Give priority to clean vehicles
Faced with the climate emergency, businesses and public authorities must sustainably reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Since January 1, 2022, the Mobility Orientation Law requires fleets of more than 100 vehicles to renew 10% of their low-emission vehicles (LEV, i.e. less than 60 g of CO2/km). This rate will increase to 20% in 2024, 35% in 2027 and 50% in 2030.
The electrification of vehicle fleets is becoming essential for fleet managers. They have several options: hybrid, electric or hydrogen vehicles. Choosing the right technology and the right vehicles remains a major challenge. The question of the location of charging stations must also be resolved, as well as the guarantee of efficient mobility.
Let's look at the pros and cons of the various possibilities.
The hybrid vehicle
Here we are going to focus on plug-in hybrid vehicles. The “full hybrid” (self-charging) offer is still too limited to be a viable alternative for businesses.
The plug-in hybrid vehicle combines two energy sources: a combustion engine (gasoline, diesel, E85) and an electric motor. The latter must be recharged manually at charging stations or using a conventional power outlet.
The hybrid system operates independently and can be 100% electric, 100% thermal, or a combination of both. Electric mode is often used for urban trips at low speed, with limited autonomy (less than 80 km). Thermal mode is preferred for high speed trips, such as on the highway, in order to preserve battery life. In combined mode, the electric motor supports the combustion engine to reduce consumption or provide additional power.
The plug-in hybrid: advantages and challenges for businesses
On paper, the hybrid vehicle seems ideal: ecological, economical and practical. It can travel long distances, similar to those of internal combustion vehicles, while controlling fuel consumption. Although its acquisition cost is higher, it saves fuel and braking. The energy recovery system during deceleration reduces the use of brakes.
However, in businesses, it does not always win the competition. Many companies have opted for hybrid vehicles without anticipating the question of charging and its financing. The result: hybrid vehicles that are not recharged. This results in higher fuel consumption than internal combustion vehicles, due to the weight of the battery.
It is essential to offer this type of vehicle to drivers for whom it is suitable, for example for urban or short trips. The location of charging stations, in businesses or in the homes of employees, and the financing of charging are crucial. Otherwise, the results may not reach the goals set.
The 100% electric vehicle
The electric vehicle has a unique 100% electric engine that allows it to make all types of trips. The range is often less than 500 km.
Among the strengths of the electric vehicle are:
- exemplary fuel efficiency (0 l/100 km)
- zero CO2 emissions
- considerable comfort and quiet driving
- immediate torque for acceleration worthy of sports cars
Unfortunately, these advantages are offset by numerous disadvantages:
- limited autonomy (few models exceed 500 km)
- Charging frequency and duration
- quantity and distribution of charging stations, which are often insufficient, resale prices uncertain, etc.
These are all questions that can shake the confidence of a fleet manager. Another disadvantage: is the electric vehicle as ecological as it claims to be?
For use, yes, but numerous studies show that the manufacturing process (extraction of the precious minerals needed to produce batteries) and the recycling of electric vehicles are extremely polluting.
The hydrogen vehicle
Although its name is different, the hydrogen vehicle is an electric vehicle. The power supply is provided, not by a battery, but by a fuel cell. Hydrogen is stored under pressure in dedicated tanks. When it comes into contact with oxygen in the fuel cell, it produces electricity that powers the electric motor, emitting only water as a by-product.
The hydrogen vehicle thus combines all the advantages of a 100% electric vehicle while eliminating the main disadvantages: the charging time (hydrogen filling) and the autonomy are thus equivalent to those of a traditional combustion engine vehicle.
The hydrogen vehicle therefore seems to be the most promising. Again, some grey areas remain: high purchase prices, very limited supply from manufacturers to date, very limited number and coverage of hydrogen stations.
The winner for a favorable energy transition is...
As we have seen, each technology has its pros and cons. It is therefore not possible to determine a winner in this match because the choice will have to be made primarily on the basis of a rigorous analysis of the current uses of the vehicles.
To help fleet managers make these choices, Optimum Data Mining, the consulting division of Optimum Automotive, offers audits, in particular on the subject of fleet electrification. The principle consists in temporarily connecting the vehicles (several connection methods are proposed) in order to collect, over a significant period of time, the data essential for decision-making for each vehicle.
Examples of data collected and analyzed that influence the final choice: daily mileage, distance traveled, duration and distance of the trip, duration and location of recurring stops, etc.
Armed with this information, the experts at Optimum Data Mining will be in a position to help you identify “electrifiable” vehicles, select alternatives adapted to the use of your drivers, as well as calibrate and implement a coherent charging infrastructure.
