As a runner, I rely on traveling on foot and I also leave the car at home for work as much as I can. This may not always be possible for your business, but it is still important to future-proof it with a well-considered mobility policy. Switching to electric vehicles is one potential option but that alone should not be the end goal, because there may be other measures that could even suit your organization better. In this blog, I will tell you what you need to consider.
Your mobility policy forms part of your overall business management strategy and the concrete measures you take are part of that policy. So start by asking yourself what your goals are and what image you want to project as an organization. This will determine the direction of your policy. I always start with three pillars: reducing, slimming down and going green. For example, you can address the first pillar by reducing your fleet for business units that can operate with fewer vehicles. One approach to slimming down is ensuring that your cars are used by several people, such as through car sharing and carpooling. The third pillar is going green, by using vehicles with more sustainable fuel or power sources or switching to greener transport options like electric cars or public transport. I myself am an ambassador for STOMP. This Dutch acronym stands for walking, cycling, public transport, MaaS (Mobility as a Service) and private cars. If possible, I walk to my destination or I cycle to the station and catch a train, as they run on green energy in the Netherlands. By encouraging these modes of transport for your workers, you can address all three pillars.
Switching to Electric Vehicles: What Should You Consider?
Choosing an electric transport solution for your fleet? That's great but remember there are more issues to consider than you might think. For example, you need to think about purchasing and installing charging equipment, consider the impact on your operations and adjust for the increased demand with your utility company. So doing your homework thoroughly before you start the transition to an electric fleet is essential. We have written an informative whitepaper on this topic: Five things to plan before beginning electric fleet conversion.
Gather Support For Your Mobility Policy
Once you have developed a sound mobility policy, it is also important that everyone in your organization is aware of and understands the measures. Gather the necessary support by communicating clearly why the policy is good for the business and its employees. Tailor your message to the different departments because sustainable mobility has different benefits for everyone. For example, long-term cost savings are a compelling argument for Finance and Procurement, while Legal is likely to be more receptive to compliance with legal obligations to tackle climate change. HR managers may be convinced if you highlight the potential to reduce stress, while employees in the workplace want to know how the new policy will improve their own work.
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In summary, you need to start by thinking carefully about a sustainable mobility policy that suits your company's identity, image and capabilities. Then it's important to embed that policy in your organization to the best of your ability by explaining to people why it is necessary and how they will personally benefit.
If you want to discuss the importance of a realistic sustainable mobility policy, please contact me or visit our website!
