The electric vehicle industry is progressively growing. The technology is developing, and many logistics companies play with the idea of adding electric vehicles to their fleet. This is a big decision, and although there are many benefits, you should not rush into making it. Here are a couple of essential things to consider before adding electric vehicles to your fleet.
Like everything else, EV technology is also developing at a rapid pace. We now have connected cars, fast charging technology, smart charging, and many other amazing features.
There is also an increase in sales of electric vehicles. For 2019, the sales of electric cars were at 2.6%, for 2020 at 4.3%, and for the last year, they jumped to 7.2%. Even though this is just a small portion of cars sold in the US, there is a growing need for electric vehicles. Using given metrics, the forecast tells us that, by the end of 2028, the EV market will have a growth in sales of 35%, with over 2.9 million electric vehicles hitting US roads. Just by looking at the numbers, it makes perfect sense that the adoption of electric vehicles in commercial fleets is one of the top fleet management trends for 2022.
Should you go for electric or hybrid vehicles?
An alternative to electric vehicles is hybrid vehicles. Let's break down the main differences between the two.
An electric vehicle converts the battery power into electric energy. Instead of the internal combustion engine, you have the electric motor. You need to connect the motor to a charging station to charge the vehicle.
As their name suggests, hybrid vehicles use a combination of fossil fuels and electric energy. A gas or diesel engine works in sync with the electric motor for increased fuel economy and overall performance. The difference here is also in charge. You don't need to connect the electric motor to a charging station because the battery is charging itself with thermal energy.
There is also an alternative called plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, or PHEV. It works similarly to a conventional hybrid model, but it has a larger battery, requiring a connection to a charging station. The benefit of PHEV vehicles is that they can cover more considerable distances before running out of electricity and switching to fuel. However, the best practice is to charge the vehicles regularly and not allow them to run out of electricity. This increases fuel economy.
Whether you decide to go with EVs or hybrid vehicles, you will still substantially reduce fuel usage and costs.
One of the most significant pain points when adding electric vehicles to your fleet is the upfront cost. However, if you look at the big picture and long-term goals, electric vehicles are cheaper.
If you go fully electric, there are no fuel costs. Furthermore, you will have fewer parts that require a replacement. Even the parts that need maintenance wear out much slower. That means that even your maintenance costs will significantly drop over time. And, when it comes to the cost of electricity per mile, it is about 50% cheaper than the cost of fuel.
Another common topic of discussion is the safety and reliability of electric vehicles. Even though there are many different opinions about this topic, it is best to look at the feedback from consumers. Per consumeropinion.org, there are no fundamental differences in reliability and safety between electric cars and gas or diesel vehicles. It all comes down to how much money you invest in the quality of the vehicle and how well you take care of it.
The only real difference, as we said in the previous section, is the reduced need for maintenance.
Just to give you a little perspective, the most crucial part of the electric vehicle, which is the car battery, can last from 10 to 20 years before it requires a replacement.
Commercial companies that operate large vehicle fleets have a lot of drivers. All drivers need to have a valid driving license and experience in driving. If you decide to switch to electric vehicles, a very natural question to pose is if the drivers will require any additional training. Is driving an electric vehicle different?
One good thing is that driving an electric vehicle is easy. However, it is different from driving a fuel-powered vehicle. First, it will take some time for the drivers to get used to the weight of an electric vehicle. It is heavier, and that will affect its top speed performance. Also, just the general feel of driving is a little different. However, there is no special training required. Furthermore, it is not that difficult to switch to driving electric vehicles, so you should not be concerned with this.
If your fleet manages small distances, electric vehicles will be ideal for this. However, when it comes to longer rides, you need to know that a battery can last for about 150 miles before it needs to be recharged. Also, the charging time is a little bit longer, especially during cold weather. Depending on the vehicle, it can take anywhere from 1 to 6 hours to charge an electric vehicle. Furthermore, the charging stations require a specific plug, not a regular one. Even though you will improve the efficiency of your fleet, you need to be aware of this. There are currently around 110 thousand charger ports in the US, which is not enough. But, it is expected for this number to go up in the years to come.
Here is what we have covered so far:
electric vehicles in your fleet will reduce fuel and maintenance costs over time;
Based on everything, we can say that adding electric vehicles to your fleet is worth it if we consider the rapid development in this area. You might be struggling now if you are driving across the US, but you will build a solid base that will grow stronger as the overall conditions become better. The best benefit is that your company will save money in the long run.