EVs with an £111 million investment so far.

Craughan says: “Our board has wanted to do this because it’s the right thing to do environmentally, but also commercially.

“So we’re starting from a place where transitioning the fleet to EV is understood from the top.

“Having said that, I think it’s also important to communicate that electrifying your fleet isn’t going to be easy.

“It helps that we’re already a data driven company, so making the case for EVs is made simpler when you’re collecting data on routing and mileage to help really dig in the details.”

Craughan says delegates attending his presentation will all be in the same boat of either starting to ramp up their own EV orders, or will be seriously considering adding their first plug-in vehicles.

He says: “I hope my presentation will generate some thought-provoking discussion around the challenges of electrification. One of the biggest is still factoring in charging with how that will impact your business operationally.

“It’s about not being overwhelmed and trying to do everything at once. You have to start with a catalyst like aiming for that first EV order, or your first 100 EVs so you can make that transition more manageable.

“I’ll be taking a look at the total cost of the ownership (TCO) piece and setting a budget to work within.

“The session will also look at how important it is to have buy-in from all key stakeholders, including drivers and making sure they’re engaged with the journey every step of the way.”

A total of eight best practice seminars will take place across the two-day event. This is in addition to the latest thinking on the future of fleet with Strategy sessions, as well some useful tips on salary sacrifice and mobility as part of the new Benefits Box Theatre.

Register your attendance for Fleet & Mobility Live