Making a smooth change to
an electric fleet with CloudMade
The lockdown measures have made people grow used to the lack of traffic and the corresponding silence. However, have you also noticed the rising number of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) on the streets since the COVID-19 restrictions?
If you earnestly follow the automotive market trends, you will agree that the industry’s future is inclining towards the electric direction. Before lockdown, global fleets were exploring the transition to electric mobility. And now all signs point to the acceleration of this shift.
Take a deeper look into the courses of the e-mobility market, and you will find that the massive shift into the pro-electric approach is powered by some of the biggest players in the industry as well as the governmental units. Many governments across the world are doubling down on EVs and more.
According to a recent survey, the overall BEV registrations have leaped more than 100 percent.
So, Why Is It Happening?
Electric fleets come with many advantages. In particular, they are:
- Cheaper to Run – The cost of electricity required to charge an electric vehicle is nearly 40 percent less than the cost of petrol or diesel used by a similar vehicle to cover the same distance.
- Cheaper to Maintain – An electric vehicle has fewer moving parts than a conventional combustion engine. Hence, servicing is less frequent, easy, and cheaper.
- Better for the Environment – Electric vehicles have zero exhaust emissions. Nevertheless, it should be kept in mind that they still create some greenhouse gas emissions when charged from the electricity grid.
- Better for your Health – With no harmful exhaust emissions, electric vehicles reduce air pollution and thereby the associated health problems and costs. These vehicles are also quieter than their petrol/diesel counterparts, meaning less noise pollution.
With so many advantages, why are organizations hesitating to switch to an electric fleet?
The purchasing price, which is higher than internal combustion engine vehicles, is a major turnoff for most organizations. Nonetheless, when you look at the bigger picture, electric vehicles are still the cheaper option.
Transitioning to an electric fleet offers sizable benefits—from cost saving to a cleaner environment, improved corporate environmental strategy, and more. To help businesses switch to fully electric vehicles, we at CloudMade offer you actionable steps.
1. Pick Your Vehicles and Drivers
The ideal vehicles for your EV fleet will depend on route mileage and load weight. For instance, some EVs can travel long distances before needing a charge. After all, you don’t want your driver to pull into a commercial charging station every now and then on their delivery route.
Similarly, you should also choose the right drivers. You want experienced people who are familiar with the routes. Additionally, they should also be able to offer you helpful feedback, so you can better the pilot program.
2. Choose the Right People
Your fleet electrification program’s success depends on the people you have on your team. Essentially, you need the best talents, including the property management team and building’s facilities manager. All of you will be working together during the fleet charging stations implementation phase. So, you need people who understand buildouts and the changing electrical demand.
3. Electrical Power Demand
You should know the right amount of electrical power required to keep an EV fleet charged. Overload your current system, and you are inviting unwanted troubles down the lane.
Figure out the amount of power your business uses and estimate the number of EVs in your fleet. Then determine the amount of energy these vehicles will consume and add it to your estimations.
Understand that these are just estimates that will potentially change as you switch to an EV fleet. So, use this as a starting point for the pilot program, and make changes whenever necessary.
4. Upgrade the Electrical Supply
Once you have a clear idea of the amount of electricity you will need for your electric fleet, consult an electrical services provider specializing in EV charging. To take your planning a bit further, consider installing trenching and conduits to accommodate mode EVs in the future. It will save both time and money.
When talking to your electrical service provider, ask them about incentives and grants. Many states currently offer incentives and rebates to organizations that leverage electric vehicle technology.
5. Install EV Fleet Charging Stations
After your electrical services provider offers you additional power, it is time to implement fleet charging stations. After the charging stations are set up, you need to get started on the software solutions.
The software and hardware used in the vehicles alongside the charging stations should be compatible for EV batteries to charge. By setting up a software solution, you also get to track and manage energy usage in real-time. This will offer you insights into how your EV fleet pilot program is performing.
6. Get the EV on the Road
Now, it is time to kickstart the pilot program. Charge your EV fleets and have the drivers take them onto the road. Ensure you gather feedback from drivers and track data from the EV software. Depending on the reports, make any necessary changes to fix any problems.
7. Expand Your Electric Fleet
Through careful planning, regularly communicate with your team and drivers, and the electrical service provider. Let them know when you are ready to start expanding your EV fleet.
However, don’t rush the process. Know that it takes time. Also, fix any concerns before making the leap to a full-fledged fleet electrification project.
Complete Support For Your EV Fleet
CloudMade is a global leader in the design, development, and delivery of AI-based solutions for automotive. Our solutions for fleets leverage in-house technology and capabilities to help organizations save time and maximize fleet efficiency.
Our fleet electrification solutions will enable your organization to address the operational implications associated with the evolving national infrastructure, range restrictions along preferred routes, accurate reimbursement of driver energy costs, and simplifying the transition with an integrated system for energy, vehicles, infrastructure, and optimization.
Over the past ten years, we have built machine learning solutions perfect for automotive and mobility use cases. Our most notable use cases include:
EV Battery Management: Charging Optimization, Battery Life
The AI algorithms that power our software solution are capable of forecasting the driver’s staying time, next destinations, and personal battery consumption. Meaning it predicts the fleet’s recharging needs and suggests the ideal time slot based on the driver’s daily schedule along with the appropriate type of charging. This eliminates the use of unnecessary rapid chargers and thereby prolongs battery life.
Charging Schedule/ Predictive Charging
Our software finds the most economical or battery-friendly charging in close proximity to the destination. This is achieved through our predictive analysis capabilities, which predict behavioral patterns and needs. For instance, slow charging for longer stays and fast charging for shorter stays. This reduces the time and effort that goes into planning a trip and charging the fleet.
Effective Route Planning/ Predictive Battery Consumption
Our software solution assesses and learns the emotional battery consumption patterns of your personal journeys. Using the insights gained, the driver is offered a more accurate range estimate and options for eco-routes. This reduces the stress levels associated with driving the fleet and improves the brand experience.
These three use cases are ideal when you are starting. If you wish to learn more about our EV solutions, get in touch to learn how our experience in managing the EV switch makes us the perfect end-to-end solution partner for your organization.