The image of electric vehicles (EVs) has come a long way in recent years among consumers, but they're also making noise in the fleet arena.
More fleets, especially those of municipalities, are being switched to EVs. If your fleet isn't one of them, it's probably time to think about doing the same. EV fleets offer a host of advantages over their internal combustion counterparts.
Reduced emissions and progress toward sustainability goals add value to many municipalities and other environmentally conscious organizations. Sustainability goals aside, lower fuel and maintenance costs are reason enough.
While numbers vary, there's little doubt that the cost of powering an EV fleet vehicle is significantly less than the cost to fuel an internal combustion vehicle. Some studies show that fuel savings are as much as 70%.
And because EVs have fewer moving parts and require no oil changes, maintenance costs are lower and they're able to spend more time on the road. In fact, New York City recently released maintenance costs for their fleet, and the EV maintenance cost were far lower than those of even hybrids.
Some light duty EVs are claimed to cost less than 10 cents a mile to operate. What do you pay per mile for your fleet?
Investing in charging infrastructure may cost $1,700 to $2,700 per charging station. But, you'll see that investment pay for itself in lower operating costs and more driving time for your drivers when they don't have to stop to fuel up. And, by charging your fleet at night to take advantage of lower off-peak electric rates, you'll see your costs go down even more.
EVs are a pleasure to drive, perform better in stop and go traffic and are quieter. EVs aren't limited to light duty. More medium to heavy duty options are becoming available, from pick-up trucks to buses.
Fleets across the country have added EVs into their fleets, and many more have plans to replace major portions of their fleets in the coming years. Light duty, medium duty, heavy duty. Whatever your need, see what EVs can do for your fleet.
