Transforming fleets to EVs begins with your charging infrastructure.
One of the most critical factors in fleet electrification is charging infrastructure planning. It's important to develop a plan that works well for your business operations and your bottom line. Charging infrastructure may represent a significant upfront cost, but it may also represent tremendous ongoing savings and efficiencies through reduced fuel costs and vehicle maintenance.
• How many miles will the vehicle drive each day?
• What is the range and use of the vehicle?
• Can work be completed with the vehicles range or will mid-route charging be needed?
• How much time will you have between trips to charge the vehicle?
Depot charging typically refers to on-site, longer term charging designed to restore a vehicles battery back to full. Depot charging can occur over several hours, often overnight and therefore use a lower capacity charger (typically Level 2 or low DCFC).
Opportunity or en-route charging is shorter term, high capacity charging needed mid-route to complete your trip.
Charging EVs requires plugging into a charger connected to the electric grid, also called electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE). There are three major categories of chargers, based on the amount of power the charger can provide:
Level 1 (L1) Charging
If your fleet consists of Class 1 through Class 3 vehicles with an average daily travel range of 60 or 40 miles, you may only need Level 1 charging. Level 1 charging can be plugged into a standard 120 V outlet, and may only require vehicle charging a couple of times each week. A full charge may take up to 24 hours with level 1 120 V charging. Level 1 is most often used in home applications, but is sometimes used at workplaces and is a nice option to have if all your Level 2 equipment is use.
Level 2 (L2) Charging
The most prevalent commercial charging application is through Level 2 chargers. Level 2 chargers are both cost-effective and can be installed virtually anywhere with 240 V power. Systems range in size and complexity from single phase units costing less than $500 to central units with 2-4 charging plugs on each bollard with card/phone access, managed scheduling services, fee collection, and other integrated services which can cost upwards of $5,000. Level 2 charging ranges from around 6-23 kW though it’s important to note that not all vehicles can accept higher charging rates. Level 2 is good for overnight, depot charging to fully restore a vehicles battery. It is also preferred for customer and employee charging.
DC Fast-Charging (DCFC)
For larger vehicles and larger batteries, or when more rapid fueling is needed, direct-current fast charging (DCFC) is a common commercial charging application. Direct current fast chargers, sometimes referred to as a Level 3 DC charging, uses a 3-phase 480 V AC electric circuit, but delivers direct current (DC) to the vehicles. DC Fast-Charging can deliver an 80 percent battery charge or 60 to 100 miles of range for most EV models in about 20-30 minutes of charging. This format is used in public charging stations, especially along heavy-traffic corridors. DCFC chargers currently range from 15-350kW; however not all vehicles can accept higher rates, with 50kW being the minimum across all vehicles.
A typical DCFC charger can cost $40-75K, on average; however, a new class of 20-25kW DCFC units is emerging at <$10K. Standards are an issue with DCFC chargers, as there are three connector types in North America, although adapters are available for some configurations. Another factor to consider is service standards for connectivity, such as whether or not the charger or your vehicle can support remote management, or energy discharge, vs. charging; an important element from a total cost of ownership perspective.
Vehicle chargers may require power infrastructure upgrades.
Electric Vehicle fleet charging requires careful planning to ensure you develop a plan that maximizes your savings and ensures vehicles are charged and ready when they are needed. It's important to work directly with the utility and a qualified engineer to accurately assess your power needs and to develop a smart fleet charging plan for your business. Site upgrades, including transformer upgrades may be needed.
Review EV Charging Equipment
Review Public Charging Locations
• Choose the lowest capacity charger that still meets your needs.
• Look for opportunities to share chargers among multiple vehicles, especially Level 3/DCFC chargers.
• Consider EV charging management software.
• Charge during off-peak energy hours if on a time-of-use energy rate.
• Future proof when installing charging. Consider sizing conduit for growth and installing conduit for additional parking spaces now.
EV Charging Management Software
Many providers offer end-to-end software to manage EV charging sites, stations, chargers and connectors. These applications integrate EV hardware for smart energy management and load balancing, including monitoring sessions, stations and chargers. Some networked services can process payment for public charging sites. At minimum, it is important to select a charging solution that controls charging times to take advantage of time of use rate programs and to spread out your energy demand profile. Be sure to evaluate if the benefits outweigh the monthly software fees.
Site Design
Discuss with your contractor and OEM the best placement for EV charging infrastructure. Charging port locations vary by vehicle. Consider how vehicles will approach the site, maneuverability, pedestrian safety, and charging cord length. In some cases, island charging may be preferable to a pull-in parking spot.
Employer At-Work Charging Programs
If you’re an employer implementing a Charging at Work program, managed charging can also be used to grant access to chargers, such as those in public portions of a company. Some EVSE units include locally-managed software, accessed by smartphones, which are capable of granting ‘tokens’ for visitors. You may be able to ping users when their cars are charged so that they can move their vehicle to allow use by others.
Significant utility service infrastructure changes may be required and need to be planned and completed in advance of the vehicle and charger delivery. Make sure to engage with your local utility early on in the planning process. Be sure to discuss the current project as well as future plans.
Commercial rebates, grants and rate programs.
As with the vehicles themselves, there are local, State, and Federal grant and rebate programs for both public and private EVSE.
