Northgate net zero consultancy to help fleets transition to EVs

Northgate Vehicle Hire has launched a new net zero consultancy to help fleets plan and implement their electric vehicle (EV) strategies for both vans and cars.

The Drive to Zero Consultancy is tailored to businesses operating 20 or more vehicles, with the cost of the service dependent on fleet size and specific requirements.

Northgate says it will provide businesses with independent and impartial hands-on EV-focused advice through specialist consultants.

The consultancy forms an integral, in-depth first step as part of Northgate’s wider ‘Drive to Zero’ proposition, which has supported customers from planning through to solution and delivery for the past three years.

As a bespoke offering, the Drive to Zero Consultancy can work with fleets and their existing driver data or generate new insights through telematics and tailored driver surveys.

It can also identify suitable vehicles and charging strategies, ultimately building a robust case for electric adoption, either partially or in full, based on a company’s unique operational requirements.

“The transition to electric vehicles can feel complex, particularly for larger fleets with diverse operational needs,” said Melanie Creedy, Northgate’s EV business development manager.

“That’s why we’ve launched ‘Drive to Zero Consultancy’, designed to provide businesses with the data-led insight they need to make confident decisions.

“Whether fleets are at the start of their EV journey or ready to scale up, our team can support every step of the way.”

With sustainability now high on the agenda for fleet managers and ESG (environmental, social and governance) leaders alike, Northgate says that the consultancy provides the insight needed to secure internal approval for investment in a low-emission transport roll-out strategy.

Alongside assessing fleets on their readiness for EV adoption and home charging feasibility, the Drive to Zero Consultancy can also carry out workplace charging assessments, forecast potential cost and carbon savings, and create a bespoke consultancy report with actionable recommendations aligned to business objectives.

Drive to Zero Consultancy has already supported Staffordshire-based Aspire Housing through this process, in which its fleet of 130 light commercial vehicles (LCVs) were analysed over a six-month period to identify how many are suitable for EV transition and how many could be transitioned in the future.

All this was done, says Northgate, while maintaining full operational performance and reducing Aspire’s CO₂ output and total running costs.

While the service is ideally suited to larger fleets, it explains that smaller operators can still benefit from a scaled-down suitability analysis or opt into the full consultancy package, subject to a minimum fee.