December 12, 2024
5 Strategies to Help Extend Your EV Fleet’s Range & Optimize Its Performance
5 Min. Read
For many fleet managers considering electrifying their fleet, concerns that switching to electric might restrict their fleet’s service area are typically top of the mind.
While these concerns do have some validity, with modern electric vehicles (EVs) having a median range of 300 miles, electric fleets now have an impressive reach and these fears are far from the reality they may have once represented. EV range has drastically improved, but maximizing their potential still depends on strategic charging practices.
In this article, we will explore five proven strategies to help extend your EV fleet’s range and optimize its performance.
Tip 1: Understanding Your Charging Needs and Options
Understanding your fleet’s charging needs is the first step in developing an effective charging strategy, and as a fleet manager, it is important for you to understand which EV charger is best suited for your fleet’s needs.
Level 1 charging adds 3 to 5 miles of range per hour, meaning that a full charge for an EV with a 300-mile range, could take over two days, while a PHEV with an electric range of 40 miles would take about 8 hours to charge. In contrast, Level 2 chargers significantly reduce charging times. For the same EV and PHEV, full charges would take about 5 hours and 2–3 hours to charge respectively.
Since ranges can vary based on factors such as traffic conditions, fleet telematics remains the best way to assess your exact driving and range needs.
You should start by gathering key information, including defining your area of operation, determining when charging is available to drivers, and assessing how many miles need to be replenished both during active hours and downtime.
With a clear understanding of your charging needs and options, you’ll be better equipped to explore and implement fleet electrification strategies.
Tip 2: Partnerships with Other Businesses
With commercial EV charging on the rise, more businesses are investing in developing a charging infrastructure, including parking garages and car rental businesses. The hospitality industry is also embracing this technology, with many hotels offering EV chargers as an added perk.
Partnering with these businesses can provide your electric fleet vehicles with access to a network of charging points strategically located throughout your service area.
Partnerships can be structured in various forms, such as monthly payments for guaranteed access to the chargers or flexible payments based on the kWh usage. You can also offer partners access to your own charging infrastructure in exchange, to expand both of your service areas.
Leveraging these partnerships with other businesses will extend your EV fleet’s service area and support fleet electrification at the local level. However, it’s essential to avoid forming partnerships with direct competitors to maintain a competitive edge.
Tip 3: Partnerships With Private Charging Networks
Private charging networks are expanding public access to EV charging nationwide by offering DC Fast charging and Level 2 charging locations that charge per-kWh or hourly rates.
Partnering with these networks can give your electric fleet access to convenient charging options in various locations, including street charging in urban areas, highway charging, and charging at parking garages.
Negotiating preferred prices and priority access is key when partnering with charging networks, especially at busy locations. It’s equally important to negotiate guaranteed uptime to ensure access to reliable charging and to pick a network that invests in routine maintenance and has a licensed EV charger installation partner that manages uptime.
This approach is a proven strategy for boosting satisfaction among drivers. In 2017, ride-sharing platform Maven Gig introduced EVs rentals to their drivers in three California cities. Thanks to a partnership providing drivers with discounted charging at EVgo locations, EVs quickly become the most requested vehicles in their fleet.
Tip 4: Public-Private Partnerships
Municipalities often offer public charging options next to public buildings, schools, street parking, or parks.
You can reach out to your local government to learn more about current and upcoming charging projects. Paying a small monthly fee for guaranteed access can help finance these local electrification projects while also expanding your charging network via a public-private partnership. Additionally, charging your business’s vehicles in public locations can enhance awareness and help shape a positive brand image.
While these can be a great addition to a flexible charging network, due to the limited options offered by municipalities, a public-private partnership shouldn’t be your primary strategy for expanding your EV fleet range.
Tip 5: Company Charging Sites
Establishing company charging sites gives you the most control over your EV fleet charging infrastructure. These stations act as centralized hubs for drivers and can be expanded across additional business locations or even at drivers’ homes, effectively extending your fleet’s electric range.
To maximize the benefits of company charging sites, maintenance is key. Partner with a licensed EV charging station installer to ensure regular inspections and routine maintenance to guarantee consistent uptime.
Additionally, you’ll also need to adopt tracking and security measures to limit access and ensure only authorized drivers are using the charging stations.
If you install a charging station in the homes of your drivers, adding a separate meter of other tracking devices to monitor work-related electrical use can help you determine a reimbursement strategy.
While company charging sites are a valuable asset, their high upfront costs mean they’re most effective when combined with other strategies, such as leveraging partnerships or utilizing private charging networks to expand your service area.
At-Home Charging for Drivers
An at-home charging program can be more affordable than a central charging hub since the electrical upgrades needed won’t be a major project. Plus, residential electric rates can be lower in the future as fleet electrification will increase consumption in commercial areas.
At-home charging offers a convenient experience for drivers who can charge their fleet vehicles overnight. With a smart route optimization strategy in place, you can then assign routes based on each driver’s residence or have drivers stop at a co-worker’s home for a quick charge in the middle of their route.
Fleet electrification companies can help you roll out a great at-home charging program—with installation tailored to the home of each driver, ongoing maintenance for the at-home chargers, and remote software that tracks energy consumption to accurately reimburse drivers for charging.
Plan Your Fleet Electrification Project with Qmerit
Each of these strategies has both its advantages and limitations. The key to a high-performing EV fleet is to implement several complementary charging strategies to build a flexible charging network that expands your service area.
Qmerit is here to help you start planning your fleet electrification project. Our Budget Builder tool is an AI-powered platform that generates accurate pricing for your project while taking installation complexities into consideration.
As the largest and most trusted electrification network in North America, our network of certified electricians has installed over 450,000 EV charging stations in homes and businesses across the U.S. and Canada.
We’ve earned our reputation as the most experienced and high-quality electrification service and EV charger installation network and can help make your transition easy with our experience and commitment to your business.
Contact Qmerit today to learn how we can support your fleet electrification project with home EV charging or workplace charging solutions.
