Vehicle electrification tends to be a polarizing topic in the fleet industry. On one hand, supporters of electric trucks argue that electric vehicles offer proven technology that is available here and now, are competitively priced, can be less expensive to operate and can offer lower maintenance costs. Others offer an argument against electric trucks, saying that the electric vehicle is too heavy and takes up too much freight space, technology is not ready, maintenance may not be less costly and the vehicle life is too short. In reality, electric vehicles as they currently stand are somewhere in the middle of these two extremes, said Mike Roeth, executive director of the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE) during his presentation at the 2019 Green Truck Summit.
As with any fleet technology, vehicle electrification is not a one size fits all solution. While it may be a viable option for some fleets, it won't work for every application.
Currently, one of the largest barriers to more widespread electric vehicle adoption is the limited charging infrastructure. One consideration of charging infrastructure is hardware: the physical charging stations, ports, panels, transformers, etc., including wiring/conduit, transformer upgrades and installtion. Charging hardware does not vary dramatically from company to company. The main differentiators are the connector types, speed and price. Utility programs may be able to cover some of the hardware costs.
Another consideration for charging infrastructure is software and networking needs. Software can be built-in to chargers or purchased from third-party vendors to complement the chargers' built-in software. This enables cost-effective charging management, along with integration of distributed energy resources (DERs) and grid services. It can also provide data and analytics to fleet managers to inform charging decisions. Networks can be closed or open.
The final piece to the charging infrastructure puzzle is maintenance. Timely repair of charging equipment is essential for ensuring vehicle uptime. Service packages are available to monitor and repair equipment. Maintenance is necessary for proactively identifying and addressing issues.
NACFE lays out the following charging procurement roadmap:
- Engage utility to evaluate existing infrastructure, programs and case studies.
- Choose vehicle(s) and consider duty cycle, range, dwell time, battery capacity, charge port, etc.
- Determine charging needs accounting for daily kWh needed, charging time(s), charging speed, utility tariffs and software.
- Assess financing to explore utility programs, incentives, local, state and federal grants and rebates and ownership model.
- Procure charging components including hardware, software, and maintenance and service plan.
- Design site plan including charging location and spacing.
- Apply for permits before construction or installation.
- Deploy charging infrastructure cosntruction, installation, software licensing and connection.
NACFE anticipates that the industry will see the adoption of medium duty electric trucks first, because they operate close to base, as smaller, operate in low-emission zones and are needed due to the growth of e-commerce. There are still generally unknown factors in cost modeling, but many of these may be cost benefits. Charging infrastructure remains a large barrier that will need to be addressed as more fleets adopt electric vehicle technology. Fleets choosing electric trucks now will be on the early learning curve. Currently, NACFE anticipates that the biggest early opportunity for electric trucks will be dedicated route day-cab duty cycle.
Information provided by NACFE during the Green Truck Summit