Electrifying a fleet is not a one-month project. Underestimating lead times is the most common cause of failed EV trajectories. A realistic 12-month roadmap.
Months 1–2: analysis and vision
Inventory of the current fleet, commuting per employee, charging needs at the office versus at home. Define three scenarios (fast, phased, conservative) with TCO over 4 years. Decision at management level at the end of month 2.
Months 2–3: adjusting car policy
EV-only in new leasing? Hybrid as a transition? Which models, what budget? Social consultation and signing of the new car policy at the end of month 3.
Months 3–4: developing office charging infrastructure
Site survey with installer, capacity analysis by the grid operator, permit application if necessary. For sites with more than 8 charging points: expect a 6–10 week lead time for grid connection.
Months 4–6: pilot with the first 5 employees
The first five EV drivers receive their vehicle, their home charging station, and access to the charging point management platform. Goal: test all administrative processes (split billing, charge card, reimbursement) before scaling up. Bug-fixing is cheaper here than in month 10.
Months 6–9: scaling up
5–10 new EVs added per month. Home installations have a 3–5 week lead time each — plan via a shared schedule with the installer. HR onboarding with every new EV: 30-minute explanation of the charge card, app, and split billing.
Months 9–11: full rollout
Remaining employees receive their EV. Company parking fully operational. First-line support shifts from fleet to the charging point management platform.
Month 12: evaluation and optimization
KPI review: average charging cost per kWh, share of home vs. public, employee satisfaction, lead time for interventions. Policy adjustment based on actual data — which you now have in hand, unlike at the start.
The three most underestimated delays
Grid connection (can take up to 6 months in case of grid reinforcement), building permit for charging infrastructure in protected areas, and social consultation regarding the new car policy. Plan each of these three as a critical path, not as an afterthought.
Read also
- Drafting an internal charging policy: 8 questions you must answer beforehand
- Reimbursement of employee charging costs
- Charging infrastructure on an existing parking lot: what if grid capacity is too tight?
Would you like to create your own roadmap? Schedule a meeting with our fleet specialist — together we will go through the 12-month approach and set up a concrete plan tailored to your company.