Fleet Concerns for Constructing an EV Charging Technique – Gas Smarts
“Scaling Charging Infrastructure for Electrical Vehicles” panel on the Fleet Ahead Convention. Left to proper: Rob Hoysgaard of LeasePlan, Alec Cervenka of Kenworth, Brenden Harney of Proterra, Simon Horton of Edison Power and Darrell Kong, of Cradle Mountain Advisors.
Picture: Ross Stewart, RMS3Digital
As increasingly more trucking fleets start inserting orders for battery-electric vehicles, fleet managers should put together for supply and implementation into their operations. First step: charging infrastructure.
To keep away from a situation the place property are sitting upon supply as a result of correct charging isn’t in place, fleets ought to contemplate starting to plan for infrastructure wants about two years prematurely, mentioned Rob Hoysgaard, vice chairman of truck and tools at LeasePlan throughout a panel dialogue on scaling charging infrastructure for electrical vehicles in the course of the Fleet Ahead Convention in California on Nov. 10.
Establishing charging requires lengthy processes of allowing, coordinating with utilities, in addition to financing progress funds for building and {hardware}. This can be a course of that should begin with a spelled-out technique, mentioned Simon Horton, the electrical car infrastructure lead for Edison Power.
Earlier than even deciding the place the chargers shall be positioned at an operation, fleets ought to have a solution to those questions:
- What are you hoping these electrical vehicles are going to attain?
- Are these electrical vehicles designed to be a one-for-one substitute of present autos within the fleet?
- Are these electrical vehicles going to be working in several purposes than typical to your operation?
- Are you trying to optimize fleet operations by making a transition to electrical autos?
- What share of the fleet at a given depot goes to go electrical (or transition to a different different gasoline)? How is that share going to alter through the years?
- Will you be at this facility long-term?
- Are you going to wish a charger that’s utilized by a couple of class of auto?
“Be taught concerning the product and study concerning the know-how,” Horton mentioned. “Get driver buy-in, get operator buy-in, get web site operator by-in, and study that technique as you go. Design the infrastructure based mostly on that technique and design the infrastructure to have the ability to scale so that you have the chargers there when the autos arrive.”
Alternatively, planning too early or constructing an excessive amount of is the same drawback. You wouldn’t need a whole lot of hundreds of {dollars}’ price of infrastructure sitting idle both.
Simon Horton, electrical car infrastructure lead for Edison Power, discusses creating a technique for electrical car charging.
Picture: Ross Stewart, RMS3Digital
“There actually is a candy spot of auto supply and charger availability,” Horton mentioned.
Horton emphasizes {that a} technique shouldn’t be static.
“Your technique must be revisited periodically at totally different time limits,” he mentioned.
Establishing Charging for a Blended Fleet
With some planning, fleets working a combined fleet of passenger, medium- and heavy-duty fleets can plan to create charging infrastructure that serves all car sorts, says Alec Cervenka, Kenworth’s zero emissions gross sales supervisor.
“You’re in a position to make use of the identical charger for a Class 8 truck and a Class 6 field truck, somewhat Class 2 truck and a passenger automotive,” he mentioned. “Sure, there’s a variety of infrastructure that goes into it, a variety of plumbing… however you may conceivably repair your entire charging with one charger setup.”
Darrell Kong, principal for Cradle Mountain Advisors, mentioned “a one-for-one technique” [a single charger for a single type of vehicle] is dear, and sometimes means an underutilized asset.
“A totally utilized charger is a significantly better asset than a charger that’s solely make the most of eight hours a day and sits for 16 hours,” he mentioned.
