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Electric vehicles (EVs) are gaining traction in all types of corporate and commercial fleets with a variety of vehicles. More people are talking about electric vehicles, prices are dropping, range is increasing, and the U.S. federal government and local governments are adding them en masse to their fleets, which normalizes the prospect of adopting them.

While today’s electric vehicles are mostly retail level, the market is seeing an influx of investment and development of commercial vans and trucks of all sizes.

Overall, a fleet operation should make a strong business case for electric vehicles based on the vehicles to be deployed. That means ensuring they have the correct hauling and range capacities, needed cargo space, and the right onboard telematics to coordinate the performance and logistical purposes of the vehicle.

General Deciding Factors

Broadly, there are four considerations that fleet managers should make when evaluating if an EV is right for their operation:

  1. Safety, reliability, and uptime are major factors driving decisions along with how well EVs align with corporate values and missions, which ultimately drive EV adoption.
  2. A fleet operation should learn from other companies using EVs, and closely test drive and review their vehicles.
  3. Look for EVs that enable you to learn, adapt and pivot, since the market overall is headed to electric.
  4. Companies planning to transition and phase in electric vehicles over time should consider their budgets, battery and fuel costs, infrastructure, driving behavior, routing, and electrical features in choosing which EV makes and models to acquire.

Click here to learn more about how the ELMS Urban Delivery Van can meet your last-mile delivery needs.

Pursuing Fleet Electrification

A recent Rocky Mountain Institute survey found that most fleet managers expect to adopt electric models for most of their light-duty cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs over the next decade. Most organizations have committed to reducing their carbon emissions by choosing EVs for new vehicle purchases where they are deemed to be suitable for a given use case and duty cycle.

Electrifying a fleet involves a more organized and sweeping process that affects all functions of a company or operation. Done right, an electrified fleet can save significant sums of money, reduce carbon footprints, and use energy more efficiently.

Here are some key steps fleet owners, operators, and managers should take when moving toward electrification, and to determine if they are ready:

  • Establish a budgeting process to estimate EV costs over a vehicle lifetime to ascertain total cost of ownership (TCO) savings.
  • Find out from your local utility how to optimize charging around the time-of-use rates and avoid demand charges. Learn about local grid capacity and reliability.
  • Identify potential electric vehicles for your fleet by comparing the performance and feasibility of different models to understand which ones best suit your transportation needs and cost structure.
  • Whether transitioning a large or small fleet, an operation should create a long-term usage and budget plan for adoption of EVs.
  • Based on your long-term plan, identify when vehicles will charge, how many, and what types of chargers will be required.
  • During installation of your first chargers, future proof by doing trenching and wiring required for future charging infrastructure.
  • Obtain training for all staff who need to learn about EVs and charging.
  • Engage with dealers and manufacturers, especially if required to buy from an approved vendor list.
  • Identify rebates and grants available for electric vehicle purchases.

The Electric Last Mile Solution (ELMS)

Since the global pandemic arose early last year, the demand for all types of home and business delivery and cargo transport has multiplied across ground transportation, fleet, and logistics sectors. These accelerating trends are coinciding with the next phase of electric vehicle evolution as their ranges increase, batteries gain more capacity, and TCO declines.

Designed by Electric Last Mile Solutions (ELMS), the Urban Delivery Class 1 electric van combines the right mix of must-haves for a viable EV that can handle the routine demands of daily light delivery and local cargo transfer. The market for urban delivery vans is projected to double over the next five years, reflecting a likely permanent shift in consumer purchasing patterns.

The ELMS EV Urban/Cargo Delivery Van offers a range of 150-200 miles, cargo capacity of 170 cu.-ft., a curb weight of 3,329 lbs., and maximum payload of 2,403 lbs., making it ideal for every type and size of fleet-dependent business, whether a global delivery operation or a local florist.

Click here to learn more about how the ELMS Urban Delivery Van can meet your last-mile delivery needs.