Three Key Questions for EV Fleet Charging

More and more businesses are reaping the benefits from shifting to electric vehicle (EV) fleets. Mastering efficient EV fleet charging ensures smooth operations, cost savings, and long-term sustainability.

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The world’s electric fleets continue to grow at a rapid pace. The many benefits that businesses of all sizes can reap from switching to electric vehicles (EVs) is a key.

EV fleet charging is a central aspect of successfully transitioning to electric vehicles, and benefits range from cost savings to reduced emissions.

Fleet managers must understand the details of optimising EV fleet charging infrastructure and strategies. Creating an overview and launchpad for success starts with identifying best practices and finding answers to key questions.

The benefits of optimal EV fleet charging

Optimising the charging setup for EV fleets has many benefits for fleet operators.

Perhaps the most critical aspect is cost savings. Most EV vehicles are currently more expensive to buy than similar fossil-fuelled vehicles. However, lower operational costs, especially on fuel (electricity), lead to substantial savings compared to investing in a diesel-powered vehicle.

EV fleets also markedly reduce carbon emissions, including zero emissions at the tailpipe level. As the energy industry integrates more renewable energy sources, these climate savings will continue to rise.

EV fleet charging can also help fleet managers comply with current and future regulations covering logistics and transport. Many countries are introducing stricter emissions targets for these industries, and optimal EV charging can be vital for companies to achieve these goals.

Operational efficiency is another area where optimal EV charging is a plus. Smoother operations without delays due to unforeseen charging increase driver satisfaction, the ability to stay on schedule, and overall customer satisfaction.

How can I calculate my EV fleet charging needs?

The top-level starting point for calculating the optimal EV fleet charging setup is looking at transportation needs. This should include both your fleet’s current and future needs, including:

Fleet size and combination: What types and combinations of EVs will match your needs and deliver optimal operational and financial results.
Daily mileage: The total distances covered, the nature of the routes in terms of elevation, congestion, etc. and the energy needed based on average daily results.
Charger power: The combination of chargers that can recharge vehicles within operational schedules.
Simultaneous charging: Ensuring that the electrical infrastructure and physical charging setup can support the number of vehicles that may need charging at the same time.
Current energy infrastructure: Connections to the energy grid and whether connections need to be upgraded, including the timeline, given EV-related grid congestions.

Due to the complex nature of the calculations, many fleet managers will stand to benefit from working with third-party experts. However, they can lead to large extra costs. A strong alternative is deploying software solutions that can cost-effectively calculate the optimal EV fleet charging setup.

What charging infrastructure does my EV fleet need?

Robust charging infrastructure is the backbone of your operations, keeping EV fleets running smoothly. Charging infrastructure revolves around the chargers themselves, the systems used for charging, and the connections to power supplies.

As with overall considerations, charging infrastructure planning should keep an eye on future fleet needs.

Some of the areas to study include:

Battery sizes: Ensuring battery capacity matches vehicles’ duty cycles to avoid unnecessary range anxiety, longer charging times, or oversized batteries.
Flexible charging: Implementing a mix of depot and on-the-go charging to minimise downtime and optimise fleet efficiency.
Fast-charging stations: High-power fast chargers in the right locations to provide rapid vehicle turnaround when needed.
Load management: Load balancing systems and advanced charging solutions can help distribute energy usage across time and chargers, minimising costs and charging infrastructure needs.
Advanced smart charge systems: Integrating smart charging systems helps optimise the timing and efficiency of charging, including charging when energy costs are lowest.

As with EV fleet charging needs, infrastructure planning and development an area with many moving parts and potential pitfalls. Happily, there are solutions available for calculating these areas.

How do I ensure charging setup and EV fleets match?

Fleet charging and infrastructure needs will depend heavily on the needs and composition of your EV fleets. For example, smaller EV fleets, like a handful of electric vans for last-mile delivery, have vastly different requirements – and optimal setup – from those of a city bus company.

While flexible and efficient charging solutions are priorities for both, the nature of chargers and charging schedules are different. To ensure that your charging setup and fleets match, some of the key considerations will depend on the size of the fleet and the types of vehicles.

Key charging considerations for smaller EV fleets and vehicles

Some of the key considerations for smaller electric vehicles and EV fleet sizes include the following:

Fleet charging scheduling and management: Ensure cost-effective smart charging with flexible software to monitor vehicle usage and manage charging schedules efficiently.
The role of home and workplace charging: By combining home and workplace charging options, smaller fleets can take advantage of low-cost overnight rates.
Payment solutions: Smaller fleets can consider whether public charging infrastructure or charging networks are more cost-effective.
Telematics: Identify telematics options that help calculate and monitor performance over time.
Modular Charging Systems: For growing smaller fleets, using modular charging systems that can be easily expanded as the fleet size increases allows for future scalability without large initial investments.

Key charging considerations for larger EV fleets and vehicles

Some of the key considerations for larger electric vehicles and EV fleet sizes include the following:

DC fast chargers: Larger fleets will need efficient charging systems that support the higher energy needs of these vehicles while minimising downtime.
Grid compatibility: Ensure the local grid and connections to local infrastructure can handle the increased energy demand from multiple fast chargers.
Microgrids: Consider if an on-site microgrid with renewable energy and storage can help lower energy costs.
Scalability: Most larger fleets will introduce EVs in steps. Ensuring solutions match future needs is critical for overall ROI and minimising extra costs.
Fleet combinations: For larger vehicles, using the right-size batteries is crucial based on their duty cycles. Oversized batteries increase costs, while undersized batteries can lead to range anxiety and operational inefficiencies.