The fleet manager’s guide to EV charging

Fleet electrification planning

Fleet electrification must be carefully planned and executed to ensure minimal transitional costs and maintain profitability.

1. Assess requirements and identify potential candidates

Fleets are typically comprised of light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles. When transitioning to electric alternatives, keep in mind that all EVs vary in preferred charging equipment, expected charging times, and maximum driving range.

If you plan to expand your service area, you will need to consider vehicles with sufficient range and capacity to serve new markets. To calm EV-range anxiety, first understand the payload and fuel requirements for your trucks and consider opting on the side of caution with large batteries and powerful charging equipment.

2. Evaluate various charging options and utility capacity

Finding the perfect charging solution for your EV fleet depends on your number of vehicles, usage schedules, idle times, availability of preferred charging locations along routes, and the electricity capacity of your property.

While mapping your charging network, electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) investments should be made based on the longest and average route lengths. As EVSE infrastructure improves nationally, fleet managers may find that establishing charging depots outside of a primary hub can help efficiently keep fleets electrified during transit.

When designing your charging station(s), there are three EVSE levels to evaluate.

• Level 1 charging is the slowest and cheapest. Using 120-V outlets, Level 1 charging equipment adds ~3 to 5 miles of range every hour it is plugged in. Level 1 is most suitable for EVs with low mileage and long dwell times, or for fleet vehicles garaged at the employee’s home where there is no Level 2 charging capability.
• Level 2 EV chargers can charge most EV batteries overnight, making them an excellent option for fleets. With the ability to add up to 61 miles of range per hour charged, Level 2 chargers are ideal for EVs with four hours or more between trips, public transportation, and rental cars. Enphase Level 2 chargers will cost $2,000-3,000 with installation.
• Level 3 DCFC (Direct Current Fast Charging) stations can add over 100 miles of range to an EV in 20 minutes, making it the fastest (and most expensive) option. Level 3 chargers are typically only cost-effective for fleets with long hauls and short dwell times, as the cost per charger can be over $50,000.

Critically, Level 3 equipment has a large power grid effect that is unsuitable for some properties. While a combination of Level 1 and Level 2 chargers is sufficient for most vehicle fleets, a grid assessment can help determine your maximum load capacity. In optimizing your fleet, you can evaluate your EVSE using several quality-of-service metrics (QoS) like electricity costs, charging times, and vehicle performance.

3. Discern local regulations and incentives

Beyond the Clean Vehicle Credit up to $7,500, you may reduce fleet electrification costs with EV charger incentives available through your state, city, utility, or a private company.

• Texas: Several private and utility-operated incentives exist in Texas, including a cash incentive with Entergy and a workplace EV charger rebate through Austin Energy.
• California: California’s plan to phase out ICE vehicles is supported with incentives in select regions. Statewide, fleet managers should know about the Clean Transportation Program, also known as the Alternative Fuel Incentive.
• Massachusetts: Massachusetts fleet managers may apply for several programs, including the Massachusetts Electric Vehicle Incentive Program (MassEVIP) for up to $50,000 towards non-residential EVSE per location.

Familiarizing yourself with utility pricing, policies, and billing schedules can help optimize your fleet charging costs. For example, shifting load away from the late afternoon can help reduce money spent on peak utility rates. In some states, like California and Colorado, EV fleets can also use HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle) lanes, potentially reducing time in traffic and increasing route efficiency.

4. Calculate fleet ROI

EV fleet electrification may be financially rewarding with robust planning and accurate cost forecasting. To understand your ROI, you can use the total cost of ownership (TCO) calculator from the International Energy Agency (IEA) to calculate the total value of EVs vs. ICE vehicles in your fleet.

5. Get buy-in from all stakeholders

Fleet electrification often requires collaboration with C-level executives, financing teams, and other decision-makers. In speaking to members of your team, understanding the goals and challenges for every stakeholder can help you develop a plan that fairly serves your entire organization.

Even with the growing popularity of EVs, getting buy-in from all stakeholders may be difficult based on environmental sustainability principles alone. Instead, you will need to convince stakeholders on why your carefully planned fleet electrification program is the best possible decision for your organization.

6. Research the right fleet management software

There are many hybrid and EV-only variables (such as battery levels and the availability of nearby charging points) that must be considered for successful EV fleet operation. Using data points tracking every charging session, EV fleet performance can be optimized for efficiency and costs over time with the right combination of hardware and software. Enphase offers a wide range of EV charging solutions that can work with external charging station management systems (CSMS) through proprietary COSMOS technology.

Enphase solutions for Electric Vehicle fleet management

Mobile EV charger for portability: The Enphase Mobile EV Charger is a portable, rugged, Level 1 EV charger for top-up charging whenever and wherever required. Most suitable for light- and medium-duty trucks with intermittent idle times, this versatile and user-friendly charger uses a standard 120 V outlet for power and a J1772 connector.

Share2 EV chargers for optimized charging infrastructure: For small electric fleets, Enphase Dual EV Chargers or Enphase Share2 EV Chargers can be the right solution for organizations tapping into existing charging infrastructure. With two chargers in one, installing Dual or Share2 EV chargers can reduce your retrofitting costs when compared to separate charging stations.

Enphase CS-100 EV Charger with COSMOS for high-speed smart charging: For large fleets that need to quickly recover with Level 2 chargers, the 80 A Enphase CS-100 charging station can add up to 70 miles of range per hour and is the ideal solution for high-use vehicles. The UL certification ensures reliable installation and use in outdoors.

Enphase HCS EV Chargers with COSMOS for expanded functionality: The Enphase HCS line, available from 7.7 kW to 15.4 kW, features specific functionality to help fleet managers optimize their electric vehicles with smart communication, building integration, and more.

Key takeaways:

• Fleet managers must consider EV charging needs before transitioning to electric transportation.
• A combination of Level 1 and Level 2 chargers is sufficient for most fleets, but Level 3 chargers may be necessary for vehicles with long hauls and short dwell times.
• The 80 A Enphase CS-100 can provide over 70 miles per hour of charging.
• Enphase HCS Dual Chargers offer optimized functionality for EV fleet charging.

For purchasing assistance or questions about fleet electrification, our product specialists are ready to help. Contact the Enphase commercial EV charging team at 877-344-4173 or evcharger-comm@enphaseenergy.com.