Getting charged up about electric vehicles
November 09, 2021
8 minutes
At Element, we strive to make the complex simple. Part of helping our clients gradually electrify their fleets means ensuring our people are electric vehicle (EV) experts, so over the last month, I had the opportunity to test drive one of the latest EVs on the market and am excited to share my experience with you.
Here are my top three learnings from test driving the brand new, completely electric Polestar 2
Say no to range anxiety!
That feeling you get when the battery is low and you’re not close to a charging station is an easy one to avoid with a little planning. On long road trips, or just running errands, make sure you know your car’s current range, charging time, and where public charging stations are (hint: they’re easy to find using locator apps).
A level two charger is a must
Over 80% of battery charging happens at home, overnight, and there’s a smart way to get the most out of this time. An L2 charger requires a professional installation by an electrician and adds extra cost, but it’s well worth it as you’ll save on both the need to use public chargers (which can cost more) and time spent charging.
Join one (or more!) charging station networks
Even with an L2 charger, you’ll eventually need to charge on the go, especially if you plan to take any road trips, so be sure to join a charging network. My favorites were ChargePoint and FLO as they were readily available in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and have easy-to-use apps. But of course, availability of these networks will depend on your location.
Electric vehicles are the future. Both the Canadian federal government and U.S. government have set EV targets for 2030 and 2035 respectively, and the U.S. auto industry has committed over $100B of investments in this field over the next 10 years.
The EV transition is also being driven by consumers and companies who are looking to become more sustainable, with some of our clients sharing public commitments on fleet electrification. Couple that with government EV targets and strong policies globally – we are seeing clear evidence that EV adoption is accelerating. All of this is shaping up to make the EV conversation very exciting.
If you’re considering electric vehicles for your fleet, there are many benefits you should be aware of including the lower cost to operate and enhanced driver experience.
Top reasons to consider electric vehicles for your fleet
- Lower operating costs: Less maintenance costs
- No fuel costs
- Ability to select charging time to minimize energy costs
Enhanced driver experience
- Noiseless
- One pedal driving and braking
- Regenerative braking
Never miss an update
Subscribe for more news and thought leadership from Element.