Shifting to electric? Here's how you can find the perfect EV for your enterprise.
Making the move to electric mobility is easy, provided you understand your needs, and the different types of Electric Vehicles (EVs) available to you. A good combination of the two can put your enterprise in the fast lane to sustainable, cost-efficient mobility, with significant long-term benefits.
Today, the most common types of EVs are Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) and their plug-in rechargeable variants - Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs). Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) that run on alternative fuels such as hydrogen are also an interesting prospect worth mentioning.
With a strong commitment to reducing emissions, most electric vehicles also come equipped with features such as regenerative braking - that harnesses the energy used to slow your car down, to recharge your battery! These help drive efficiency while cutting dependence on expensive fossil fuels like petrol and diesel.
As one of the best car leasing companies, and trusted mobility partners, we've gathered all the information you need to consider while looking to go electric.
Here are the most compelling advantages (and limitations) of the various types of electric vehicles, to help you choose the perfect fit for your enterprise.
BEVs: Battery Electric Vehicles
BEVs are essentially all-electric vehicles that make use of stored electricity from a battery to get their power. There is an electric motor (one or more) that converts power to turn the vehicle’s wheels. Some BEVs can be recharged by plugging in directly to grid electricity (internal converters) while others require dedicated charging units meant for the vehicle. Advanced BEVs also come with highly efficient fast charging options. The Tata Nexon EV and Hyundai's Kona Electric are promising BEVs available on lease in India. With the cost to lease a car being increasingly affordable across various pay grades, opting for greener options is highly feasible, especially with no money down contracts.
Advantages
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Eco-friendly and do not contribute to exhaust pollution
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Cheaper to charge (fuel) than equivalent ICE vehicles
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Minimal energy wastage with “idle off” and “regenerative braking”
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Appreciable driving experience with a light feel and quick acceleration
Limitations
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No alternate power source
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May accumulate heat (depending on local conditions)
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In absence of battery charging infrastructure, BEVs may not be suitable for long routes
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Long recharge time, compared to ICE vehicles
HEVs: Hybrid Electric Vehicles
HEVs have an internal combustion engine (that runs on petrol or diesel), along with the electric motor. A suitable alternative to both conventional fuel vehicles and battery electric vehicles, HEVs provide fuel economy without sacrificing performance. The Toyota Camry is a well-received hybrid car in India, along with manufacturers such as Maruti offering Smart Hybrid varieties of popular models like the Brezza and Baleno.
Advantages
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High fuel economy with alternative power options
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Eco-friendly, with significantly lower emissions
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Specialised regenerative braking systems
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Micro hybrids offer the simple "start-stop system" of regenerative breaking
Limitations
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Do not offer plug-in charging
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More expensive than most other available ICE options
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Extra features and additional components make them heavier than other EVs
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Require specialist maintenance
PHEVs: Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles
As the name suggests, Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles can simply be plugged in to charge at home, office or on-field. Employees living in proximity to their workplace and only requiring short distance field visits may find PHEVs to be one of the very best alternatives. What's more, they also have a conventional engine for situations where the battery is drained. A PHEV can cover significant distances (40-50 km) on full electric mode, even at quite high speeds (120-130 km/h) which a standard full hybrid may not be able to do. With the right training and induction to PHEVs, drivers can optimise on-road performance and efficiency. Measures like capping fuel expenses and covering their electricity costs could also encourage drivers to charge whenever they can. The Volvo XC90 is a popular PHEV in the Indian market, with its S90 sedan and XC40 versions coming soon.
Advantages
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Eco-friendly
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Cost-effective fuel system
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Reliable backup i.e. the ICE engine
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Suitable for locations with average EV charging infrastructure
Limitations
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Not suitable for long journeys
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More complex maintenance system as compared to ICE vehicles
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Smaller battery capacity limits electric usage
E-REVs: Extended Range Electric Vehicles
These are all-electric vehicles that have a small internal combustion engine (ICE) that’s used to generate additional electric power. Most E-REVs have larger batteries than PHEVs, allowing for slightly longer commutes. When batteries hit a lower threshold, the ICE powers on to aid a generator in charging the battery. For the most part, E-REVs tend to perform just as well as BEVs. Since the ICE engines in these are much smaller than Hybrids, they are a lot friendlier to the environment. Mahindra’s XUV 300 Electric and the Tata Altroz EV are some options that bring you extended ranges of up to 300 km.
Advantages
Limitations
FCEVs: Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle
Another appreciable hybrid is a Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle which comes with an ultracapacitor combined with a hydrogen cell. To put it simply, these vehicles produce their electricity using a fuel cell with hydrogen (normally) as their primary fuel. They are more efficient than conventional ICE vehicles and produce no tailpipe emissions - they only emit water vapour and warm air. These vehicles are suitable for long journeys since they don’t require to be plugged in for charging. Most FCEVs have regenerative braking to recapture energy.
It might still be a while before we see these vehicles entering the mainstream, as production and roll-out of the crucial infrastructure is still in nascent stages. The Hyundai Nexo is an FCEV that is being tested for use in India, It may be available in the market sometime in the near future.
Advantages
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Provide a range of around 480 km
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Refilling hydrogen takes only about five minutes
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Most FCEVs are not heavy as they don’t have an internal combustion engine
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Helps cut out the unreliability of power cuts, as long as there’s access to hydrogen supply
Limitations
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Hydrogen filling stations not mainstream, yet
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Higher frequency of checks to ensure there is no hydrogen leakage
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Could be less durable, compared to other electric vehicles
For businesses considering a switch to Electric Vehicles, long-term cost efficiency may be a primary motivator. Today, early movers are well poised to reap the benefits of lower running and maintenance costs and the very best car leasing companies like ALD Automotive are ready to enable enterprises moving to electric.
With solid need-analysis, budget allocation, suitable company car policies and the right car leasing partner, the move to electric can charge up your company's future. Business car leasing companies like ours can aid with each of these aspects.
For assistance with procuring best-in-class leased cars for corporates fill out our contact form.