Transitioning to a Commercial EV Fleet a Matter of Adaptation

Meet Alejandro, who manages a fleet of 3,000 trucks at a last-mile delivery company in Mexico. He and his team are recognized within the company for their operational excellence and efficiency. Alejandro watches a corporate video message from their CEO presenting the company’s target to electrify 15% of their fleet in the next three to four years. Alejandro and his team celebrate this challenge with a strong sense of commitment to help reduce emissions in their operations and contribute to the planet as an added motivation.

Soon after the video is over, Alejandro sits with his team and discusses how to address the electrification challenge. They agree to sound out the market for electric truck and charging infrastructure alternatives. A week later, the team gets back together, aware that this transition will not be easy. “There are only a few options, and even so, very little performance data for these new electric trucks is available,” says one member. “We are not sure how our drivers should operate these vehicles; will they make their day on a single charge?” replies another. “How about chargers? Who can handle that internally?” Simon, the company’s head of operations, arrives at the meeting room and asks the team, “Guys, are we ready?” New questions are added to the list: How fast do the EV trucks charge? What is the range? What are the safety features? What is their lifetime? What is the OEM’s record? How about maintenance and warranty? Looking at the team’s faces, Simon also realizes this will not be a simple task.

Fleets interested in going electric have a goal, but they also have a challenge: this transition requires looking at vehicles and operations in a completely different way. No longer are vehicles fueled in a quick stopover at the gas station; no longer can they run on any route with little planning; no longer can they be parked anywhere overnight at the depot. The new electric trucks require new knowledge and new routines. Charging should be planned and performed overnight; routes must be analyzed and the fleet allocated according to the required range. It is clear that a new approach is needed, one that provides Alejandro, Simon, and all parties involved, the information they need to make informed decisions from day one. 

As fleet managers, we need to take a crash course on fleet electrification and become EV evangelizers within our organizations. Important details cannot be left to fate. We want to avoid frustration when new electric vehicles are purchased, only to later realize that the electrical infrastructure is not ready, and the fleet has to wait. We cannot randomly choose any logistics center and later have the power request to the utility denied because the grid capacity is insufficient. We cannot design the charging solution in isolation, disregarding connection standards, protocols, and communications. And we cannot leave drivers to discover on their own that their dashboard is new and that they need to adapt their driving style.

For this reason, I’ve come up with the following questions that will help your organization understand what is needed to successfully transition to an electric fleet:

• Can I still use the same delivery box in the EV? Can I modify the chassis to accommodate the box design I’ve used for years?

• What range in kilometers do I need to operate most of my routes? Will I still need this range in 10 years’ time? Remember that like cellphones, EV batteries lose 20-30% of their capacity by 8-10 years of age. So, if you buy a truck that gives you 100km today, it will give you between 70 and 80km of range later on.

• How long is the time window to recharge the vehicles? Do I have space available to have a charger per vehicle all night or do I need to charge two vehicles per charger? This simple detail will have an impact on the depot’s flow and layout. In addition, make sure you select a charging speed or power enough to leave an hour of rest and avoid using fast-charging when not required as these solutions come at a high price.

• Is the distribution center where I plan to charge the vehicles located in densely populated areas? This is important to account for since grid power feasibility is closely related to the premises’ location.

• When do I plan to roll out my electric fleet? Implementing charging takes time. Make sure to allow six to eight months for charging infrastructure to be ready and operational while negotiating delivery times for your new electric fleet.

• Does the company selling the vehicles offer after-sales support locally? How long will it take for key components to arrive when needed?

• Can the OEM guarantee that the vehicle will always charge? Can they certify my charging solution to serve my fleet with no risk?

• Can I access the drivetrain data for the battery and electric motor? Information will play a key role in EVs since you will be able to predict failures in traction systems and batteries before it is too late, with the right tools.

It may seem difficult, but believe me, it is not. It is a matter of finding the right people and partners who can support you and your company in this transition. For the past year, Mexican companies like MegaFlux have focused on providing integrated solutions to customers who wish to transition to electric fleets in their businesses. This is done by fitting the vehicle’s configuration to the operational needs, understanding the charging infrastructure prerequisites, and helping companies execute their plans on time and within budget.