The integration of electric vehicles (EVs) into fleet operations presents an array of new challenges - especially for smaller municipalities without full time fleet managers. As sustainability and cost reduction become paramount, organizations face increasing pressure to work on electrifying the vehicles they are responsible for. But switching to EVs involves so much more than just buying new all-electric cars, trucks, and SUVs, and many people responsible for managing fleets - whether municipal or corporate - have questions about the best way to approach the novel challenge of fleet electrification. In this article, we address five of the most commonly asked questions we hear from organizations at the start of their fleet electrification journey.

Question 1: When should municipalities consider purchasing EVs for their fleet(s)?

When it comes to planning for the transition to electric vehicles, the sooner the better, especially as many municipalities need to plan vehicle procurement a year in advance for budget purposes. Given the many economic incentives available for early adoption and the supply chain issues that make getting desired EVs more time consuming, fleet managers and municipal administrators should begin investigating and planning for electric vehicles as soon as possible. That said, there is no need to replace all vehicles in a fleet at one time. Gradual adoption, replacing old vehicles with EVs as they reach the end of their service life, is a common approach, but can lead to missed savings opportunities. The decision to purchase EVs should to take into consideration the fleet's needs, any binding replacement policies, and the available replacement options, of course. However, fiscal prudence also requires a new analysis of the potential financial benefits of faster adoption, including total cost of ownership (TCO) due to reduced fuel and maintenance costs and available grants and incentives that can bring down costs, as these can change the preferred timetable for adoption significantly. It is for this reason that we encourage all municipalities that have not done so to start with a comprehensive Fleet Situation and Options Report.

Question 2: Do EVs offer sufficient range for fleet applications, particularly for vehicles traveling long distances?

Electric vehicle manufacturers have significantly improved EV range capabilities in recent years. The average battery electric vehicle (BEV) now gets 219 miles per charge, with some EVs like the Tesla Model S and Lucid Air clocking in over 400 miles, making them more than suitable for many light-duty commercial and passenger fleets. The average gas vehicle, for comparison, gets 250-300 miles before needing a refill. However, medium- and heavy-duty sectors may require a more nuanced evaluation, considering factors such as vehicle class and application-specific requirements. It's crucial to select the right vehicle for job fit, and factor in additional conditions like temperature, payload, and speed, which can impact an EV's usable range.

Question 3: How can municipal decision makers determine which vehicles make the most financial sense to replace with EVs first?

Electric vehicles can help cities and towns of all sizes save thousands of dollars a year thanks to their lower fuel and maintenance costs, even before factoring in the many grants and incentives now available. To create a vehicle transition prioritization plan in an informed way requires some basic data about the current gas fleet, including vehicle ages, daily driving distances, carrying capacity, dwell times, as well as a review of the local replacement policies. Vehicles with predictable routes and sufficient annual mileage to generate fuel cost savings are often the best candidates for early electrification. The MoveEV fleet management tool provides a vehicle-level analysis and projects the optimal date for each fleet vehicle to convert to electric. While it is true that the better the data going in to the decision the more accurate the outcome, it is possible to create a plan based on averages and assumptions in the absence of a robust management system and use history. At MoveEV, we work with what municipalities have and help them improve from there.

Question 4: How should municipal fleet managers decide between battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs)?

All things being equal, MoveEV generally advocates for all-electric models because of their lower emissions and operating costs. However, BEVs are not currently appropriate for all use cases or fleet applications. 100% electric vehicles are generally suitable if they can meet daily driving requirements of the fleet driver on a single charge, have ample dwell times for charging, or the driver travel routes that are generally well-populated with charging stations. Plug-in hybrids may be more suitable for longer or less predictable routes as they run on electric for short distances and switch over to gas when needed.

Questions 5: How can municipalities determine the number of chargers needed to support their electric fleet vehicles?

The need to install charging infrastructure is one of the biggest obstacles hindering the transition to EVs in this country. The most conservative estimates require a 1-to-1 installation, but in truth, many fleets can do with far fewer chargers than vehicles. Municipalities should consider vehicle dwell time, charger types, and garage locations when determining the number of chargers required. It may be helpful to think about municipal fleets by department (police, health and human services, etc.) or by overnight parking location(s). Multiple vehicles can often share the same charger if their dwell times allow for scheduling. MoveEV can help you figure out your fleets real needs todays and accurately project how they will change over time.

Does your municipality need support thinking about the move to EVs? Contact us!