Trends and movements considerably define the world we live in, and over the last few years, it has become apparent that the future of fleet charging logistics is bright. Over the past few years, electric passenger vehicles have grown worldwide. Although EV popularity isn’t close to regular internal combustion engines, it’s only a matter of time until EV becomes king.
Back to trends, the world has noticed a steady trend of electric power taking over the world of road transportation, and first, it was the personal vehicles space. Still, soon it’ll be the heavy-duty and logistics vehicles space. Electric vehicles are taking over, and it’s no longer a matter of if but when electric cars become the go-to for fleet operators worldwide.
There’s currently an R&D race with a few automotive manufacturers working hard to develop the first commercially viable truck to help Logistics Companies solve their “last mile” problem. Let’s take international shipping; for example, container ships from Shanghai to Perth. It gets on a truck or railway to Adelaide from Perth, and smaller electric cars convey the shipment to its final consumers. In the scenario explained, the only part of that shipping chain that isn’t optimized for maximum profitability is the last part where a small truck conveys goods to its final destination.
Two Reasons to Switch to an Electric Vehicle Fleet
Are you a logistics manager or part of a business or endeavour that employs a fleet of vehicles? Have you considered making the switch to a partly or fully electric vehicle fleet at any time? Admittedly, due to current technological constraints, electric vehicles in the logistics space only make financial sense when operated on short distances like within or between neighbouring cities. Here are a few reasons you might want to consider switching to an electric vehicle fleet; they include;
- It Makes Financial Sense:
An electric vehicle fleet in logistics can be the solution for you. Still, to get the most out of an electric vehicle fleet, you’ll need to manage your operations expertly. Electric trucks and vans serve a specific niche for now. If you need to deliver items within a specified location, you can get better economics from a partially electric field. In some cases, an electric vehicle fleet makes more financial sense when compared to its internal combustion counterparts.
- Environmentally Responsible:
One of the most significant selling points of electric vehicles is that they are more environmentally friendly than petrol or diesel-powered automobiles. More and more businesses are publicizing their emissions reduction plans, and a great way to start the emissions reduction journey is to switch to a “cleaner” fleet option.
Additionally, certain major cities worldwide are in the process of enacting strict emissions rules, especially in and around city centres, so it might be in a fleet operator’s best interest to invest in their future fleet today.
Redefine your Business Model with an Electric Vehicle Fleet
One of the most amazing things about electric vehicles and their relation to fleet logistics is that this class of cars opens up new business models that previously did not exist. This means that smaller fleet operators can now compete with larger counterparts – to an extent.
Small city-based fleet operators can now optimize to capture a market segment from global players in the logistics space like DHL and UPS. The ideas and possibilities of fleet electrification are numerous, but the question now is, how can you redefine your business model with an electrified fleet?
- Huge momentum:
There is enormous momentum behind the electrification push worldwide; some of the largest fleet operators are making pledges to electrify or partially electrify their fleets fully; this means that it’ll be easier to find in a few years spare parts and support for EVs.
- Follow Regulations:
Governments worldwide are increasing regulatory pressures regarding CO2 emissions; this means that business models will need to adapt to the changes in the regulations. When we consider COVID-related economic recovery packages, they motivate businesses to transition to carbon-neutral solutions, so your fleet business may be more likely to access government support with an electrified fleet.
- Fleet Flexibility:
Seasoned fleet operators will attest to the fact that a lot of fleet vehicles travel regular routes and cover a relatively consistent distance daily; if you switch to an electric fleet, you can take advantage of the growing public EV infrastructure, and this can result in massive savings, especially in the long run.
The total cost of EV ownership is reducing at a reasonably consistent pace. Finally, EV charging infrastructure is being improved across Australia; this means that possibilities abound if you switch to an electric fleet.
Developing the Right EV Charging Strategy for Fleets
Now that you’ve decided to commit to an electric future for your fleet, it’s time to figure out your EV charging strategy. The perfect EV charging strategy combines minimal costs with maximum operational hours for fleet operators. This means that as a fleet operator, your EV charging scheme should help you get the most out of your operating hours while helping you make the best use of your downtime. Below are two things to keep in mind when designing an EV charging strategy for your future fleet they include;
- Create a Timeline for Fleet Upgrade:
This step is only relevant for fleet operators with existing fleets. It doesn’t matter if your fleet is made up of saloon cars or delivery trucks; you need to create a transition timeline that’s realistic and in line with EV industry realities.
