Commercial fleets are at the forefront of embracing the EV revolution. While companies operate just 15% of all vehicles in the UK, they operate 60% of battery electric vehicles. This shows increased uptake of EVs among businesses, compared to consumers, who are leveraging the new technology to meet sustainability targets.
Yet, navigating a successful transition to electric commercial fleets can be challenging. It necessitates not only reliable and efficient charging operations, but also a holistic approach which considers the value of battery assets. Combined battery charging and management services can provide exceptional value for businesses in this way, ensuring the adoption of EVs deliver business value rather than higher costs and risk. Effective battery management across EV fleets plays a crucial role in this transition, optimising usage and lifespan.
What are battery charging and management services?
Our pioneering battery charging and management services integrate data from both chargers and vehicle batteries to deliver reliable charging services while also protecting battery performance and health. Treating the entire EV system holistically revolutionises how fleet operators manage their electric fleets, going beyond traditional solutions that treat charging and battery health as separate entities.
As part of this comprehensive solution, Hitachi provide access to finance at a low cost to help businesses overcome the financial barriers to electrification, which we know can be a big hurdle. Additionally, our battery management service for EV fleets ensures that batteries are maintained and optimized for long-term performance.
Our work with First Bus and First Group
First Bus is one of the largest bus operators in the UK, serving 20% of the population and operating over 4,800 buses. First Bus wanted to accelerate its decarbonisation program and, by working with Hitachi ZeroCarbon, implement a comprehensive battery charging and management solution for its growing electric bus fleet, which started with 148 buses in Glasgow. This includes providing bus batteries on a subscription model, smart charging software to optimise energy use and advanced data management to enhance battery efficiency. As a result, First Bus has reduced costs and improved energy utilization, helping the organization meet carbon reduction and operational goals. The full case study can be found here.
What are the benefits for businesses?
- Accelerated, low-cost electrification – co-ownership models to reduce cost barriers to electrification, enabling you to accelerate electrification and still benefit from revenue-generation potential granted by asset ownership.
- Smart charging technology for optimal efficiency – advanced data analytics and smart controls to ensure reliable, efficient charging while also optimising for peak battery performance.
- Protecting batteries to maximise longevity and minimise costs – battery monitoring and alerts to provide assurance beyond vehicles’ existing battery management systems.
- Operational support and risk management for business resilience – comprehensive managed services, including proactive risk management to prevent any operational disruption.
- New revenue streams from EV assets – facilitated participation in energy flexibility markets and provision of charging services to third-party fleets to unlock additional revenue streams.
- Secured battery residual value – full battery usage datasets to demonstrate battery value and secure sales in secondary markets.
Meet your commercial goals and sustainability targets with our EV fleet management services
By taking a holistic approach, our battery charging and EV fleet management services enable you to meet electrification targets, operate reliable electric fleets, and unlock new revenue streams from your EV assets. All in a single solution.
To find out more about our solutions, visit our solutions page.