Fleet Vehicle Electrification: Addressing Common Challenges
Electric vehicles are more common than ever. As that shift occurs, fleet vehicle electrification projects can bring many benefits, both financial and environmental. Companies are using electric vehicles for service visits, last mile delivery or business travel, depending on the nature of their business. In doing so, they are saving money and make a positive impact on the environment.
However, the benefits of fleet electrification can only be conveyed with the appropriate infrastructure to support fleets. This includes where to source power, and how to make sure systems are properly protected from downtime risks. Every situation is different, and it’s important for anyone exploring electrification to examine the specific business environment for their company, and any unique considerations like location, availability of power and willingness of leadership to make investments in e-mobility technology.
Improving Technology, Improving Returns
There are a few factors that make now an interesting time to explore fleet electrification. For one, electric vehicle and battery technology is improving. Over the last decade, lithium-ion battery costs have declined, and are projected to keep declining, which is creating opportunities for companies to integrate more battery technologies into their installations, as well as improving the battery technology used in vehicles themselves. Modern EVs are very viable for use in vehicle fleets with strong range, fast charging and broad acceptance from consumers. EVs aren’t going anywhere—the National Electrical Manufacturing Association (NEMA) anticipates there will be 55 million light-duty EVs on the road by 2035.
Additionally, the increasing availability of public charging infrastructure is improving the environment for fleet EVs. While fleet vehicles should primarily be charged at fleet depots, public charging infrastructure can offer a backstop and extend the range of electrified fleets, allowing vehicles to be used for more distant tasks. As EV charging infrastructure continues to grow, vehicle fleets can continue to supplement their own charging infrastructure with taking advantage of public sites.
Challenges to Electrification
Fleet vehicle electrification is an investment and the costs associated with building charging infrastructure can be high, even while the prices of EVs continue to decline. The long-term financial benefits of fleet electrification can be dramatically improved by setting up on-site microgrids that include renewable generation to charge fleets. Fleet electrification can certainly work without onsite renewables, but generating electricity to support your fleet creates cost efficiencies that can really add up.
The other big challenge of fleet vehicle electrification is less of a barrier and more of a key consideration. Planning an electric fleet buildout over time is certainly the best approach to EV adoption, but long-term thinking is key. Companies can start with a few vehicles and a charger, but must keep potential growth in mind as they’re adding infrastructure. For example, make sure to locate charging stations in a part of the property where cabling can be run across grass instead of under a parking lot so it can be dug up without breaking concrete. Lay the groundwork for EV infrastructure with more wiring and conduit than you need to give your project breathing room to scale. Fleet, facilities and IT managers also all need to be on the same page to coordinate efforts without causing confusion. It can be very beneficial to have one person coordinating construction and permitting who can keep a view of the entire operation. Where possible, try to limit the number of different skilled tradespeople on the job as well to preserve expertise.
This point person can also be useful in keeping an eye on the regulatory and policy environment for EVs. With different incentives and government support available depending on where you are in the world, project managers need to make sure they are up to date on local regulations when planning projects.
Microgrids Are Critical
Energy storage is essential for fleet vehicle electrification that takes advantage of renewable energy because it decouples energy production from use. Variable renewable energy generation coming from sources like solar isn’t always available directly from the source, but fleet vehicles need charging available 24/7. Building energy storage and renewable microgrids bridges this gap. Bringing renewables and energy storage into fleet vehicle installations can provide benefits outside of vehicle charging as well—if vehicles are not in use, or don’t need to be charged, companies can sell excess power back into the grid.
However, even without renewables integrated into fleet charging infrastructure, energy storage can improve the financial math for electric fleets through peak shaving and charging optimization. Electrified vehicle fleets can use energy storage installations to lower energy costs by using stored power when grid energy is expensive, and recharge energy storage units when grid power is cheaper. This smart charging infrastructure makes it easier to justify investment in EV fleets and can save companies money. It also helps contribute to a more reliable and resilient electrical grid by reducing demand during times when the rest of the users on the grid are using a lot of power. Energy storage also adds energy resilience to vehicle fleets in the case of outages or extreme weather. For these reasons, over the next 15 years, the amount of storage connected into the U.S. electricity grid will grow by 1100%, per NEMA.
Safety and Reliability Beyond the Charger
When bringing more electric technologies into building and facility infrastructure, it is extremely important to ensure that systems are appropriately protected and grounded. Current always flows through the path of the lowest impedance, and even the most well-designed electrical systems can be at risk of fault currents from lightning, equipment malfunctions or surges from power sources. Good grounding and bonding systems consider soil conditions, seasonal patterns and other unique site differences. This improves safety for people working with and around EV charging installations.
Enclosures also play a pivotal role in enhancing the resiliency of charging infrastructure by protecting sensitive electrical components and keeping them operational under various conditions. Enclosures protect equipment against environmental factors such as extreme temperatures, moisture, dust and debris. Enclosures also enhance safety by preventing accidental contact with live electrical parts and also offer physical security against vandalism and theft.
Enclosures equipped with advanced thermal management systems, such as liquid cooling, also help manage the heat generated by high-power components, preventing overheating, and ensuring efficient operation. Compliance with industry standards and regulations is a critical consideration, as certified enclosures meet legal and insurance requirements, contributing to the safe operation of EV charging infrastructure.
For all technologies, both those directly related to vehicle charging and those supporting charging installations, modularity and scalability are key. Facility managers need to make sure they work with OEMs that offer designs that can be easily scaled up to meet future demand without costly rework and downtime.
nVent's engineering expertise and products give our customers a reliable partner for every step of the process when supporting e-mobility applications. We support EV charging stations and infrastructure to meet power delivery and protection needs. Learn more about our offerings: E-Mobility | nVent
