EV Ownership & Maintenance: Advantages Every Business Must Leverage

Benefits of Fleet Electrification

By Tushar Choudhary, Founder & CEO, Motovolt Mobility

Sustainability of operations has become a key consideration for all major businesses. Consumers are well-aware of the climate change crisis, and concerned about any damage caused to our ecology. Since transportation is one of the major contributors of air pollution, EVs are widely seen as the clean, green, and economical alternatives that will drive businesses into the future.

Tushar Choudhary, CEO & Founder, Motovolt Mobility

However, in the era of cut-throat competition, businesses must prioritize environmental and business sustainability alike through cost-efficient usage of technology. The good thing is that EVs are not only capable of cutting-down on emissions, but can also reduce the logistics costs and generate better operating margins for the enterprises. Here are a few things to know about EV ownership and maintenance, and their potential contribution to business growth in the times ahead.

Lowering of costs and maintenance expenditure: Several leading aggregator platforms in the e-commerce and mobility areas have been going for electrification of their fleets. These vehicles can be a good contributor when it comes to cutting-down operational costs. Whether it is a passenger or cargo vehicle, covering 100 km a day or more is usual for the operators, and that alone can save close to INR 75,000 a year or more depending on the type of vehicle. With the volatility seen in fuel prices in recent years, the cost savings might even be higher in the years ahead.

To switch to EVs, a company is likely to opt for reselling of its petrol vehicle, and that amount can suffice to cover the down payment for the new EV. The EMIs would be lower than what one would pay for the loan on petrol vehicle. Apart from the upfront acquisition costs, an EV would also be less costly to maintain as it has a lower number of parts that could fail. Battery technology is rapidly evolving and the charging time is getting shorter. Thus, businesses such as last-mile delivery fleet operators can confidently deploy EVs for their operations and be assured of cost benefits.

Sustainability of operations: Right at the outset, cutting down on emissions is the primary reason why EVs have gained traction. As a socially and environmentally conscious brand, switching to EVs would reduce the carbon footprint of companies. Each ICE vehicle replaced by EVs means reduction of tonnes of emissions each year. It will also be beneficial for the health of the vehicle users as their exposure to exhaust fumes would reduce. In fact, EVs are also a lot more silent than conventional vehicles and can significantly reduce the noise pollution in urban areas or on busy highways.

Superior efficiency and output: With efficiency becoming the hallmark of growth, transportation is also undergoing a digital transformation. EV OEMs are constantly enhancing the technology deployed in these vehicles to offer features such as voice assistance, software-driven battery management, real-time monitoring and route mapping abilities through integrated navigation and so on. With 5G rollout, Indian roads are set to turn into smart ecosystems for EVs wherein vehicles would share data with each other and make movement more seamless, speedier and safer.

Greater business reputation and growth: The universally growing customer sentiment towards sustainability-driven businesses has presented a great opportunity for companies that use EVs. They can not only save operational costs, but also proudly claim their sustainability credentials by sharing information about the lowering of emissions through EVs. This creates a positive and appreciative brand image among the consumers and investors. Customers are more likely to remain loyal to such brands, and even investors are now keen to fund enterprises that are socially responsible and eco-friendly in their operations.

Conclusion

The times are changing and so is the climate. EVs are set to be the future leaders in mobility, and it is only a matter of time before the transition to electric mobility would become the norm. Businesses that stay in sync with the trends, future needs, and customer sentiments, are already undertaking electrification of their fleets. It can help save money, improve output and create a much stronger brand perception among customers and investors. Thus, there is no doubt that more and more fleet owners and businesses would opt for electric mobility in 2023 and beyond.