EV myth: “EVs are not practical for fleets and they only come in sedans”

In this episode of Your EV Power Source, hosts Scott Barrios and Amy Flower are joined by Matt Stephens-Rich, director of technical services at the Electrification Coalition, to debunk the myth that EVs are not practical for fleets and only come in sedans. They cover topics such as the increasing availability of EV models, the importance of considering the total cost of ownership, as well as barriers and solutions for charging infrastructure.
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Episode Highlights:

[04:27] - While the initial focus was on light-duty vehicles, the EV industry is now expanding into heavier-duty applications, including school and transit buses, thanks to improvements in battery chemistries that offer longer ranges and faster charging times. These advancements make EVs more cost-effective and attractive to both new and traditional manufacturers, leading to a wider variety of electric vehicles on the market.
[09:44] - Whether it's school buses, transit vehicles, or municipal fleets, when electrifying your fleet, focus on finding the best-fit technology and understanding the total cost of ownership. Start by identifying the specific needs of your operations, such as vehicles for light-duty tasks or those requiring long-range capabilities. For effective fleet electrification, consider the vehicle's range, especially in extreme weather conditions. Moreover, don't forget to plan for procurement to ensure cost-effectiveness and successful deployment. Also, prioritize the setup of charging infrastructure from the outset, working closely with utility providers to ensure power availability as you scale.
[16:12] - Electrification offers a stable and lower cost for fueling fleet vehicles, with electricity being more price-consistent and cheaper than gasoline or diesel. Additionally, EVs have drastically fewer moving parts, leading to reduced maintenance needs and costs, which helps save on parts and labor and keeps vehicles operational and on the road more often.
[24:25] - EV technology is rapidly advancing, bringing significant changes to both light and heavy-duty vehicle operations. With the introduction of high-speed DC fast charging stations along interstates and key routes, traveling from city to city or even state to state in an EV is becoming more accessible than ever. Moreover, the support from federal and state incentives, such as the $7.5 billion allocated for charging infrastructure and various tax credits for new and used EVs, is essential in driving this development.
[33:08] - Initially, charging at the depot was preferred for its cost-effectiveness. However, the necessity for flexibility, especially for vehicles not returning to the depot daily or those with higher battery capacity, has widened the approach. Public charging is increasingly considered for its convenience and for supporting a diverse range of fleet operations, including vehicles spread across different locations. Additionally, public charging providers are developing fleet-specific plans, similar to fuel cards, offering simplified and cost-effective solutions.

Quotes:

“What's really exciting about the battery technology, as we do improve the battery chemistries and key focuses are longer range as well as higher charging speed, just the ability to put more wear and tear on the battery tech. What's great about that is that it is able to scale that into those higher, heavier duty applications.”
“One cool thing about an electrified drive train versus an internal combustion engine is it is very efficient. So while the battery technology does ultimately improve, it helps really give us good operational range, which can easily be the majority of operators, depending on what the duty cycle is on a daily basis.”
“For an internal combustion engine, so the gasoline or diesel going into the engine, you're only ever getting 10-25-30%, if you're lucky, of that energy actually turning into motion. The rest is lost as heat friction. What's great about the electrified option is that we're looking at 80-90% energy transfer that goes to actual motion. And that's the exciting part, especially as we look at the heavier-duty options.”
“What's really exciting about electricity is the price is constant and relatively cheap compared to gasoline and diesel. So if you look at a gasoline gallon equivalent, that is the amount of energy in one gallon of gasoline compared to a quote-unquote gallon of electricity. The national average is about $1.10 to $1.30 a gasoline gallon equivalent.”

Episode Resources:

Matt Stephens-Rich on LinkedIn
Electrification Coalition Website
EV Funding Finder Website

Connect with the guest:

Matt Stephens-Rich on LinkedIn

Considering switching to electric:

Calculate savings, find chargers near you and learn about more resources to help make switching to electric easy at https://emobility.entergy.com/

Learn more about incentives for EV charging infrastructure for Entergy customers at https://emobility.entergy.com/business