There must be more than a few corporate auto fleet managers today who are considering a shift to electric vehicles (EVs) but are having trouble choosing the right model for their company or are concerned about charging.

Mitsubishi Auto Leasing Corporation (MAL) offers a comprehensive consultation program named EV 4 CHANGE to help corporate clients replace their vehicle fleet with EVs. The service is comprised of four steps: (1) Measure and calculate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions; (2) Analyze current fleet usage / prepare EV replacement roadmap; (3) Select and introduce green vehicles; and (4) Operate and utilize green vehicles. MAL provides a one-stop support service from the preparation stage through to EV operation and maintenance, contributing to its clients’ corporate efforts to reach their carbon neutrality targets.

In Step 1 of the EV 4 CHANGE program, MAL measures and calculates the client’s total GHG emissions from its fleet, as well as from electricity use at plants and offices, and suggests visualizing the current emission status.

In Step 2, MAL analyzes how the client’s corporate fleet is currently utilized, and plans a roadmap for introducing EVs into the fleet. One of the founders of the program, Akira Fujimura of the Green Mobility Management Section of MAL’s Green Mobility Management Department., explained as follows:

“We deliver a comprehensive analysis report on fleet configuration, mileage, and area of use, among other elements, for multifaceted analysis. Notably, the report is free of charge, and the analysis is conducted based on vehicle inspection certificates so as to avoid troubling the client. In cases where customers own a large fleet of 100 or 200 vehicles, our analysis occasionally reveals that some of their cars are, in fact, barely used. Just because we are an auto lease company, we don’t always advise our customers to expand their fleet or replace the entire fleet with EVs. Instead, we may suggest that they downsize their fleet by removing redundant vehicles and review the number of cars in operation. After such adjustments, we simulate the outcome of EV introduction.”

Step 3 is to select vehicle models and introduce EVs. Specifically, the company selects the optimal green vehicle model for the client, estimates the fee for battery charger installation, and provides support for their subsidy application.

“Many of our clients have never driven an EV before,” explained Mr. Fujimura, “so we lend out demonstration cars free of charge on a weekly basis and roll out test drive events so that they can try out different manufacturers’ EVs and get some hands-on experience. We also provide them with advice on which EV models are practical for business use.”

Step 4 involves operation and utilization of EVs. To ensure that clients can use EVs safely and with peace of mind, MAL offers a nationwide maintenance network, makes arrangements for battery charging cards, and proposes measures for peak shifting and peak shaving, EV sharing, and business continuity planning (BCP).

Contributing to a sustainable and thriving future with mobility services

More than a decade ago, MAL was focusing on EV leasing. Many of the leasing contracts were discontinued, however, with a large number of vehicles returned. Back then, EV infrastructure was inadequate, giving drivers range anxiety that made them choose gasoline cars over EVs for long distance driving. This was one of the reasons why EVs could not be widely promoted, and the experience was taken into account in planning the EV 4 CHANGE program.

“Previously, most clients adopted EVs for corporate PR purposes, but today, they are increasingly endeavoring to make practical use of them in their business operations,” explained Tatsuya Aoki, manager of the Green Mobility Management Section of MAL’s Green Mobility Management Department. “The EV 4 CHANGE program is an EV consultation program designed to help customers use EVs effectively and with peace of mind. For more than a decade, we have been acquiring expertise on EVs. Having consolidated and codified that expertise, we have come up with services currently needed by customers and are offering them in alignment with the four steps.”

Adds Mr. Fujimura: “We basically assign one sales representative to each corporate customer, but to enable customers to use EVs in an optimal manner with peace of mind, rather than delivering a prefixed set of services, the EV 4 CHANGE program proposes customized solutions tailored to each customer’s issues by adding new services through collaboration with internal specialists and partner companies. The program will continue evolving with the addition of more new services.”

For example, one municipality plans to introduce EVs in phases while also digitalizing its vehicle reservation management and taxi dispatch management with the aim of preparing for disasters, accelerating local carbon reduction and decarbonization measures, and streamlining operations through digitalization.

One food delivery company participated in the Electric Motorbike Forum hosted by MAL, gaining hands-on experience in using all kinds of electric motorbikes in its delivery service. Encouraged by this trial, the company decided to start using electric motorbikes, with MAL providing support for model selection and battery charger installation, along with maintenance services, through the EV 4 CHANGE program.

The automobile industry is undergoing a once-in-a-century revolution, as seen in the emergence of new approaches to and concepts of mobility such as CASE (connected, autonomous, shared and electric) and MaaS (mobility as a service), which seamlessly connect various modes of transportation. “We must stay abreast of the times,” said Mr. Aoki. “Given that many customers are upholding decarbonization goals, our big mission is to closely support them in these pursuits. Yet there are numerous issues we cannot solve on our own, so we’d like to collaborate with partner companies and other Mitsubishi Group companies.” Mr. Fujimura agreed. “Auto lease companies tend to be assessed on the basis of their lease prices,” he said. “However, as our goal is to become a long-trusted partner to our customers, we offer our EV 4 CHANGE consultation program free of charge. The service embodies our aspiration to be our customers’ go-to company for advice concerning company vehicles. There must be quite a few Mitsubishi Group companies with fleet-related problems, so we hope to help them figure out their issues as their trusted partner.” MAL’s Corporate Philosophy is “Creating New Value in Mobility solutions.” The company will continue providing services rooted in this philosophy, including its EV 4 CHANGE program.