Q. How do I decide between BEVs and PHEVs?

A. The decision between battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) comes down to fleet application.

BEVs are fully electric and have no tailpipe emissions, making them the more eco-friendly option. In general they also have fewer moving parts, meaning that they have lower maintenance and operating costs. They also present the most cost saving opportunities, specifically if they can meet daily driving requirements on a single charge or have long enough dwell times to charge between duty cycles.

However, for vehicles with less predictable or longer routes, a PHEV might be a better fit. PHEVs have both a small internal combustion engine and an electric motor, which comes with a smaller electric battery and range than BEVs. Since they have the ability to run off of fossil fuels and as a result their carbon footprint will depend on how much of the driving is done with electricity.

To learn more about how to get EV recommendations for your fleet check out Geotab’s EV Suitability Assessment tool.

Expert Bio

Answered by : Eric Mallia

Vice President, Sustainability Solutions at Geotab

Eric Mallia, Vice President of Sustainability Solutions at Geotab, is an authority on transportation electrification and sustainable fleets. He has been a published author featured in the International Journal of Life Cycle Assessments, Municipal World Magazine, Fleet Maintenance Magazine, and the National Post. He obtained a Masters of Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo and a Bachelors of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University.

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