‘We come to you’ SMR service for EVs will be a ‘game changer’ says the RAC

A new nationwide, mobile fleet servicing solution for electric vehicles (EVs), is being launched by the RAC after a successful trial with British Gas.

The utility company, which operates more than 1,000 electric cars and vans, described the benefits as “huge”, delivering wholelife cost (WLC) savings and a reduction in vehicle off-road (VOR) time.

Designed for businesses running fleets of EVs, it allows servicing to be done wherever is most convenient – whether at a driver’s home, place of work or fleet depot – meaning vehicle downtime is kept to a minimum.

Work can be scheduled at a time to suit the driver and fleet manager, which could be outside core operating hours, before or after a driver’s shift, or on a rest day.

Delivered by the RAC’s EV technicians, who are all qualified to IMI Level 3, the ‘we come to you’ mobile servicing solution was developed with long-term client British Gas.

Fleet engineering and innovation manager at British Gas, James Rooney, reported multiple benefits during the 10-month trial.

Vehicle downtime was cut from a day or more to just an hour, while the costs involved in sourcing a replacement van were completely avoided.

It had previously operated a ‘collection and delivery’ system, with a rest day for servicing. However, Rooney told Fleet News: “It can fall down if the vehicle isn’t collected and, if it is, how can we ensure that it gets looked at the same day or will there be additional work required – often it takes more than a day. With the RAC, it’s an in-day service.”

British Gas manages the request through Novuna Vehicle Solutions, with the leasing and fleet management company notifying the RAC to say a vehicle needs a service and they call the engineer to arrange it.

Martyn Buchan, head of fleet and banking at RAC, believes the new service will be a game changer for EV servicing and maintenance.

He said: “Mobile EV servicing drives benefits such as downtime reduction that delivers the wholelife cost benefit of an EV against an ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicle.”

Fleet consultant Steve Winter, who worked with RAC on the British Gas trial, explained that the savings the EV service offers are significant when compared with an ICE vehicle.

Over four years, an EV total cost of ownership (TCO) model is 50-60% of the budget required for an ICE vehicle and most of the saving is servicing.

"Workshop availability is shocking"

Former British Gas head of fleet Winter also said that, with EVs having fewer moving parts, there is the possibility of stretching service intervals to two years.

“Service, maintenance and repair (SMR) has to be a mobile service for EVs; it will keep drivers on the road for more of the time,” he added.

British Gas is currently using the service for scheduled maintenance but could extend it to unscheduled maintenance with RAC engineers equipped to diagnose any issues.

With dealer servicing capacity sometimes posing a problem for fleets, completing SMR of vehicles ‘on location’ at a time and place to suit, makes practical business sense.

“Workshop availability is shocking,” said Rooney. “As ICE vehicles age (due to vehicle shortages), they are breaking down more, but there are also fewer mechanics.

“There is more repair demand and less capacity, and not all mechanics are trained on EVs, so it’s a perfect storm. The RAC opening up another channel for EVs is huge.”

RAC says the mobile servicing solution adheres to OEM-standard specifications to protect the vehicle’s residual value and to ensure its manufacturer warranty remains valid.

Its EV technicians can also complete any necessary software updates at the same time, undertake fair wear and tear inspections, according to British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) guidelines, as well as certain recall work, avoiding further future vehicle downtime.

RAC’s mobile EV servicing vehicles are equipped with the safety kit and insulated tooling required to work around high-voltage systems.

The RAC’s team of remote EV technicians is also on hand to assist with any vehicle-specific service queries fleet managers may have, particularly assisting with the transition from ICE to EVs.

Block booking

RAC head of business roadside, Phil Ryan, says that as more fleets adopt EVs, it is vital they choose a servicing solution that is delivered “efficiently via experienced staff” who are trained to “extremely high industry standards”.

He added: “We believe our new nationwide EV mobile servicing solution ticks both boxes for fleets – the confidence of not only having servicing completed to manufacturer specifications by fully qualified technicians, but carried out wherever the vehicle happens to be, removing the time and hassle associated with having to take vehicles off the road and to a dealer, garage or central servicing location.”

Critical-service companies such as couriers as well as those in the refrigeration and fast-moving consumer goods sectors are particularly sensitive to vehicle downtime, according to Ryan.

“Our solution is particularly well suited to such organisations as a dealer service usually results in a vehicle being off road for a whole day,” he said.

Fleets are able to block-book or schedule individual vehicle services online at times and locations to suit them as well as send booking reminders directly to their drivers.

Backed by a team of agents available by phone, the RAC says that the digital system streamlines the administration of vehicle servicing for any fleet.

Ryan continued: “Our flexible booking system means they’re able to pinpoint specific time slots for servicing to ensure vehicles are quickly available for drivers again and, with no need to take vehicles to a central location or dealer for servicing, there are significant time gains to be had too.

“Our teams at the RAC know just how time-consuming and challenging managing the servicing schedule of a fleet can be, whether that’s one made up of EVs or conventional ICE vehicles.”