BUSINESS WEST – CONNECTING BUSINESSES inspire


Time to join the charge to electric vehicle technology


By Laura Ross Marketing Executive, Business West


Seize the day – now is the time for your business to benefit from funding, grants and discounts to revolutionise your business transport needs. Who drives electric vehicles (EVs)? An increasing number of people are changing to EVs, from the environmentally aware, the financially savvy to lovers of innovative technology. In October, the EV Roadshow travelled to Durham, Nottingham, Bournemouth and Bristol. On display were a number of electric and ultra- low-emission vehicles (ULEVs) with the latest innovative technology from some of the world’s leading car manufacturers. Predictions about the environment are dire. In


early October 2018 a special report* warned us of the impact of global warming of 1.5C and gave a final call to save the world from a ’climate catastrophe’. Can your business make changes to help our ailing planet? Surprisingly, yes! Businesses across the entire West of England area (Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset & Bath and North East Somerset) can make significant environmental and financial changes through supporting the use of EVs.


Why use EVs for business travel? • Cheaper running costs: plug-in vehicles can help businesses and fleets save thousands of pounds every year in fuel costs plus cheaper service, maintenance and repair costs


• Tax savings


• There are a number of grants and incentives to help businesses grow their electric fleets


‘Plug-in vehicles can


help businesses and fleets save thousands of pounds every year’


• Record numbers of plug-in cars are being registered in the UK


• Lower emissions


Benefits of offering charging points at your workplace: • Increasing number of employees use EVs and require charging points


• Establish your brand as a green leader • Save money by using current, local grants


• Align sustainability initiatives with business goals


• Reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions • Reducing cost of running a pool car fleet


Available grants and incentives for the West of England (Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset or South Gloucestershire)


• If you’re a business owner, or work for a charity or public sector organisation, you could be eligible for the OLEV Workplace Charging Scheme. This government scheme can provide up to £500 of funding towards the cost of every socket of each charging point installed. Visit: www.gov.uk/government/collections/government-grants-for-low-emission- vehicles#workplace-charging-scheme.


• There is a local authority business grant for employers to install charging points for their employees and fleet vehicles to use. These need to be on private land, not the adopted highway. Visit: https://travelwest.info/drive/electric-vehicles/for-businesses Email: travelwestbusiness@bristol.gov.uk


• The government offers discounts on buying a new EV of up to £3,500 off the price of a new electric car, and up to £8,000 off the price of a new electric van. Visit: www.gov.uk/plug-in-car-van-grants


How to choose your perfect Electric Vehicle? There’s a choice of more than 30 pure electric or plug-in hybrid cars and vans available from ‘Go Ultra Low’ manufacturers. From pure electric, plug-in Hybrid (PHEVs), range-extended Electric to fuel cell – the choice is yours. Examples of popular EVs include the Nissan Leaf, Renault Zoe, BMW i3 and the Hyundai Kona. To find your perfect EV car visit:


https://www.goultralow.com/choosing/electr ic-car-selector/


Converting your fleet to EV You might even consider changing your fleet to EV. Simply converting your company car fleet to electric vehicles won’t only save your business money on running costs but also help protect the environment for our children and grandchildren. If you’re thinking about switching some or all


of your fleet vehicles to electric, you can book a test drive through Go Ultra Low. There are also companies like Greenfleet who can help with fleet conversions: www.greenfleet.net


Future Developments in the West Public Charging network – work is being done to create charging hubs and a network across the region – watch this space…


Find out more If you are interested in running an event at your workplace to promote walking, cycling, car share or travelling by public transport to your work, then the Travelwest Roadshow Team and Go Ultra Low West can come along free of charge with a representative and do a small roadshow.


For more information, please contact sustainable.travel@n-somerset.gov.uk to find out how the Go Ultra Low West Project can help your business today.


NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 insight 19


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