By Tanner Lee, Kingbee
August 23, 2023
As OEMs slow down their production of internal combustion engines to make way for electric alternatives, one thing is for certain: EVs are inevitable. It’s up to fleet managers to pivot and adjust in order to come out ahead.
Fleet managers are closeted financial planners. They concern themselves with the bottom line, and the good ones are savvy enough to forecast future costs. In a tortoise-and-the-hare situation, fleet managers and small business owners are the tortoises. They have the potential to win if they make all the right decisions.
Before widespread EV adoption can happen, fleets must solve two main challenges: range and charging. Most electric vehicles can drive about 200–300 miles on a single charge, which may not be sufficient for the distance they need to cover on a daily basis. And then when they’re not being driven, the vehicles need a place to park and charge.
Where Does Kingbee Come Into All This?
To solve EVs biggest challenges, Kingbee partnered with Pollen to provide charging for electric vehicles without a large upfront payment. What’s the catch? No catch—Pollen operates on a monthly billing cycle so you can keep your costs fixed and your cash working for you.
- Kingbee offers premium electric vans (upfitted & wrapped) on a long-term rental contract.
- Canoo builds an all-electric vehicle with a unique way of configuring the battery model inside the frame. Their mission is EVs for everyone, and Kingbee helps them do that.
- Pollen helps companies rapidly scale their EV infrastructure without investing significant time and capital.
Kingbee’s entire purpose is to provide flexibility for fleet managers. Their long-term rental model gives fleets instant access to electric cargo vans, all upfitted with work shelves and ladder racks. Currently in Kingbee’s stock are the 2022 Ford E-Transits.
One fun fact about the E-Transit is that it’s the first van of its kind with a heavy-duty rear suspension specifically designed to give a smoother ride and more traction when the vehicle has increased payload. Another fun fact is that there are nearly 90% fewer parts in the E-Transit’s propulsion systems than internal-combustion-powered vans, reducing the potential for expensive repairs.
Renting Simplifies Your EV Transition
Most fleets acquire vehicles through a combination of purchasing and leasing. Kingbee offers a third option to accommodate any acquisition strategy by letting you try before you buy so that you know what you’re getting yourself into before committing to a large order.
Rental vehicles are off the balance sheet, as opposed to your owned assets. This means fleets of all sizes can integrate rentals into their acquisition strategy without changing their financial model:
- Small fleets with little to no allocation can use rentals to avoid overpaying for vehicle MSRP.
- Medium-sized fleets with some allocation could use rentals to scale or downsize quickly.
- Large fleets with preferential allocation could lean on rentals to help with cashflow.
Vehicle ownership has its perks, but what if you need vehicles quickly, but only for a short period of time – like during peak season or for a large job? Or maybe your order from a dealership got delayed, and you can’t afford to wait around. In these instances, renting will help you adapt.
Go Electric With Kingbee
No matter your fleet goals, Kingbee can help you adjust. We’re like the chiropractor you can’t live without. We provide the electric vehicles and a place to park and charge them. EVs are coming—will you be left behind? Call Kingbee today to begin your EV transition.
