Using Data for an EV Transition That Stacks Up
WORDS BY EVENERGI
With rapid advancements in battery technology and charging speeds to autonomous vehicle capabilities and more , the electric vehicle ( EV ) industry is charging ahead in leaps and bounds . We continue to see the suitability for EVs in more and more applications , and are rapidly approaching the point where the economics of EVs make them the ideal choice in any circumstance , especially in passenger vehicles .
However , fleets transitioning to EVs - especially those with commercial vehicles - still face a number of challenges :
1 . Model availability and range for light commercial and heavy vehicles is still below what is needed to cover all daily operational needs
2 . Charging infrastructure installation costs , permissions , and required grid upgrades for the circuitry needed to power charging stations can be show stoppers
3 . Total Cost of Ownership ( TCO ) still not economically viable for all applications and vehicle types
With careful planning and data analysis , fleet operators can navigate these challenges to take an efficient and cost-effective approach to fleet decarbonisation without hindering fleet operations or overspending .
Firstly , be smart about what you electrify now . Although not all of your routes and vehicle types might be ideal for transitioning to EV technology today , it is likely that some of them are , and you need to identify which of your routes are best to start with based on the capabilities of the technology available . Instead of picking a unimportant pool vehicle that travels less than 10,000kms per year , identify the vehicles that cover enough distance to make back the additional upfront cost in fuel savings without surpassing the range capabilities of available EVs .
The trick is to use a robust analysis of the fleet to understand the “ Goldilocks Group ” within the fleet that gives you positive results now , with the current vehicles available . This will likely give you more than enough vehicles to electrify for the next couple of years . Then allow the continued increases in model availability , battery capacity , reduction in pricing and improvements in charging solutions to open up more vehicles for you over time .
30 ISSUE 46 APRIL 2024 / WWW . AFMA . ORG . AU