East Herts Council Evolve

Proving the possibility of transitioning to an electric taxi fleet

All content on this case study was created prior to the acquisition of EB Charging by Blink Charging.

Executive Summary

East Herts Council wanted to understand the current functionality of the local taxi community, and engage with the drivers to better understand the challenges to transitioning to electric vehicles (EVs). With our EVolve fleet analysis, Blink were able to assess the possibility and feasibility of transitioning to an electric taxi fleet, whilst suggesting possible locations for charging infrastructure to allow for maximum usage.. Additionally, EVolve allowed us to quantify the Air Quality improvements that would be achieved with the uptake of EVs.

About East Herts Council

East Herts Council are committed to install convenient charging solutions and infrastructure across the region. East Herts Council wanted to understand the operational picture of their own licensed vehicles to ensure that they optimise provision for the current taxi community, and have appropriate resources for future regional EV development plans.

“We saw the EVolve assessment as a useful way to engage with our taxi drivers to better understand the challenges that they face in shifting to electric vehicles. EVolve shows drivers the range of each journey and how much they could potentially save on fuel and vehicle running costs. Meanwhile, the Council receives anonymised data on typical route patterns along with driver break periods. This should prove valuable to help inform our decision-making on where new charging infrastructure is best provided to support the move to an electric future.”

David Thorogood, Environmental Sustainability Coordinator for East Herts Council

The Challenge

• Quantify the Air Quality improvements afforded by switching to EVs.
• Evidence the main routes and stopping points of the local taxi population, for possible charging point requirements and locations.
• Prove the feasibility of converting to EVs for the taxi/PHV fleet vehicles.
• Advise on any changes in practices or working methods as required by changing to EVs.
• Analyse and compare the running costs of existing vehicles with EVs.
• Provide bespoke assessments to individual drivers.
• Work openly and fairly with the taxi community.

Our Solution

With an agreed assessment period of 35 days, from 26th March 2019 to the 30th April 2019, Blink installed telematic devices into 19 vehicles across Hackney/PHV licensed vehicles.

Once installed, the devices were connected to the Blink analysis software, which recorded the individualised routes, stops, and mileage. To comply with legal regulations, all of the driver / vehicle information was anonymised, ensuring the specific details of individual vehicles is not shared anywhere, except with the individual themselves.

After installation, the drivers were required only to continue their normal daily routines. On the agreed date, Blink uninstalled the devices and provided each driver with their individual reports.

The Results

Using DVLA data on the performance of each existing vehicle, Blink were able to accurately assess the volume of emissions and the running costs of the existing fleet. By comparing these results against an equivalent sized EV (in this case a Nissan e-NV200), we were able to show the following savings on both running costs and emissions, on moving the fleet to EVs.

The following data was recorded for the 19 vehicles in the assessment. Any individual reports are taken from the same driver throughout this case study.

**Data recorded for one vehicle (see analysis dashboard below) **

• Average number of days / shifts analysed : 35
• Average driver efficiency rating : A
• Total mileage : 3,294
• Average miles per trip : 6
• Average trips per day : 15
• Average daily mileage : 94

*Individual driver data for sample vehicle.

**Data recorded for all vehicles (see analysis dashboard below) **

• Average number of days/shifts analysed : 35
• Average driver efficiency rating : A
• Total mileage : 46,705
• Average miles per trip : 9.2
• Average trips per day : 135
• Average daily fleet mileage : 1508.4
• Average daily vehicle mileage : 79.38

*Data for all 19 assessment drivers

Estimated running costs savings

• Total savings during the test period for 1 vehicle : £ 432.36
• Total savings during the test period for 19 vehicles : £ 3731.52
• Annualised savings for 1 vehicle : £ 3335.34
• Annualised savings for 19 vehicles : £32,983.98

*Data for all 19 assessment drivers.

Estimated emissions savings

Feasibility

The feasibility data recorded in this assessment is under the assumption that the vehicles in question have the opportunity to be inactive for six hours daily. This would give the vehicle the opportunity to charge fully before the start of their shift (i.e charge overnight at home, a depot or off street parking).

• A total of 13 separate trips of greater than 45 miles were recorded for the individual driver. Additionally, a total of almost 4 days was recorded for rapid charging opportunities.
• A total of 4,115 separate trips were recorded for all vehicles. Of these, a total of 100 trips would have required a top-up charge.
• The individual driver had a total of 1 idling event with a total of 3 minutes and 59 seconds.
• There were 59 idling events recorded across the fleet with a total of 25 minutes and 20 seconds.

The heat mapping provided evidence to accurately place charging points, to ensure usage with minimal disruption to the driver; whilst the data shows the projected usage requirements depending on the uptake of EVs. As below, the heat mapping shows a general view of convenient charging locations across East Herts followed by a focused view of Bishop Stortford centre. The more time spent by the drivers in each location results in a bigger circle.

*Overall view of assessment hotspots across the East Herts region.

*Detailed view of Bishop’s Stortford centre.

Possible Rapid Charger Sites

East Herts Council have identified two sites in Bishop Stortford and two sites in Hertford for the installation of two rapid chargers dedicated to taxi/phv operators. The EVolve assessment has confirmed that they would be ideal locations to service the trade when they switch to EVs.

Both sites are within five miles of the hotspots that EVolve identified as locations which drivers are frequenting on a daily basis.

*Possible rapid charger sites in Bishop’s Stortford.

*Possible rapid charger sites in Hertford.

Summary

This report has enabled East Herts Council to accurately forecast the total amount of emissions that could be saved, by transitioning the licensed taxi fleet to EVs.
The heat map has accurately provided evidence of a number of sites that could potentially be used to install a rapid charger. These sites would give the local authority a choice as to the placement of the charger, ensuring maximum usage with minimal disruption to the drivers during their working day.
The feasibility study showed there would be minimal disruption for the taxi drivers, on a day-to-day basis, to switch to an EV from their existing vehicles.