How many vehicles do you currently have in your fleet, how soon do you wish to electrify your fleet, and which parts of your business will your first few electric fleets serve? These are some of the questions that’ll help determine how your fleet upgrade and transition plan will turn out.
- Build your Routes around Charging Infrastructure:
The best thing any electric fleet charging operator can do when defining their strategy is to keep the following in mind, “go where the power is,” that means you should run your charging network in such a way that by the time each vehicle runs out of power they’ll already be in their next checkpoint. It might take some computer science skills as your fleet charging increases, but always endeavour to design routes with charging and support stations spaced out at a reasonable distance from each other.
Charging Solution Options for Fleet Operators
When fleet operators are going through electrifying their fleets, one question that almost always gets asked is; what type of charging solution can I use to power my fleet? When choosing a charging solution, it’s essential to build a system that’s just robust enough for your current reality while being flexible enough to grow effortlessly when the need arises.
Over the next few moments, we’ll enlighten you on a few steps you should take when choosing a charging solution for your electric fleet; the steps include;
- Survey the Market:
When on the market for charging stations for your fleet, it will be in your best interest to survey the market and take cues from what people in your market segment are doing. Let’s say you’re a fleet manager with ten electric vehicles; surveying what other fleet operators of similar size have chosen for their solution may save you a lot of stress and hassle.
Alternatively, surveying the market helps you define what has worked for other fleet operators; it also enables you to identify and avoid decisions that have failed to translate into success for other fleet operators.
- Get Professional Help:
Fleet charging solutions come in different shapes, sizes, and prices, and figuring out all the intricate details of choosing the ideal charging solution for your fleet might be a tall order. That’s why we always advise people that care to ask to always make such complicated decisions with the help of an electric vehicle charging solution retailer service.
If you choose to work with EV Powerhouse Australia, our service will work hard to deliver the perfect electric vehicle charging solution for your needs. With our assistance, all you need to do is communicate your wishes, and we’ll provide the ideal charging solution to you.
Best Solution for Newly launched Fleet Operations
If you’re building a fleet EV charger in 2022, it makes sense to consider building a fully or partially electric fleet. Electric automobiles have come a long way, and we now have commercially viable vehicles in a broad spectrum of roles.
When you decide to build an electric fleet, you can rest assured that you’re not alone because governments worldwide, including our Australian government, have put regulations in place to favour the usage and acquisition of electric fleets. You can enjoy tax breaks on purchases, charging subsidies, and the peace of mind that you’re contributing to a greener and more sustainable Australia.
If you’re building a fleet, it makes a lot of sense to start planning for the future by making infrastructure decisions that are wise today but also easy to expand in the future. The last thing you want is to have a situation whereby you need to build a new charging solution for your fleet every time your business grows. Here are a few things new fleet operators should consider they include;
- Electric options can save you a bit in the long run:
For now, the upfront costs of acquiring an electric vehicle are still considerably more than conventional vehicles. Still, as time goes on, the cost of operating an EV fleet may become lower than its internal combustion engine counterparts. Every fleet should be designed and built with longevity in mind; that’s why fleet operators should go with the vehicle choice of the future.
- EV Technology is Improving Daily:
As more automobile manufacturers shift their focus to electric vehicles, we can expect that EV software and capability will improve as time goes on. We’ll also witness an increase in spare parts, and there’ll be more support and infrastructure for EVs in our country and beyond.
Embrace the Future of Logistics
A lot has been shared here today, but it would all be a waste if you do not use the advice to maximize your fleet efficiency and profitability. Too many times, we see fleet operators spend a fortune to electrify their fleet. When they invest in a charging solution for their apartment complex, they are usually unhappy with the performance.
Please do not take the risk of substandard performance; give your electric fleet the power they deserve by reaching out to EV Powerhouse today. When you contact us, we’ll work day and night to deliver the perfect solution that’ll make you content for a long time.
