Used electric vehicles (EVs) now represent a vital component in fleet management strategies, delivering financial efficiency, improved driver satisfaction, and environmental benefits without sacrificing operational adaptability. Graham Kay, fleet manager at Portakabin, and Collette Gunning, senior manager at Lex Autolease, outlined how these vehicles enable organizations to accelerate electric adoption while addressing immediate staffing needs.
Currently, Portakabin operates 3% of its fleet as used EVs—a proportion set to expand as the company advances its electrification plans. Rather than waiting for new vehicle deliveries, these pre-owned EVs serve as a budget-friendly solution, eliminating the need for costly temporary rentals while ensuring new hires can drive electric from their first day.
Kay noted that many new employees already possess EV driving experience and home charging infrastructure. By assigning them used EVs, companies avoid diesel rental expenses while providing familiar technology from the outset. He stated, “Providing them with another EV avoids the additional cost of diesel rentals while giving drivers a familiar vehicle from day one.”
Enhanced Selection, Informed Choices
The adoption of used EVs hinges on equipping fleet managers with tools to select the most suitable vehicles. Lex Autolease’s used EV platform now includes refined filters based on user feedback, allowing managers to evaluate options by price, battery range, and vehicle age. This streamlined comparison process helps tailor selections to specific driver needs.
Clear communication about vehicle conditions is equally critical. High-resolution images showing cosmetic flaws help set accurate expectations before delivery, while detailed battery health reports reassure high-mileage users. Kay stressed transparency as a trust-building measure, remarking, “When you repurpose a vehicle from someone leaving the business, and put a new user into that repurposed vehicle, there’s always going to be a mark or a scratch.”
Advancing Environmental Objectives
Used EVs contribute meaningfully to corporate sustainability goals by prolonging vehicle lifecycles, optimizing the carbon investment already made in production, and reducing dependence on higher-emission rental cars. For companies like Portakabin, this approach aligns with growing customer demands for eco-conscious procurement practices.
