Home Fleet Management How EVs Perform in the Real-World – And What this Means for...

How EVs Perform in the Real-World – And What this Means for Fleets

186

Understanding how electric vehicles perform compared to traditional internal combustion engine vehicles is essential for effective fleet management.

In a recent webinar, hosted by fleet management solutions provider, Smartrak, automotive journalist, and EV specialist Robert Pepper, delved into the core technical concepts that matter most when introducing EVs into a fleet – from energy efficiency of ICE vs EVs to the real-world impacts of weight, modification, and towing.

Robert Pepper, Automotive Journalist, L2SFBC

Whether you’re managing a fleet of light passenger vehicles or heavily modified utes, the insights shared in this webinar provide a crucial foundation for managing the transition to electric.

Why Weight Matters in EV Fleets

EVs are typically heavier than their petrol or diesel counterparts due to the size and density of their battery packs. Using the example of two Ford F-150s – one battery-electric and one petrol -Pepper highlights a weight difference of roughly 800 kg. While this may seem minor for a passenger vehicle, it has serious implications in commercial settings, including:

  • Reduced payload capacity
  • Impact on axle load limits
  • Increased wear on roads
  • Reduced towing efficiency

Fleet managers, this makes vehicle selection and configuration a critical part of planning and compliance.

How EVS Use Energy Relative to ICE Vehicles

One of the standout benefits of EVs is energy efficiency. While EV batteries hold less energy than a full tank of petrol or diesel, they use that energy far more effectively.

Pepper Explains: “EVs can convert up to 90% of their stored energy into motion, compared to just 25-30% for ICE vehicles”. But energy efficiency isn’t static. It’s highly dependent on speed and driving conditions:

  • Low-speed/urban driving: EVs perform best thanks to regenerative braking and minimal energy loss through direct drive systems.
  • High-speed/highway driving: Efficiency decreases due to aerodynamic drag, narrowing the gap with ICE vehicles.

For fleets operating across diverse routes (i.e. urban and highway environments) this variation is critical when calculating real-world range and charging needs.

Energy Density: Critical for Commercial Vehicles

Pepper makes a key distinction between consumer EVs and fleet-use commercial EVs. For the average driver, energy density and charging time aren’t critical – most road cars have sufficient range for daily use and can be charged overnight.

But for larger fleet vehicles:

  • Battery size matters: Bigger batteries add weight, take longer to charge, and reduce payload.
  • Range varies more: Especially once vehicles are modified or towing.
  • Energy density becomes a limiting factor: Affecting operational flexibility and vehicle selection.

When scaling EVs across commercial fleets, understanding energy density helps ensure vehicles are matched to the right use cases.

How Modifications Affect Range and Efficiency

Modifying ICE vehicles is business as usual in many fleets – but those same changes have a bigger impact on EVs. In the webinar, Pepper walked through a typical commercial ute fitted with:

  • Service bodies
  • Roof racks and under-rack storage
  • Two mirrors and snorkels
  • Bull bars and driving lights
  • Lift kits and raised ride heights

All these elements increase weight and create aerodynamic drag, reducing vehicle range and weakening the benefits of regenerative braking. In other words, the more you modify an EV, the more its real-world range diverges from the manufacturer’s specification.

Towing: A Hidden Strength of EVs

Despite common misconceptions, EVs are excellent for towing. Their heavier base weight and instant torque give them strong trailer control and towing stability. However, as with heavily modified vehicles, towing does have a significant impact on range—something fleet managers must factor into operational planning.

Key Takeaways for Fleet Managers
  • EVs are more energy-efficient than ICE vehicles, but their performance depends on driving conditions, load, and setup.
  • Weight and aerodynamics are key factors in determining real-world range
  • Modifications significantly impact range and energy use – more so than with ICE vehicles.
  • EVs are highly capable towing vehicles, but range must be managed
  • Understanding energy density and payload trade-offs is essential for commercial EV deployment

As your fleet evolves, understanding the fundamental differences between ICE and electric vehicles will help you make better procurement decisions, configure vehicles appropriately, and avoid unexpected operational challenges.

Want to explore this topic further?

This article provides just some of the insights shared by Robert Pepper in the Smartrak webinar “How EVs Work: What Fleet Managers Need to Know.”This session is available on-demand and provides practical examples and deeper technical explanations for anyone involved in fleet operations or vehicle procurement. Watch on-demand webinar here.

Discover how Smartrak is helping organisations manage their EV fleet alongside existing ICE vehicles. Learn more here.

Previous articleTunnelling for truth and justice
Next articleWhy Every Fleet Needs a Fleet Improvement Plan