On the move: mobility initiatives for on-the-go fleets

As fleets look at more efficient ways of transporting people, traditional options face competition. We look at what choices are available and find out how fleets have made a success of deviating from the norm.

Mark Newberry, commercial director at Europcar Mobility Group UK

"Delivering the right mobility solution in a changing and challenging economic climate is vital for businesses to achieve maximum efficiency. Doing more than just paying lip service to environmental considerations is also becoming a greater priority. Europcar is having more and more conversations with fleet managers who need the right combination of flexibility and sustainability. Many of these organisations are recognising the genuine fit of rental beyond the traditional ‘vehicle replacement’ model.

"For some businesses, there’s been a real mindset shift that recognises the ‘usership’ value of rental over vehicle ownership. The agility this delivers for an organisation that has changing needs is obvious; what is becoming more apparent is the environmental benefits. By accessing full electric and hybrid vehicles on short- or long-term rental, an organisation can flex and ‘green’ their fleet on a case-by-case basis.

"A great example of this approach is Film Logistics, a service provider for the film industry. The company provides vehicles for the transportation needs of movie productions and it must deliver mobility solutions that reflect the sustainability goals put in place by industry. Having access to carbon neutral vehicles from Europcar – with no long-term financial commitments, deposits or early-termination penalty charges – enables Film Logistics to meet the needs of its clients with a level of flexibility that a fixed fleet simply could not accommodate.

"This is just one use case. As the range of electric vehicles available from Europcar grows – now accounting for about 12% of our overall fleet – and with over 60% of our network electrified, we are playing a fundamental role in helping fleet managers source the vehicles they need for specific contracts or periods of high transport demand without them having to secure capital funding. This approach also makes sense as businesses plan their strategies for transitioning to zero.”

 

Marie Howes, corporate mobility relationship consultant at Alphabet GB

"In recent years, we’ve certainly seen rising demand for flexible mobility solutions as more employees take to the market in search of creative options that go beyond the traditional. Fleet managers need to ensure their services are fit for purpose, not solely to justify investment, but to improve employee satisfaction and retention. In response to this, leasing companies are delivering convenient offerings such as flexible rental arrangements, taxi provision, vehicle sharing and even providing advice on more novel approaches, such as general mobility allowances.

"For fleet managers looking to cater to the needs of employees today, they must firstly understand their mobility behaviour. How much their workforce needs to travel, where they are travelling to, and motivations around sustainability are all great places to start. By auditing their company’s requirements through conducting driver surveys or observing travel patterns across the business, fleet managers can make confident, data-driven decisions about what is best suited to their employees’ travel goals and behaviours.

"The next step is implementation, which stems from a broad understanding of the alternative mobility options available. Thankfully, this is not something fleet managers must navigate alone. Leasing companies have a breadth of expertise to help analyse their data and understand the best options for their business, in addition to having a variety of product offerings, that can make these flexible mobility ambitions a reality.

"Ultimately, the most effective flexible solutions will be ones that are centred around what the workforce needs. Ensuring that these new and evolving requirements are addressed within the business will offer peace-of-mind for employees who are able to able to tailor and maximise the benefits offered to them."

 

Scott Hamilton-Cooper, chief commercial officer at Ax

"Until recently, car funding in the fleet sector was fairly one-dimensional but, as with the consumer car market, alternative methods like subscription services and flexible rental options are on the rise. Fleets are using these new options in greater numbers, especially as EV demand rises.

"It’s not just the types of cars that we are buying that are changing, alongside greater vehicle choice and new funding options, we are also seeing innovation from other parts of fleet vehicle ecosystem. This is especially true when it comes to fleet services providers – some are nimble enough to adapt to the changing marketplace. Motor Assist from AX, our modular incident and claims management solution, is very much at the forefront. It enables fleets to harness its services in an extremely flexible way.

"It has proven to be a game-changer for many fleets already and, as opposed to the one-size-fits-all approach of traditional providers, it is designed to deliver the precise services required for any fleet, business or private buyer. From responding to any incident, to the triage phase following a small bump or RTA, replacement vehicles, repair work and claims processing, the modular approach is enabling fleets to pick and choose what elements they want.

"Motor Assist stands out for investing in and integrating technology designed to smooth out the customer journey, and it’s built to offer the same level of support to EV fleets as it does to ICE cars. Its EV-for-EV guarantee, enabling drivers to access a suitable replacement electric vehicle instead of having to step back into a temporary ICE car, is helping fleets to provide continuity and excellence when it comes to service delivery. As subscription services and car-sharing schemes continue to grow in popularity, demand for greater flexibility from fleet services providers will continue to drive innovation in a sector which is evolving rapidly."

 

Andrew Miller, chief executive at Motability Operations

"Motability Operations delivers the Motability Scheme to disabled people across the UK and we recently unveiled eVITA, a next-generation electric wheelchair-accessible vehicle (eWAV) concept. Designed and engineered by CALLUM, eVITA addresses the needs of passenger WAV users in the transition to small/medium electric vehicles.

"The EV concept has been developed using inclusive design principles with input from Motability Scheme customers throughout.

"Using eVITA to demonstrate what is possible, we want to collaborate with the automotive industry to ensure inclusive design principles are considered throughout development, so that wheelchair users are not left behind.

"The transition to electric simply won’t work unless it’s accessible for all. We have the largest fleet in the UK and three quarters of a million disabled customers who rely on their vehicles for their independence. Our customers aren’t the typical early EV adopters, they’re more representative of the wider population, and we know from first-hand insight what the challenges of having an EV will be for everyone. Without solutions and an equitable switch to electric, thousands of people could be left behind.

"This is most pressing for our customers who use wheelchair accessible vehicles as they don’t have an obvious or affordable solution to transition to a smaller EV. We were determined to find a way forward, and I’m absolutely delighted that we have developed the eVITA concept with CALLUM that genuinely has accessibility and inclusivity at the heart of its design, demonstrating what is possible. We’re sharing our knowledge and understanding with the industry – manufacturers, designers and engineers – to support an EV transition that works for everyone.”

 

Jim Kirkwood, CEO at TTC

"With over 30 local authorities across the UK weighing up the opportunity to extend and scale-up their electric scooter trials following an announcement by the Department of Transport, our research suggests that consumer appetite for riding e-scooters for personal and business use is on the rise.

"Over 50% of those surveyed said they would consider an e-scooter as an alternative mode of local transport. Sustainability and environmental benefits were the main reasons respondents would like to use e-scooters, with one in three placing this as the most important factor in the decision. Avoiding traffic was the second most common reason, followed by saving time.

"E-scooters provide a great way to get around towns and cities without relying on crowded public transport or polluting cars. However, many people are put off from taking advantage of rental schemes because they do not feel ready or safe to scoot on the road. With interest growing, a lack of experience and knowledge is a simple roadblock to remove via dedicated training that boosts rider confidence.

"Courses are readily available to support individuals in gaining the skills and knowledge required to ride safely and confidently on the road. Local authorities and businesses can offer these courses to increase the use of zero emissions mobility for local journeys without putting personal and business use riders at risk. While local authority trials continue across the UK, we hope to see consideration given to implementing an e-scooter proficiency test or mandatory training course for new e-scooter riders. This could boost take-up by giving riders confidence, while keeping all road users safe."

*Article source https://fleetworld.co.uk/on-the-move-mobility-initiatives-for-on-the-go-fleets/