EV Magazine July 2023 | Page 69

FLEET & COMMERCIAL

FLEET & COMMERCIAL

There are , however , some other factors to consider with aftermarket solutions , the first couple being the value of the vehicle and insurance premiums .
Much like any other modification to a vehicle , it ’ s yet to be recognised how retrofitting fleet vehicles would affect insurance and the overall sale value . What could potentially be a cost-saving option may also present repercussions , as assets may be valued much lower if they have been altered from their factory architecture .
A further point to be made here is whether car makers will be able to provide conversion kits to garages as the majority of EVs are now based on a different architecture – with batteries in the floor and the difference in weight between EV components and ICE .
ELIMINATING THE POSSIBILITY OF AUTONOMY ?
This would also throw out questions related to autonomy and the ability to integrate converted vehicles into a wider strategy for autonomous fleet operation , which is a trend that continues to grow among fleet managers . The latest vehicles are not only enabled for connectivity , but , at organisations such as Waymo and Einride , they are leveraging more and more autonomous capabilities to bring their vehicles closer to driverless .