Electrification brings clear long-term benefits - but for many organisations, the immediate challenge is proving the case internally. Cost projections, infrastructure planning and operational risk all come under scrutiny, particularly when stakeholder confidence depends on hard evidence.
This was the case for one of our enterprise customers, a national construction services firm with a sizable mixed-fuel fleet. Despite clear sustainability targets, their proposal to electrify 25% of vehicles was met with hesitation from senior stakeholders. Concerns around infrastructure, unclear long-term costs and a lack of joined-up data made it difficult to justify the move.
Using Prolius’ insights, the fleet team gained access to detailed operational and sustainability data - enabling them to build a credible case for change. The platform brought together vehicle utilisation, lifetime cost projections, service intervals and CO₂ output, allowing them to evaluate which vehicles were most suitable for electrification.
This evidence helped them demonstrate not just financial viability, but also the environmental value of the transition. With clear forecasts around cost recovery and emissions reduction, the team secured board-level approval to begin a phased switch to electric vehicles - linking procurement directly to both commercial and sustainability objectives.
The Challenge: Bridging the Gap Between Sustainability Goals and Commercial Certainty
The fleet team had identified an initial target: transition 25% of vehicles to electric. The intention was clear, but securing internal approval proved more complex. A number of practical barriers stood in the way:
Unclear return on investment
While the long-term benefits of electrification were acknowledged, higher upfront costs and a lack of whole-life cost comparisons made it difficult to assess financial impact with confidence.
Infrastructure concerns
Operational teams raised questions around charging availability, vehicle downtime and maintenance readiness - issues that made stakeholders cautious about committing to change.
Fragmented data
With information spread across telematics platforms, outdated spreadsheets, fuel records and servicing logs, there was no consolidated view of the fleet’s current performance or readiness for transition.
Limited stakeholder confidence
Without access to clear cost modelling or projected CO₂ savings, senior decision-makers lacked the evidence needed to support investment aligned with sustainability targets.
Although the ambition to electrify was in place, the absence of integrated data and measurable outcomes made it difficult to move from intent to action.
The Solution: Enabling a Data-Led Business Case for Fleet Electrification
To move from intention to approval, the fleet team needed to present a well-structured case - one that demonstrated both the commercial logic and sustainability value of electrification. Using Prolius’ insights, they were able to bring together data from across their fleet and build a clear, evidence-backed proposal tailored to their operational realities.
1. Total Cost of Ownership Modelling
A key starting point was modelling the total cost of ownership. Using live fleet data, the dashboard provided a side-by-side view of ICE and EV costs, including:
- Acquisition and depreciation
- Maintenance intervals and projected service costs
- Real-world fuel vs. electricity expenditure
- Total cost of ownership over a five-year period
This gave the finance team the visibility they needed to understand long-term cost implications - not just upfront investment.
2. CO₂ Savings and Sustainability Forecasting
In parallel, the team was able to assess potential CO₂ savings. Using mileage data and vehicle classifications, the system forecasted emissions reductions over three, five and seven year horizons. These figures helped quantify the environmental benefit in practical terms, aligning the proposal with the organisation’s wider ESG objectives and giving sustainability leads to a tangible outcome to champion.
3. Vehicle Suitability and Duty Cycle Analysis
Prolius also supported duty cycle and utilisation analysis, helping identify which vehicles were best suited for early replacement. High-mileage, high-idle vehicles operating in areas with existing charging infrastructure were prioritised - ensuring that the first phase of electrification would deliver meaningful savings without operational disruption.
4. Structured, Board-Facing Outputs
Finally, the platform brought all of this information together in a digestible format for senior stakeholder review. With data-led outputs, the fleet team could present a phased procurement plan, a realistic cost-recovery timeline, and a breakdown of operational and environmental impact. This clarity enabled decision-makers to assess the proposal on its merits - and ultimately, to approve it
This structure gave decision-makers the clarity they needed to move forward - balancing commercial logic with sustainability ambition.
The Results: From Hesitation to Board Approval
✔ Board-level sign-off secured
The business gained approval to begin a phased electrification programme, starting with the first 25% of the fleet.
✔ Procurement roadmap defined
With Prolius modelling, the firm aligned vehicle selection, charging infrastructure and operational needs into a practical rollout timeline.
✔ Improved stakeholder confidence
Real-world data eliminated guesswork, allowing different departments - operations, finance, ESG - to align behind a common case.
From Data to Decisions: Enabling a Confident EV Transition
Electrification plans often stall when key questions go unanswered - around cost, infrastructure or environmental return. Without a clear link between sustainability goals and operational realities, building internal alignment becomes difficult.
In this case, access to structured insights made the difference. The Prolius platform delivered data essential for financial modelling, CO₂ forecasts and real-world utilisation data - giving the fleet team the clarity they needed to move forward with confidence.
The result was a well-defined plan, supported across departments and approved at board level. Built on evidence, not assumptions, the business now has a clear path towards a lower-emissions fleet - with financial and operational benefits accounted for from the outset.
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