Northgate Vehicle Hire’s Drive to Zero Transition Hub which gives fleets a clear, data-backed route to electrification, has identified that 79% of the 1,329 Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) analysed between 1 July 2024 and 1 August 2025 were EV-ready.
Developed in partnership with Diode, the Transition Hub sits at the heart of Northgate’s wider Drive to Zero (D2Z) initiative, providing fleet managers with a scalable, agnostic and evidence-based method of visualising and planning their electric LCV transition.
A vehicle is classed as EV Ready if, based on its usual routes and downtime, it would be able to take on more energy from available charging than it typically uses in a day, even during the winter when efficiency is lower.
The platform calculates how much a vehicle could charge during dwell times, either at home, work or at regular destinations. With 24% of new LCVs required to be zero-emission from 2026, fleets are under growing pressure to accelerate their transition plans and Northgate’s fleet analysis is starting to identify more opportunities for fleets to go electric.
The platform uses real customer data – including vehicle use, journey profiles and site characteristics – to create bespoke reports showing:
- Which vehicles are suitable for EV replacement?
- Recommended electric alternatives from Northgate’s fleet.
- Practical home, workplace and public charging options.
- Estimated CO2 savings and cost implications.
Free EV suitability assessments help businesses understand their readiness for change without any upfront cost, removing early barriers to electrification and supporting informed decision-making.
So far, more than 3,000 vans have been assessed under the broader Drive to Zero programme, spanning sectors including housing, healthcare, highways, leisure and retail. Customers are already translating insight into tangible results ranging from smaller sub-20 fleets and larger 100-plus fleets.
Northgate’s Drive to Zero approach combines data insight with practical delivery. Once fleets have a clear electrification roadmap through the Transition Hub or D2Z Consultancy, Northgate provides the vehicles, charging infrastructure and operational support needed to make transition achievable.
“Electrification can feel complex, but with the right data and support, it quickly becomes actionable,” said Josh Hooper, Northgate’s head of product and specialist sales
“Our Drive to Zero Transition Hub is helping customers see where EVs make sense today – and plan confidently for the future. The fact that nearly 80% of vehicles assessed are already EV-ready shows how real and achievable this shift has become.
“And as newer eLCVs enter the market with enhanced range and payload combinations, operators now have far greater confidence that electrification can meet the practical needs of their day-to-day operations,” he added.
The Drive to Zero initiative continues to evolve as part of Northgate’s commitment to helping fleets decarbonise, reduce cost and operate more sustainably – at a pace that suits their business.
