EV Readiness for Field Teams: Practical First Steps
Switching field teams from diesel to electric is not a single decision – it’s a project. Get it right and you reduce running costs, hit sustainability targets and give drivers better vehicles for the job. Get it wrong and you end up with range anxiety, missed appointments and frustrated engineers.
This guide walks through practical first steps to get your field teams “EV ready” in a structured, low-risk way.
1. Be Clear on Why You’re Moving to EVs
Before you talk about vans, chargers or grants, agree the objectives:
- Cost – reduce fuel and maintenance spend over the life of the vehicle
- Compliance – prepare for Clean Air Zones, ULEZ and customer environmental requirements
- Customer image – present a modern, low-emission fleet to clients and the public
- ESG targets – support internal sustainability or net-zero commitments
Write these down and share them. They will help:
- Make the business case
- Keep everyone aligned when there are teething problems
- Choose where EVs genuinely add value rather than “look good on a slide deck”
2. Understand How Your Field Teams Actually Work
EV suitability starts with the daily reality of your engineers, surveyors or reps – not brochure range figures.
For each field role or route type, capture:
- Average daily mileage
- Peak mileage days (including emergency callouts)
- Number of stops per day
- Typical dwell time at each stop (30 minutes, two hours, all day on site?)
- Start and finish locations – depot, home start, regional hubs
- Access to parking – driveway, street parking, shared car parks
Put this into a simple spreadsheet. Very often you’ll discover:
- A large portion of your routes are well within EV range
- A smaller number of “outlier” days need a different approach (pool diesel, rental, different routing)
Start with the easy wins rather than trying to solve every edge case on day one.
3. Identify “Phase One” – Where EVs Make Immediate Sense
Not every vehicle needs to change at once. Pick a first wave where the odds of success are high:
Good candidates:
- Duty cycles comfortably under realistic EV range (including cold weather and traffic)
- Predictable routes – regular territories, repeat customers, planned jobs
- Vehicles that return to the same base regularly (depot or office)
- Teams with positive attitudes to change who can act as internal champions
Avoid in phase one:
- Long, variable routes with frequent last-minute changes
- Roles heavily reliant on towing or very high payload
- Vehicles with no realistic access to overnight charging
A good pilot group might be 5–20 vehicles, depending on your fleet size.
4. Get the Charging Basics Right
Charging strategy is where many EV projects succeed or fail. Think in three layers:
4.1 Depot / Workplace Charging
Where vehicles return to a depot or office, aim to make this the primary charging location.
Decide:
- How many chargers you need on day one
- How many more you might need in 2–3 years
- Whether you need a mix of fast (AC) and rapid (DC) chargers
- How vehicles will be parked and rotated – clear, simple rules are essential
Work with a competent installer to check site power capacity, and consider:
- Load management (smart charging to avoid peak demand)
- Access control (RFID cards, apps, driver IDs)
- Data and reporting (who charged, when, how much)
4.2 Home Charging (Where Appropriate)
If field teams are home-start:
- Decide whether you will fund home chargers, contribute to them, or pay a charging allowance
- Use mileage/charging software to reimburse employees fairly for electricity used for work
- Provide clear policies for what is and isn’t reimbursed (e.g. personal use vs business)
Be realistic about those without driveways or secure parking – they may need different arrangements or stay on ICE vehicles for now.
4.3 Public and On-Route Charging
Public charging should be backup, not the backbone of your model, but it still matters.
- Provide drivers with access to one or two multi-network charge cards/apps, not a dozen logins
- Create a simple guide for:
- How to start and stop a charge
- Expected charging speeds
- What to do if a charger is busy or broken
Identify a handful of reliable locations on key routes rather than relying on whatever appears on a map.
5. Choose Vehicles That Fit the Job (Not Just the Range Figure)
When comparing EV models for field use, look beyond the “headline” range.
Key points:
- Real-world range – assume 60–70% of brochure range to account for weather, heating, payload and driving style
- Payload and volume – ensure tools, parts and equipment fit with the battery weight considered
- Charging capability – how fast the vehicle can charge on AC and DC, and what that looks like in “miles per hour gained”
- Cab environment – enough storage, seating comfort and technology for a professional day in the field
- Towing and roof load limits – if relevant to your work
Create a simple comparison sheet between your current ICE vehicles and prospective EVs covering:
- Payload
- Volume
- Realistic daily range
- Whole-life cost (lease, energy, maintenance, tax)
6. Update Systems, Planning and Telemetry
EVs can’t be dropped into an existing ICE fleet and left to fend for themselves – your systems need to recognise they’re different.
Consider:
- Route planning – flag which jobs and routes are “EV friendly” and which still require ICE
- Booking and dispatch rules – prevent jobs that break range or charging constraints from being assigned to EVs
- Telematics integration – track:
- State of charge
- Energy usage per mile
- Charging behaviour
- Service intervals and downtime – build EV-specific schedules into your planning
Even basic rules – for example “EVs must start each day at 80–100% charge” – prevent avoidable issues.
7. Engage Drivers Early and Practically
Driver buy-in can make or break EV projects. Treat them as partners, not passengers.
Communicate:
- Why the business is shifting to EVs (cost, compliance, sustainability)
- What will be different – charging, planning, vehicle behaviour
- What’s in it for them – quieter vehicles, smoother drive, modern cabs
Provide hands-on familiarisation:
- Short training on:
- Using different chargers
- Reading range realistically
- Pre-conditioning and eco modes
- Guidance on driving technique:
- Smooth acceleration and braking
- Using regen to extend range
- Sensible use of heating and air con without compromising safety or comfort
And most importantly, create an easy feedback loop (WhatsApp group, survey, toolbox talks) so issues are surfaced quickly and solved.
8. Set Simple Policies and Make Them Visible
Avoid confusion by writing down a small set of clear rules, for example:
- Minimum state of charge vehicles must be returned with
- Who is allowed to use rapid chargers and when
- What to do if a charger is out of service
- How to log home charging for reimbursement
- When it’s acceptable to use an ICE vehicle instead of an EV
Publish the policies where drivers actually see them – briefing sheets in vehicles, intranet, depot noticeboards, driver app.
9. Measure, Learn and Adjust
Treat the first wave of EVs as a learning exercise with clear metrics:
Track:
- Energy cost per mile vs fuel cost per mile
- On-time arrival performance compared to ICE vehicles
- Driver satisfaction and feedback themes
- Range usage – how much “buffer” remains at the end of typical days
- Unplanned incidents – vehicles running low, charging problems, callout issues
Schedule a formal review after three to six months of live operation. Use this to decide:
- Which routes or teams are ready for further electrification
- Where processes, chargers or vehicles need tweaking
- What training or communication gaps still exist
The goal isn’t perfection on day one – it’s steady improvement without disrupting service.
10. Build a Roadmap, Not a One-Off Project
EV readiness for field teams isn’t a one-and-done exercise. Once the basics are in place, you can:
- Gradually expand EV use into more demanding routes
- Introduce new models as technology improves
- Combine EVs with other low-emission options (e-bikes, cargo bikes, car clubs, shared pools)
- Use data from early adopters to refine future specifications and infrastructure decisions
By starting with practical first steps – clear objectives, realistic duty-cycle analysis, sensible charging, and engaged drivers – you de-risk the transition and prove that EVs can support field teams without compromising service.
From there, scaling up becomes a confident choice, not a gamble.
