Sustainable fleets, electric vehicles and the role of telematics

Internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles have been at the core of the medium- and heavy-duty fleet industry for a century, however perspectives are beginning to change. More fleet operators are taking a closer look at the environmental impact of their vehicles, but they are also noticing something else – being greener can also be more profitable.

According to BloombergNEF’s forecast, by 2040 there will be more than 500 million passenger electric vehicles and 40 million EVs in use for commercial purposes. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are on the rise, paving the way for a variety of EV sizes and classes, such as electric trucks, vans, buses and even tractors. There is an increasing awareness that the use of EVs can bring benefits to both fleet managers and drivers, such as lower operating costs and higher safety standards while reducing the negative impact of fleets on the environment. 

Why are sustainability and electrification priorities?

The goal of reducing the environmental impact of the transportation industry has been worked on over the last few decades. In 2020, it became more of a focus, particularly with BEVs. This change has been driven by significant improvements in battery technology and an overall reduction in cost. Combined with new governmental emission mandates, funding initiatives and public demand for zero-emission technologies, the stage has been set for BEVs to dominate the transportation industry.

While other forms  of clean fuel technology will have their own role to play over the next few years, fully electric vehicles currently represent the most positive outcome. With zero tailpipe emissions, they have a much smaller impact on the environment on average and as renewable energy continues to improve it will only get better. EVs also present fleets with the opportunity to improve their bottom line. Since the cost per kWh of electricity and maintenance costs are cheaper compared to the equivalent expenditures for operating ICE vehicles, electric vehicles typically have a lower total cost of ownership (TCO).

It should be noted that many fleets are choosing to electrify for more reasons than just meeting emission mandates. Guided by a sense of social responsibility, financial incentives or both, many organizations have created their own sustainability goals.

See also: The Ultimate Guide to Fleet Electrification

Going electric

There are a number of steps to take when adopting BEVs, like contacting your electric utility company, but the first task is determining where it makes sense to electrify. 

Geotab offers a complimentary EV Suitability Assessment (EVSA) to determine which ICE vehicles in your fleet can be replaced with an electric model while maintaining operations and reducing costs. Fleets are encouraged to run these assessments, which are based on fleet-specific data, on a regular basis. In doing so, fleets can re-evaluate the electrification potential following duty cycle changes or as new incentives and vehicle models become available. 

The idea of transitioning your entire fleet can seem like an enormous task, however fleet electrification should be viewed as a gradual process. By replacing a small number of vehicles at a time a fleet can essentially test the water and begin to optimise their operations before a large-scale adoption.

Telematics is the key to optimising EV operations

Once you have incorporated electric vehicles into your fleet there are steps you can take in order to increase the benefits of your investment. The key to unlocking this knowledge is by reviewing your telematics data.

Through data-driven insights, fleet managers can optimise routes to ensure the vehicles can cover the most miles without needing to charge en route. They can also establish best practices for charging and driving habits to maintain the vehicle's battery health and improve range.

Maximizing the efficiency of the vehicles in your fleet is nothing new and many of the same techniques will still apply for BEVs. By using fleet management software that allows you to manage both ICE vehicles and BEVs within the same platform, you can streamline the entire process.

So what is the state of sustainable fleets?

Fleet sustainability is beginning to blossom. Current electric vehicles are range capable and can operate at a lower operational cost over their service life for the majority of fleet vehicle duty cycles. As more electric vehicles enter the market in new vehicle classes such as pickups, medium-duty and so on, fleet managers equipped with the right data and tools will be able to assign the right vehicle to the right job and seamlessly integrate the operations of electric assets with vehicles.

In order to stay ahead of the curve, fleet managers are encouraged to investigate all of the tools available to them. After all, some of the upcoming government mandates around the globe are only one to two service lifecycles away.

To start investigating how to add BEVs to your fleet download our ebook: The Ultimate Guide to Fleet Electrification.