Five eLCV challenges – and their solutions
The transition to electric van fleets presents numerous challenges, making it a multifaceted and intricate undertaking. Successfully navigating this shift requires careful consideration of various factors and a strategic approach. However, by leveraging technological advancements and employing innovative, unconventional problem-solving methods, we are finding effective solutions to address the key issues that arise when striving to decarbonise commercial operations. This combination of cutting-edge technology and lateral thinking allows us to tackle the obstacles head-on and develop practical strategies for achieving sustainability goals. In essence, while electrifying van fleets is not a simple undertaking, a resourceful approach that combines technological capabilities with creative and adaptable thinking is proving to be the key to answering the complex questions and overcoming the hurdles involved in reducing carbon emissions from business activities.
Electrifying van fleets is a complex task, but a combination of technology and lateral thinking is providing answers to the questions posed by decarbonising operations.
1. Home wallboxes are expensive and drivers might leave the business
Most LCV fleets accept that if they want their drivers to charge at home, the business will have to pay for the wallbox. But with domestic charger installations typically costing €1,500 or more, what happens if a driver moves house or leaves the business? Is that investment lost forever?
A number of charging hardware companies, such as Ohme, Mister EV, and NRGkick, have developed portable cables that enable EVs to charge at 7kW from either a standard household plug or a CEE (not Schuko) socket. The solutions allow drivers to charge at home and access cheaper, off-peak electricity tariffs, while capturing data on the kWh used. From a fleet perspective, businesses avoid the cost of installing a home wallbox. And if an employee leaves, the company can simply pass the cable on to the next driver.
2. My depot doesn’t have the power capacity for rapid DC charging
The power capacity of local grids is an issue for many fleets, with upgrades frequently costing six and even seven figures, and taking anywhere from several months to years to install. Moreover, businesses that lease their premises may be reluctant to invest in this expensive infrastructure with no guarantee of how long they will stay at that location.
For fleets that need ultra-rapid DC charging to support the fast turnaround of vehicles, or the charging of large electric commercial vehicles, one solution can be on-site power bank chargers, such as the TUAL PowerUp Charger.
This combines energy storage with DC charging of up to 120Wh. The giant battery draws power from the grid at off-peak times, and can also top up from rooftop solar panels.
The power bank can also be deployed within 48 hours, so fleets face no delays in their electrification programmes.
3. Drivers don’t want eLCV charging costs on their home electricity bills
Home charging is invariably the cheapest solution for eLCV fleets, but it can be difficult to persuade drivers to pay for the electricity, even if they are promised reimbursement, when they have been accustomed to having a fuel card for diesel.
Delays in paying expenses can upset household budgets, but paying drivers in advance can be a risk too – they may spend the cash and then face a shock when their electricity bill arrives.
There are, however, smart solutions such as FleetCor’s Mina and TMC’s Utility+, which can itemise the cost of the power used to charge a company van and then pay the electricity supplier directly, so the driver never has to worry about their energy bill.
4. eLCVs are too expensive and lack range
A commitment to decarbonise is leading a number of fleets to review completely their operations, rather than simply replace a diesel van with a similar-sized electric model. This has led in some instances to LCVs being replaced with electric cars, which have longer ranges and lower total cost of ownership.
It has also led to a reimagining of workflow processes. Schindler, for example, has developed tool safes that can be towed to a site and left in a secure place. This has enabled it to switch some diesel vans for small electric cars, which are perfectly capable of towing the tool trailers, and for the rest of a project its technicians commute in those small electric cars.
The elevator and escalator company has also created FlexPoint hubs, similar to shipping containers, that serve as a workshop and a secure warehouse for deliveries of parts. Technicians then use cargo bikes to ride from the FlexPoint to clients.
5. My depot cannot source the electricity capacity it requires
Energy capacity restrictions are common, especially in older workplaces that were built before planners and architects ever thought of electric vehicles. When several EVs charge simultaneously, they consume a lot of electricity, which prompts a need for a costly grid upgrade.
An alternative, however, is to deploy a load balancing solution, which shares whatever power is available between the EVs that are plugged in. Working in partnership with smart chargers, the system can flex the amount of power it draws to stay under the maximum limit, perhaps distributing electricity to a handful of vehicles at a time, but ensuring all have the charge they require before their next shift starts.
Latest
