The future of electric fleets is here and the benefits are numerous.
Fleet electrification refers to phasing out and replacing commercial, city, and municipality fleet vehicles that use fossil fuels. Replacing vehicles with an all-electric fleet has numerous benefits.
We recently wrote several articles about the implementation of electric buses for public fleets and the development of electric vehicle charging infrastructure. In sticking with the theme of electric vehicles (EVs), today, we will look at the benefits electric fleets provide cities.
The 5 Benefits of Electric Fleets
When you think of a city or company fleet, what comes to mind should be every service vehicle imaginable. From the mail trucks to the dump trucks, the water companies’ vehicles to the school buses that pick kids up each day.
A 2017 Statista study showed that in 2017, the U.S. truck fleet totaled five million with half belonging to businesses, but close to 40% to the US government. Phasing out and replacing the older vehicles with new EVs will help with some of the following:
1. Cost savings.
While the initial price tag may seem steeper for a new EV, over time they cover the difference in total cost savings – good news for taxpayers!
According to Verify;
It costs about 17 cents to drive one mile in an average gas-powered vehicle versus roughly 5 cents to drive one mile in an electric vehicle.
This also just starts with energy use, not factoring in things like maintenance costs, which have been shown to be less for EVs (think no more oil changes for instance). The initial vehicle sales might not save money, but over time there are immense cost savings.
2. Energy usage.
If saving money isn’t the selling point for local governments to convert to electric vehicles, the energy use cost savings and positive impact on the environment should be.
The overall reduction in energy usage and fossil fuel costs is a large pro to EV fleets. Take, for instance, Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles or FCEVs which are powered by hydrogen and have a driving range of 300 miles after being “fueled” in just four minutes.
Real-life application: A typical police officer can expect to drive upwards of 100 miles per shift. At two shifts per day, the average police vehicle is clocking 200 miles or more per day (depending on locality). Simply converting these vehicles to electric fleets could effectively save millions for local governments.
3. Cleaner environment
Electric vehicles reduce greenhouse gas emissions and will be a huge player in making net-zero emissions possible. Carbon dioxide emissions are closely associated with vehicles that use fossil fuels. That is a given.
With the emergence of even more commercial fleets due to delivery and new demands, passenger vehicles, and so on – electric vehicles are a must for helping promote a cleaner environment for future generations.
Fleet managers are realizing that while a fully electric fleet might have some drawbacks such as charging infrastructure/logistics, the clean environment for city landscapes is a must.
4. Better riding experience
An upside to electric cars and buses is when compared to internal combustion engines, the electric models have a better riding experience for drivers and passengers.
Why is that you might be asking?
Think noise. The loud diesel bus at the airport, the diesel truck at the stoplight. Low emission vehicles and EVs not only offer cost savings and better energy use, but they offer riders and drivers a quieter driving experience.
A quieter and more enjoyable experience could encourage city residents to use public transportation more often.
5. Simple planning
City managers and administrators are constantly having to answer questions like, “How much diesel fuel costs will the city need to budget for?” and “What are the energy costs for next year?”
While one hurdle that is still presenting issues is charging infrastructure, EV fleet vehicles and fleet managers would have an easier time budgeting for EV costs as they are more predictable. By avoiding gas stations and fuel costs, city budgets can be easier to forecast.
Additionally, replacing commercial fleets would be executed in phases with more accurate predictions on costs and maintenance over time.
See how LYT is doing its part in helping cities manage their traffic systems more efficiently with our solutions:
