Transforming fleets to EVs begins with your charging infrastructure.

One of the most critical factors in fleet electrification is charging infrastructure planning. It's important to develop a plan that works well for your business operations and your bottom line. Charging infrastructure may represent a significant upfront cost, but it may also represent tremendous ongoing savings and efficiencies through reduced fuel costs and vehicle maintenance.


Types of Chargers

Types of Chargers><br><br> Charging EVs requires plugging into a charger connected to the electric grid, also called electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE). There are three major categories of chargers, based on the amount of power the charger can provide: <br> <br> <b>•   Level 1 (L1) Charging</b><br> If your fleet consists of Class 1 through Class 3 vehicles with an average daily travel range of 60 or 40 miles, you may only need Level 1 charging. Level 1 charging can be plugged into a standard 120 V outlet, and may only require vehicle charging a couple of times each week. A full charge may take up to 24 hours with level 1 120 V charging. Level 1 is most often used in home applications, but is sometimes used at workplaces and is a nice option to have if all your Level 2 equipment is use. <br> <br> <b>•   Level 2 (L2) Charging</b><br> The most prevalent commercial charging application is through Level 2 chargers. Level 2 chargers are both cost-effective and can be installed virtually anywhere with 240 V power. Systems range in size and complexity from single phase units costing less than $500 to central units with 2-4 charging plugs on each bollard with card/phone access, managed scheduling services, fee collection, and other integrated services which can cost upwards of $5,000. Level 2 charging ranges from around 6-23kW though it’s important to note that not all vehicles can accept higher charging rates. <br> <br> <b>•   DC Fast-Charging (DCFC)</b><br> For larger vehicles and larger batteries, or when more rapid fueling is needed, direct-current fast charging (DCFC) is a common commercial charging application. Direct current fast chargers, sometimes referred to as a Level 3 DC charging, uses a 3-phase 480 V AC electric circuit, but delivers direct current (DC) to the vehicles. DC Fast-Charging can deliver an 80 percent battery charge or 60 to 100 miles of range for most EV models in about 20-30 minutes of charging. This format is used in public charging stations, especially along heavy-traffic corridors. DCFC chargers currently range from 15-350kW; however not all vehicles can accept higher rates, with 50kW being the minimum across all vehicles. <br> <br> A typical DCFC charger can cost $40-75K, on average; however, a new class of 20-25kW DCFC units is emerging at <$10K. Standards are an issue with DCFC chargers, as there are three connector types in North America, although adapters are available for some configurations. Another factor to consider is service standards for connectivity, such as whether or not the charger or your vehicle can support remote management, or energy discharge, vs. charging; an important element from a total cost of ownership perspective. <br><br> Be sure to consult with an electrician and/or your utility before purchasing a high-amperage charging system as some high-power systems may require significant electrical upgrades to your office or depot location. In some cases the transformer that supplies power to your site may need to be upgraded. <br> <br> For additional information please see the Commercial Charging Equipment page <br> <br> <br> <h2>Types of Charging Programs and Software Applications</h2><br> <b>•   EV Charge Management Software</b><br> Many providers offer end-to-end software to manage EV charging sites, stations, chargers and connectors. These applications integrate directly with your utility and EV hardware for smart energy management and load balancing, including monitoring sessions, stations and chargers. At minimum, it is important to select a charging solution that empowers you to program charging times that will take advantage of available time of use rate programs and to spread out your energy demand profile to avoid charges and unnecessary equipment upgrades. <br> <br> <b>•   Managed Charging or Time-of-Use (TOU) Charging</b><br> Managed charging allows a utility or third-party to remotely control vehicle charging by turning it up, down, or even off to better correspond to the needs of the grid, much like traditional demand response programs. If your fleet can charge at a home or depot station overnight, you can fuel at the least expensive rates and have a fully-charged vehicle every day. This type of program requires participation by both your utility provider within a dedicated TOU rate plan and a designated implementation plan with your drivers, or via a central management system. For fleets that have discretion in their charging behavior, this can be a big money saver. <br> <br> <b>•   Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) Technology and Programs</b><br> There are many new technologies in development that will empower consumers and utilities to have more control over energy through on-site storage technologies. Vehicle-to-grid technologies may be available to help your organization store solar power for use at night, or in some cases, programs may emerge that allow you to sell power back to the utility for use when supply is low. Additionally, your fleet of electric vehicles may be used to provide back-up power in the event of a power outage. Ask manufacturers if their vehicles are V2G ready when you are researching vehicle options. <br> <br> <b>•   Employer At-Work Charging Programs</b><br> If you’re an employer implementing a Charging at Work program, managed charging can also be used to grant access to chargers, such as those in public portions of a company. Some EVSE units include locally-managed software, accessed by smartphones, which are capable of granting ‘tokens’ for visitors. <br> <br> All of these programs may not currently be available. Please contact your key account representative or a Business Service Representative at <a href=bsr@snopud.com or call 425-783-1012 to discuss available options.


Charging Next Steps


Engage with your local utility early-on in planning.
Significant utility service infrastructure changes may be required and need to be planned and completed in advance of the vehicle and charger delivery. Some fleet operations centers may present only a small profile (50-100kW) to local transformers and distribution lines today, but need to support high capacity (4-5MW) electric fueling loads tomorrow. Make sure to engage with your local utility early on in the planning process.

Commercial rebates, grants and rate programs are available.
As with the vehicles themselves, there are local, State, and Federal grant and rebate programs for EVSEs for both public and private. Electricity retailers are also starting to provide EV-specific rate plans, and even EVSE rebates. For more information on fleet electrification at scale and managed charging, visit the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Smart Charging resources.

For additional information please visit the Incentives and Programs page



Understanding EV maintenance informs total cost of ownership.




Electric vehicle fleets cost less to operate and maintain.
While initial buyer interest in EVs generally focuses on fuel savings from a total cost of ownership, operations and maintenance costs also represent a significant savings opportunity. Electricity is generally less expensive than gasoline and EVs are more efficient than gas-powered vehicles. Electric prices are also generally much more stable than gasoline prices. On a national average, it costs less than half as much to travel the same distance in an EV than a conventional vehicle. Your savings could be more substantial if your current gas powered vehicle gets poor mileage.



Electric vehicles are much simpler systems to maintain in comparison to internal combustion engines.
There are about 20 moving parts in an EV drivetrain, compared to 2000 in a combustion vehicle. Electric propulsion removes the need for spark plugs, fuel controls, oils or other fluids, and with regenerative braking systems, even wear and tear on braking costs are comparatively lower. With less moving parts to maintain, EV fleets save you money and time on replacement and service costs.

Change management requirements for in-house maintenance teams.
Although EVs do have many things in common with their internal combustion engine relatives, fleet conversion does require consideration for skill transition and equipment acquisition for in-house maintenance teams. If you’re moving into one of the ‘bleeding edge’ vehicle types, we recommend building a strong relationship with the manufacturer, including considering negotiating specific performance warranties.



Battery life is longer and range continues to grow.
Electric vehicle batteries are typically designed to last for the expected life of the vehicle, but battery life should be considered when calculating the extended cost of ownership, as all batteries eventually wear out and must be replaced. Battery replacement is typically costly, but as the EV market advances, improvements in battery performance and longevity are also increasing. Initially battery packs were extremely expensive, anticipated to have short life cycles, and were not all created equal. Today, EV batteries are warrantied for a minimum of 8 years or 100,000 miles, with others being 10 years and 150,000 miles, or even lifetime with unlimited miles for some use cases. The failure rate of electric vehicle batteries is extremely low. The cost of replacement has dropped significantly over the last 5 years and innovations in battery technology continue to point to lower costs and higher performance.


EV innovation will continue to deliver operational savings as the market matures.

The EV market has made considerable advancements and manufacturing improvements over the last several years. As the market matures, manufacturers are able to realize economies of scale that will likely result in increased longevity and performance over time.




Disclaimer
These facts are provided by ChooseEV. Some numbers and statistics in this content may be estimates and subject to interpretation. Many factors must be taken into account to determine the total cost of ownership of EV and traditional gas-powered vehicles. This information is provided for a general understanding of EV concepts and opportunities. Customers should review information from EV manufacturers before making a purchase decision.