The transition to an electric fleet in EnBW's vehicle fleet
Vanessa Hindinger, Mobility Team Leader, shares insights into how EnBW transitioned its fleet vehicles to electric mobility and what factors to consider.
Ms. Hindinger, what challenges did you face when transitioning to electric vehicles, and how did you overcome them?
One of the biggest hurdles was the overall system: finding suitable models for different usage scenarios, from city trips to installation jobs in the Black Forest. During the pandemic, delivery times posed an additional challenge. Our fleet management team provided us with significant support in this area. Then there was the charging infrastructure at our locations and clear usage rules. At our corporate headquarters in Karlsruhe, it was initially difficult to find available charging points after business trips. We subsequently built a dedicated charging area with around 75 charging points exclusively for electric fleet vehicles.
At the same time, we implemented “charging etiquette” guidelines and re-parking procedures until the infrastructure caught up. Our charging infrastructure comprises over 1,400 charging points at more than 135 locations, and we invest around 2 million euros annually in further expansion with our partners Netze BW and ChargeHere GmbH. Another hurdle was the approval and safety situation in underground parking garages. Older expert reports on insurance and fire safety had to be reevaluated. We resolved this through re-inspections and coordinated measures. Onboarding also plays a major role. Many were initially hesitant about our all-electric fleet of 200 vehicles across 6 locations. We rely on video tutorials, on-site roadshows, and monthly introductory driving sessions to ensure all users are well-equipped.
How exactly did you go about it? Are there specific steps you would recommend to others?
We have found that a pragmatic, repeatable process works well for us:
01 / Segment the fleet by usage profiles.
Not every application is immediately suitable. Some service calls and long-distance trips still face limitations due to payload and towing capacity. We started with simple use cases: trips between our locations in Germany, team workshops with multiple participants, or visits to customers and partners.
02 / Roll out infrastructure in parallel, preferably separated by user groups.
We’ve had very good experiences with separate charging areas exclusively for fleet vehicles.
03 / Take change and empowerment seriously.
Roadshows, live charging demonstrations, regular driving instructions, short tutorials and videos, corporate communications, and clear booking, return, and charging procedures help break down barriers.
04 / Clarify operations and ownership. Stable operation
of the internal charging infrastructure and the processes surrounding AZOWO and the e-pool vehicles within the team are crucial.
How did the employees react to the change? What kind of persuasion was needed?
Reactions were mixed: Many were curious, while others were wary of the first store. That’s exactly why we developed accessible formats: roadshows, interactive activities, take-home materials, and tutorials. Simple, clear answers go a long way toward alleviating uncertainty.
What hidden costs should companies factor in, and where can they save money?
Costs often arise not from the vehicles themselves, but from operations and processes: space, markings, signage, routine communication, improper parking, and additional effort during peak periods. Employee training and customer support must also be factored in. Savings can be achieved by creating dedicated charging areas and organizing operations in a consistent manner. This reduces the need for repositioning vehicles and increases availability.
How do you manage range and route planning on a day-to-day basis?
We manage this primarily through appropriate vehicle categories and clear user guidance. Vehicles are organized according to range and usage profiles, and AZOWO makes it possible to book the right vehicle for any given time and location. We also reduce uncertainty through effective user guidance: roadshows, live charging demonstrations, short presentations, and tutorials. Additionally, everyone receives the EnBW mobility+ charging card when picking up their keys, and the EnBW mobility+ app with its integrated route planner is installed on virtually all company cell phones.
How long did the electrification process take?
For us, electrification isn’t a project with a fixed deadline, but rather an ongoing transformation process. Changes in corporate mobility are an ongoing process influenced by technology, economics, and regulation. Specific milestones: The transition to an electric fleet took 3 to 4 years due to varying lease expiration dates. The tendering process, decision-making, and implementation of AZOWO took between 1 and 1.5 years.
