Pick the Best Electric Vehicle and Charging Plan
These questions may be frightening at first. Let’s look at a few things to consider and steps to take to best answer these questions.
Look at your drivers
When deciding which electric vehicle is best for your fleet, the driver should be the priority. If you want to be successful in converting some or all of your fleet, you need to make sure it’s a positive experience for the people who use the vehicles – the drivers. A dissatisfied driver can create a negative perception of electric vehicles and hinder the electrification of your fleet. A happy driver can do the opposite and drive the transition forward. Consider interviewing them, quizzing them, and just trying to think from their shoes. Identify which drivers are most receptive to driving an EV and assess their individual needs, existing knowledge and attitudes towards different EVs. In addition, a driver’s ability to charge at home, their daily driving range (e.g. not cross-country), and vehicle type are key to evaluating drivers and optimal charging plans that fit. Starting the EV journey with the right vehicles for the right drivers will help ensure the transition is a success.
Availability of research vehicles
Once you’ve focused on a few models as candidates for your fleet, you’ll want to develop a schedule for replacing existing vehicles. Will you simply add new EVs to your fleet when fuel fleet vehicles are phased out? Or are you replacing multiple vehicles at once and using different criteria to set the rollout schedule? If you’re replacing multiple vehicles (or an entire fleet) at once, you need to make sure you have access to EVs. They will compete with demand from consumers and other fleets. As manufacturers focus on meeting demand for electric vehicles, larger vehicles like trucks have an even more limited supply with even longer wait times.
Explore range issues and charging infrastructure
Range anxiety remains one of the biggest obstacles to EV adoption. Range anxiety is a common concern that affects drivers when first introduced to electric vehicles and can present a challenge if an appropriate plan is not in place. Ensuring an adequate range buffer and an optimal charging management plan helps to keep business as usual for both the company and the driver.
Awareness of where and how electric vehicles are charged will help turn driver fear into confidence. Consider selecting vehicles with ranges beyond your fleet’s normal duty cycle. The range must take into account different driving speeds, road conditions, vehicle sizes and the charging capacity of the electric vehicle. The fleet manager must consider how quickly a vehicle can be charged and where the vehicle can be charged when training drivers and creating a charging plan. Most drivers need the flexibility to charge both on the go and at home. And for the latter, a company needs to check whether the driver’s home is suitable for installing a charging station. House structure (single or multi-family house), power source, weather resistance are just a few factors that affect home charging ability.
What kind of load does your driver actually need?
It’s important to try and understand the different charging options and what your drivers need to complete their driving duties. A driver who charges at home overnight may only need a level 1 or 2 charge. However, a driver who needs to charge on the go will need a very fast charge (DCFC) to get on and off quickly. For example:
- Level 1 charging (1.3kW to 2.4kW) typically gives a range of up to 8 km per hour and takes around 24 hours for a full charge.
- Stage 2 charging (3kW to 19kW) typically delivers up to 28mph range and takes up to 8 hours for a full charge.
- Direct current fast chargers (DCFC) have a maximum output power of 350 kW and can be fully charged in just 1-2 hours.
Home charging offers convenience, flexibility and can be less disruptive to a driver’s workday. However, fleet managers should also allow drivers to charge on the go for ultimate flexibility and convenience.
Set up integrated payment and data management functions
Businesses want integrated payment and data management solutions, regardless of how their fleets operate – at home, on the highway, on conventional fuel or electric charging.
Comdata Mastercard®’s solution tracks and reports EV charging, including home charging.1 The reimbursement report calculates the housing costs of the employees2 to allow fleet managers to reimburse employees at home.3 Comdata The Mastercard solution also allows drivers to pe.g. B. on the way to electric charging where Mastercard is accepted.4
Don’t jump into fleet electrification without a plan on how to manage different types of charging, payments, and employee compensation calculations. Comdata® is your trusted advisor to help you manage your fleet – fuel, electric or both.
This article is supported by Comdata®.
1Applies to eligible connected vehicles only. Requires vehicle owner consent and enrollment in the connected vehicle program. Vehicle eligibility will be determined during program registration.
2 Calculations are estimates only and are not guaranteed by FLEETCOR, its products or its affiliates. Estimates vary based on average market costs, location, and your business’ actual billing patterns. Applies to eligible connected vehicles only. Requires vehicle owner consent and enrollment in the connected vehicle program. Vehicle eligibility will be determined during program registration.
3Requires employee application and acceptance of Comdata OnRoad card. Employees can transfer eCash funds from the Comdata OnRoad card to their bank account or use the card anywhere Mastercard is accepted.
4Accepted at public electric vehicle charging stations wherever Mastercard is accepted. Merchants are assigned a merchant category code by Mastercard and merchant category codes are subject to change. Merchants are categorized by Mastercard as fuel, maintenance, electric vehicle charging, or another merchant category code based on the type of goods or services offered
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