Fleet energy transition: which engines to choose?
Setting course for clean vehicles
Faced with the urgency of climate change, companies and public authorities need to sustainably reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Since January 1, 2022, the Mobility Orientation Law has required fleets of more than 100 vehicles to replace 10 % with low-emission vehicles (VFE, i.e. less than 60 g CO2/km). This rate will rise to 20 % in 2024, 35 % in 2027 and 50 % in 2030.
Fleet electrification is becoming essential for fleet managers. Several options are available: hybrid, electric or hydrogen vehicles. Choosing the right technology and the right vehicles remains a major challenge. There is also the question of where to locate charging stations, and how to guarantee efficient mobility.
Let's take a look at the pros and cons of the various options.
The hybrid vehicle
We'll concentrate here on plug-in hybrids. The "full hybrid" (self-charging) range is still too limited to be a viable alternative for companies.
Plug-in hybrids combine two engines: an internal combustion engine (petrol, diesel, E85) and an electric motor. The latter has to be recharged manually at conventional charging points or outlets.
The hybrid system operates autonomously and can be 100 % electric, 100 % thermal or combined. Electric mode is often used for low-speed urban journeys, with a limited range (less than 80 km). Thermal mode is preferred for high-speed journeys, such as on the freeway, to preserve the battery. In combined mode, the electric motor supports the internal combustion engine to reduce fuel consumption or provide extra power.
The Plug-in Hybrid: Benefits and Challenges for Businesses
On paper, the hybrid vehicle looks ideal: ecological, economical and practical. It enables you to cover long distances, similar to those of combustion-powered vehicles, while keeping fuel consumption under control. Although it costs more to buy, it saves on fuel and braking. The deceleration energy recovery system puts less strain on the brakes.
However, in the corporate world, it doesn't always win the competition. Many companies have opted for hybrid vehicles without anticipating the question of recharging and financing. The result: hybrid vehicles that are not recharged. This results in higher fuel consumption than conventional vehicles, due to the weight of the battery.
It's essential to offer this type of vehicle to drivers with suitable usage, such as for urban or short journeys. The location of charging stations, whether at the company or at employees' homes, and the financing of recharging are crucial. Without this, the results risk falling short of the targets set.
The 100% electric vehicle
The electric vehicle is powered by a single 100% electric motor, making it suitable for all types of travel. Range is often less than 500km.
Among the strengths of the electric vehicle :
- exemplary fuel economy (0l/100km)
- no CO2 emissions
- a comfortable, quiet ride
- instant torque for sports-car acceleration
Unfortunately, these advantages are offset by a number of disadvantages:
- limited range (few models exceed 500km)
- frequency and duration of recharging
- insufficient number and coverage of charging stations, uncertain resale prices...
These are all questions that can shake a fleet manager's confidence. Another disadvantage of choice: is an electric vehicle as environmentally friendly as it claims to be?
In use, yes, but numerous studies show that the manufacturing process (extraction of precious minerals needed to make batteries) and recycling of electric vehicles is extremely polluting.
The hydrogen vehicle
Although the name differs, the hydrogen vehicle is an electric vehicle. Electricity is supplied not by a battery, but by a fuel cell. Hydrogen is stored under pressure in dedicated tanks. When it meets up with oxygen in the fuel cell, electricity is generated to power the electric motor, releasing only water.
The hydrogen vehicle combines all the advantages of the 100% electric vehicle, while eliminating its main drawbacks: recharging time (hydrogen refueling) and range are equivalent to those of a conventional internal combustion engine vehicle.
The hydrogen vehicle therefore seems to be the most promising. Even so, there are still a few grey areas: high purchase price, very limited offer from manufacturers to date, very limited number and network of hydrogen stations.
The winner for a favorable energy transition is...
As we have seen, each technology has its advantages and disadvantages. It is therefore not possible to pick a winner in this match, as the choice will have to be based above all on a rigorous analysis of current vehicle usage.
To help fleet managers make these choices, Optimum Data Mining, Optimum Automotive's consulting division, offers audits, particularly on the subject of fleet electrification. The principle is to temporarily connect vehicles (several connection modes are available) in order to collect, over a significant period of time, the data essential to decision-making, for each vehicle.
Examples of data collected, analyzed and influencing the final choice: daily mileage, travelled, duration and distance of journeys, duration and location of recurring stops...
Armed with this information, Optimum Data Mining's experts can guide you in the identification of "electrifiable" vehicles, the selection of alternatives adapted to your drivers' needs, and the calibration and implementation of a coherent recharging infrastructure.