By Richard Mallek, Director of Business Development/ FLD Remarketing
As most fleet professionals know, the excitement around electric vehicles has been building steadily throughout our industry over the past few years.
As a leader and pioneer in fleet remarketing for 45 years, the team here at FLD has definitely taken notice of the proliferation of EVs. And while many service providers are starting to shift their business models to include elements of electrification, it’s likely going to be several years before we become actively involved in remarketing this new age of vehicles.
So, while most of the fleet world is nothing short of giddy about the introduction of electric vehicles, many substantive questions remain around EV remarketing.
May 28, 2022 - If you're waiting for longer range, faster charging and lower sticker prices before buying an EV, you might already be missing the boat: An electric car's total cost of ownership is challenging that of combustion engine cars and may soon make an EV the only logical car to buy.
There's a long history of technologies taking off once consumers perceive them to be affordable and good enough, not perfect. The EV seems to be on the threshold of that moment, especially if more consumers adopt a realistic take on the range they need in an electric car.
Owners of full battery and plug-in hybrid cars incur only half the repair and maintenance costs of a conventional car and that those driving pure electric cars enjoy 60% savings in energy costs.
May 24, 2022 - Dozens of Rivian reservation holders have complained about unreliable delivery timelines and delays after the production sequence of vehicles was prioritized with specific interior and exterior color and wheel options.
Rivian's struggles to overhaul its ordering system also reflect wider industry challenges. Inflation and supply-chain snarls have shredded financial forecasts and increased pressure on EV upstarts to reduce costs at a time when investors are closing their check books.
Rivian has not said when it expects to manufacture vehicles at a profit margin. The price increases, which boost the sticker of its currently available pickup from $67,500 to $79,500, are supposed to improve the economics and offset higher raw-materials costs.
The global electric commercial vehicle market size is projected to grow from 353 thousand units in 2022 to 3,144 thousand units by 2030, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 31.4%.
With companies and governments across the globe encouraging the use of electric vehicles, the electric commercial vehicle industry is expected to grow exponentially in the next decade. Electric commercial vehicles have a major role in last-mile delivery with lower emissions, cheaper running costs, and less ongoing maintenance.
The less than 150 miles segment is expected to be the largest market in the forecast period. Low performance and affordable electric commercial vehicles usually have a range of fewer than 150 miles. Several OEMs offer electric buses and vans with low-cost batteries with a restricted range of 100-150 miles.
A study by financial comparison site Forbes Advisor analyzed each state on multiple factors that impact young drivers, including the number of crashes involving a young driver (aged 15-20), the average used car price, teen auto insurance rates, gas prices, and percentage of acceptable roads in the state to see which one is the worst.
The dubious title goes to Louisiana, followed closely by West Virginia. Georgia and Massachusetts capture the top spots!