Review Commercial Incentives & Programs
What charging solution is right for you?
To determine what type or types of chargers are right for your business, you’ll need to consider:• How many miles will the vehicle drive each day?
• What is the range and use of the vehicle?
• Can work be completed with the vehicles range or will mid-route charging be needed?
• How much time will you have between trips to charge the vehicle?
Depot charging typically refers to on-site, longer term charging designed to restore a vehicles battery back to full. Depot charging can occur over several hours, often overnight and therefore use a lower capacity charger (typically Level 2 or low DCFC).
Opportunity or en-route charging is shorter term, high capacity charging needed mid-route to complete your trip.
Types of Chargers
Charging EVs requires plugging into a charger connected to the electric grid, also called electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE). There are three major categories of chargers, based on the amount of power the charger can provide:
Level 1 (L1) Charging
If your fleet consists of Class 1 through Class 3 vehicles with an average daily travel range of 60 or 40 miles, you may only need Level 1 charging. Level 1 charging can be plugged into a standard 120 V outlet, and may only require vehicle charging a couple of times each week. A full charge may take up to 24 hours with level 1 120 V charging. Level 1 is most often used in home applications, but is sometimes used at workplaces and is a nice option to have if all your Level 2 equipment is use.
Level 2 (L2) Charging
The most prevalent commercial charging application is through Level 2 chargers. Level 2 chargers are both cost-effective and can be installed virtually anywhere with 240 V power. Systems range in size and complexity from single phase units costing less than $500 to central units with 2-4 charging plugs on each bollard with card/phone access, managed scheduling services, fee collection, and other integrated services which can cost upwards of $5,000. Level 2 charging ranges from around 6-23 kW though it’s important to note that not all vehicles can accept higher charging rates. Level 2 is good for overnight, depot charging to fully restore a vehicles battery. It is also preferred for customer and employee charging.
DC Fast-Charging (DCFC)
For larger vehicles and larger batteries, or when more rapid fueling is needed, direct-current fast charging (DCFC) is a common commercial charging application. Direct current fast chargers, sometimes referred to as a Level 3 DC charging, uses a 3-phase 480 V AC electric circuit, but delivers direct current (DC) to the vehicles. DC Fast-Charging can deliver an 80 percent battery charge or 60 to 100 miles of range for most EV models in about 20-30 minutes of charging. This format is used in public charging stations, especially along heavy-traffic corridors. DCFC chargers currently range from 15-350kW; however not all vehicles can accept higher rates, with 50kW being the minimum across all vehicles.
A typical DCFC charger can cost $40-75K, on average; however, a new class of 20-25kW DCFC units is emerging at <$10K. Standards are an issue with DCFC chargers, as there are three connector types in North America, although adapters are available for some configurations. Another factor to consider is service standards for connectivity, such as whether or not the charger or your vehicle can support remote management, or energy discharge, vs. charging; an important element from a total cost of ownership perspective.
Vehicle chargers may require power infrastructure upgrades.
Electric Vehicle fleet charging requires careful planning to ensure you develop a plan that maximizes your savings and ensures vehicles are charged and ready when they are needed. It's important to work directly with the utility and a qualified engineer to accurately assess your power needs and to develop a smart fleet charging plan for your business. Site upgrades, including transformer upgrades may be needed.
Review EV Charging Equipment
Review Public Charging Locations
Optimizing costs
Mile for mile, electricity is a less expensive fuel than diesel or gas. It’s still beneficial to take steps to charge efficiently. To optimize costs:• Choose the lowest capacity charger that still meets your needs.
• Look for opportunities to share chargers among multiple vehicles, especially Level 3/DCFC chargers.
• Consider EV charging management software.
• Charge during off-peak energy hours if on a time-of-use energy rate.
• Future proof when installing charging. Consider sizing conduit for growth and installing conduit for additional parking spaces now.
EV Charging Management Software
Many providers offer end-to-end software to manage EV charging sites, stations, chargers and connectors. These applications integrate EV hardware for smart energy management and load balancing, including monitoring sessions, stations and chargers. Some networked services can process payment for public charging sites. At minimum, it is important to select a charging solution that controls charging times to take advantage of time of use rate programs and to spread out your energy demand profile. Be sure to evaluate if the benefits outweigh the monthly software fees.
Site Design
Discuss with your contractor and OEM the best placement for EV charging infrastructure. Charging port locations vary by vehicle. Consider how vehicles will approach the site, maneuverability, pedestrian safety, and charging cord length. In some cases, island charging may be preferable to a pull-in parking spot.
Employer At-Work Charging Programs
If you’re an employer implementing a Charging at Work program, managed charging can also be used to grant access to chargers, such as those in public portions of a company. Some EVSE units include locally-managed software, accessed by smartphones, which are capable of granting ‘tokens’ for visitors. You may be able to ping users when their cars are charged so that they can move their vehicle to allow use by others.
Charging Next Steps
Engage with your local utility early-on.Significant utility service infrastructure changes may be required and need to be planned and completed in advance of the vehicle and charger delivery. Make sure to engage with your local utility early on in the planning process. Be sure to discuss the current project as well as future plans.
Commercial rebates, grants and rate programs.
As with the vehicles themselves, there are local, State, and Federal grant and rebate programs for both public and private EVSE.
Review Commercial Incentives & Programs