5 Steps for Fleet Electrification

Fleet electrification is taking off worldwide – and the U.S. is no exception. The total percentage of EV sales tripled from 2020 to 2022 alone. 

Electrification delivers enormous benefits to businesses, including significant cost savings and carbon footprint reductions. But how do you begin taking advantage of the benefits of an EV-powered fleet?

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Step Zero – Prepare for Your Transition

Poor planning is the number one reason why electrification initiatives fail to achieve their set KPIs. But what are your KPIs?

Setting down your goals and establishing what you want to achieve sets a baseline for how you’ll approach your electrification strategy.

Like any other business goal, be specific. For example, you may want to achieve 100% electrification in the next five years. Alternatively, you may want to cut your carbon emissions by a third in the next ten years.

Regardless of your goals, any electrification campaign should be done with those in mind.

Step One – Conduct Market Research 

EV options are more abundant than ever. Individual states and the federal government are already incentivizing businesses to make the switch. For example, the White House issued an Executive Order to electrify the entire 635,000 fleet by 2035.

Moves like these have spurred the automotive industry to offer more vehicle models and charging solutions. Before committing to electrification, it’s vital to analyze the options available now, including:

·  Vehicle models

·  Charging stations

·  Local public charging infrastructure

Remember, what works for your competitor won’t necessarily work for you. Every business needs a bespoke electrification plan to match their industry, location, customers, and workflows.

Step Two – Assess the Cost

EVs are more expensive to buy but cheaper to operate. Over time, EV owners always come out on top, saving up to $2,600 for every 15,000 miles driven, compared to gas-powered vehicle owners.

Overall, this spells out lower overall costs for your fleet. On the other hand, businesses must have a budget to implement their electrification plans properly. This includes setting aside money, estimating total costs, and examining potential tax credits and other incentives.

Step Three – Establish Your Charging Structure

The nation’s EV charging infrastructure is the most significant barrier to widespread adoption. While states like California stand out for their public chargers, businesses in other states often have to build their own charging depots. 

Likewise, the vehicle type may be unsuitable for public chargers. For example, heavy-duty vehicles require Level 3 chargers, which often aren’t available in most public stations.

So, businesses must consider the models that work for them, such as:

·  Public charging stations

·  At-home stations

·  Central EV charging depots

Step Four – Train Your Drivers

Switching from traditional gas-powered vehicles to EVs means preparing drivers for the transition. Many of your drivers may be unaware of the differences between EV technology and the vehicles they’re used to, including battery management and charging procedures.

Investing in training programs is an opportunity for professional development and a chance for your drivers to avoid mistakes that could degrade the efficiency of your fleet. Ask your EV’s manufacturer about training options for your business’s drivers.

Technology can also help you enforce high driving standards throughout your company. Invest in a cutting-edge telematics solution to monitor both vehicle and driver performance. The real-time data generated provides insights you can use for ongoing driver improvement projects later.

Step Five – Be Scalable and Flexible

No business can afford to stand still.

Over time, your organization will change. Even if you’re a slow-growing business, preparing for expansion early reduces costs and simplifies scaling later. For example, consider EVs that pair with different charging levels so you don’t have to replace your entire fleet later.

Another example of preparing for future growth could be investing in higher-quality batteries to enable your EVs to last longer. Thinking ahead ensures smooth transitions and a bigger return on any investment.

Conclusion: Embrace Advanced Charging Technology With Bluedot

Technology is the cornerstone of any successful electrification initiative. Bluedot is the app that provides a one-stop shop for all your EV charging, payment, and optimization needs.

Additionally, Bluedot offers an easy way to manage and track your fleet with an intuitive telematics solution to reduce your overall cost of ownership. If you want to optimize your charging infrastructure and reduce your costs, visit Bluedot now.

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