When we think of Electric Vehicles (EVs), the Tesla springs to mind immediately. Although the brand is synonymous with providing clean energy solutions, it has paved the way for other manufacturers. Almost all car brands have introduced their own line of EV’s, and Ireland now has over 35,000 electric and hybrid vehicles on our roads! Seeing businesses integrate ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) into their decision making really shows they care. It goes beyond awareness, what really excites us is seeing businesses adopting responsible, sustainable investment strategies and implementing them. Capitalflow is all about SMEs for this reason – when our clients care, it makes sound investment sense. Making a positive impact is a key focus for us, we feel by helping our customers access funding to purchase cleaner vehicles is taking a holistic approach to benefit society and the environment.

Benefits of Electric Vehicles

It’s a small start in taking responsibility for our environment with zero emissions whilst driving but there are so many other benefits to going electric. Think of your EV as an investment compared to regular cars, a less complex engine means less time (and money!) on service issues.

Once regarded as cars only suitable for city spinning, rural drivers can now benefit from larger range batteries with more charge points nationwide. When we look at the costs, not only are the prices more comparable to petrol/diesel cars but they are cheaper to fuel, especially if charged overnight, making the cost per km significantly lower. Let’s not forget the reduced toll rates, government incentives or feel-good factor. Richard Pike of STIR Consulting recently purchased a Tesla with the assistance of Capitalflow. Here’s what he had to say, “Receiving my new car was really simple, all carried out online. Both Tesla and Capitalflow made the process so simple”.

Going EV with your fleet

But can converting your fleet to electric really work for your business? Absolutely, and it completely aligns with sustainable investment strategies! One of the highest costs in running fleet vehicles is the maintenance. It’s not uncommon to see 100,000 kms on the original brake pads of an EV. Simplified engines and an automatic shift rules out potential clutch and gearbox issues as well as wear and tear of parts that crop up, such as fuel filters, start motors, spark plugs and alternators, you guessed it, they’re all absent!

EVs now include vans and buses and have reduced noise levels in low gear driving. They’re becoming even more suitable and sustainable to city transportation. And who doesn’t want to save 20% on the cost of running a similar size diesel engine? Spread that across your fleet! And the benefits far extend beyond cost – electric vehicles give us cleaner streets making our towns and cities a better place to be for pedestrians and cyclists. In over a year, just one electric car on the roads can save an average 1.5 million grams of CO2. EVs can also help with noise pollution, as they are far quieter than conventional vehicles.

So, what’s not to love? Make the switch today!