Why EVs Are The Perfect Fleet Vehicles – CleanTechnica

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Being a pioneer can be fun and exciting. I mean, who doesn’t want to try something new? New technologies can bring not only novelty into our lives, but benefits (including cost savings). However, we have to remember that the historical pioneers who went west in covered wagons sometimes never made it. Intruding on other people’s land and running them off it was a great way to end up with some arrows in their backs.

In other words, fear of what might go wrong can frighten people away from being a pioneer.

When it comes to EVs, we have some great news: the pioneers rolled into the west in their wagons, handcarts, and carretas a long time ago. A decade ago, EVs were the cutting edge of transportation, and some people came away wearing bandages. But, today, in 2024, it’s more like driving out west on Highway 66. Many have made the trip before, and there are lots of people along the way ready to help out, give you a map, and provide vital services along the way. Not today, dysentery!

In this article, I want to cover some of what we EV pioneers, like Xcelerate Auto, have learned, discuss how far both technology and infrastructure have come, and introduce you to a company that can be your teepee motel along the electric highway.

EVs Are A Proven Technology

In case my position from the intro wasn’t clear: EVs are NOT a new, unproven technology that will unexpectedly make you regret adopting them. Not only have individuals and families been buying them for over a decade now, but so have businesses of all sizes. At the lower end, solo entrepreneurs have been making great use of their EVs. At the top end, large businesses like Amazon operate huge fleets of custom-built electric vans. So, if you’re a business owner or fleet manager, someone else has likely been there and done that.

Over the last ten years, the technology of modern EVs has greatly improved, too. Before around 2010, most EVs were small-scale projects or even DIY one-off conversions. Starting with the Tesla Model S, EVs started to have decent range — enough to serve most people’s needs. Slowly, other manufacturers jumped in, both newcomers and established car companies. Now, the quality, range, and capability of most new EVs is about where it needs to be.

Vehicles of all sizes are available now. From small sedans and hatchbacks to SUVs to pickups to larger box trucks and semi trucks, the market is starting to really fill out to take care of most needs a company would have. About the only exception (as of this writing) is long-haul Class 8 trucking, but vehicles for that are in testing and the infrastructure needed is in the planning stages. For almost every other use, EVs are ready to serve.

Infrastructure has also come a long way in the past decade. There’s the Tesla Supercharger network (which will be open to most other EV brands in the coming months), Electrify America, EVgo, ChargePoint, Blink, EV Connect, and many other players now expanding charging opportunities. Most interstate highways have charging along them, and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funded stations every 50 miles along most other highways. New stations are popping up almost every week now.

Lessons Learned

A lot has been learned by people who were willing to take a risk early on, so now people who are just getting into EVs don’t have to go through the School of Hard Knocks like we did. Let’s talk briefly about a few things we’ve learned.

First off, it’s important to know that EVs get better range in town than they do on the highway. This makes life a little harder if you’ve got a business that’s over the road, but for in-town fleets, it’s a huge advantage. In stop and go traffic, most EVs beat their EPA-rated range, and in mixed driving, they get pretty close to it. For things like taxi/rideshare work, deliveries, couriers, and local trucking, there’s very little to worry about.

For those fleets that need to make roadtrips, it’s essential to use software to plan trips. In a gas or diesel vehicle, you’d typically just drive until you get low and then find a station or truck stop. In an EV, it’s tough to predict the range because speed, winds, hills/terrain, and rain can all affect range. But, with software like A Better Route Planner, Chargeway, and Tesla trip planning, you can check ahead of time to know if an EV can do the job. So, you don’t need to worry about it!

Another thing EV drivers have learned is that maintenance is cheaper and easier, but that it still needs to happen. While you don’t have regular oil changes, tuneups, and such to deal with, it’s still a good idea to do regular inspections. Tires, brakes (which can rust from disuse due to regenerative braking), rubber hoses, and fluids all need to be monitored to keep the vehicle in tip top condition. There are also less frequent maintenance tasks vehicles need, like flush-fill of fluids, changing shocks and struts, etc.

Finally, you have to decide when it’s time to step away from a vehicle. In some cases, you might want to get out early for resale, like you would in a rental car business. In other cases, you might want to rotate it out when the end of the battery warranty approaches (8 years, 100,000 miles minimum by law). In other cases, it might make sense to drive it into the ground. After all, you can’t take a loss until you sell, right? On top of that, there are leasing options to consider, which can help you bypass all of this worry.

You’re Not Alone!

The biggest thing I’d tell an EV-curious business owner is that you don’t have to navigate this process on your own. Not only are there many online resources for learning about EVs yourself, but there are now many, many people who can share their experiences to help get you started.

Among them is Xcelerate Auto. Instead of having to climb the learning curve, Xcelerate’s clients have their needs not only covered, but anticipated from beginning to end. This starts from choosing vehicles, leasing them as needed, upfitting them, and then managing and maintaining the fleet as it grows and changes. So, if you’re considering getting into EVs for your business fleet, be sure to give them a call to get the process rolling faster.

I asked Xcelerate a handful of questions in order to get rolling and learn more. Here are those questions (in bold) and answers from Milad Davoodi, COO at Xcelerate:

How quickly can a fleet transition to EV?

“As quickly as the will of those that lead the company. There are now lots of cheaper EVs on the market that are readily available. Companies can also choose to look at used EVs and own them for years ahead now with XCare for Business as an option. Our leasing calculator can get you get you to understand the cost for vehicle, along with cost per mile, and complete a credit application less than a few minutes. With inventory being more readily available, delivery timelines tend to be fairly immediate.”

Does Xcelerate offer any programs for a phased transition to EVs?

“If by ‘phased’ you mean like a stairstep transition of their fleet, we can work with clients to look at their existing fleet, help determine which of their existing fleet would be opportune to cycle out with EVs along with determining forward looking plans for remaining. This requires expertise in the vehicle technology and marketplace to fulfill with strategic precision.”

What financing options are available for charging stations needed for a fleet?

“Charging station infrastructure can be rolled in with the purchase of the vehicle itself, or done separately with terms up to 84 months. Since every client may be different, we look at all the information and help determine the best course of action.”

Does Xcelerate offer help taking advantage of tax credits and other tax write offs for vehicles?

“Yes. Not only are there federal incentives but varying states have incentives as well. As an example, Colorado currently has some of the most aggressive incentives in the country, while NJ is beginning to scale back their EV sales tax exemption incentive. We can provide that guidance depending on where the client is to best understand the landscape that they are involved in.”

How long has Xcelerate been helping fleets go electric?

“Since the inception of the company in 2014. However, leadership within Xcelerate have been in and around the EV industry since 2011.”

There you go. Feel free to reach out and ask them your own questions!

This post is sponsored by Xcelerate.