How to Electrify Your EV Fleet the Smart Way
Nothing makes a bigger splash than a brand-new electric fleet. From the internet to industry insiders, huge corporations like FedEx and Amazon have already electrified their vehicles while government partners like the USPS build buzz around their innovative electric vehicle solutions. President Biden has also announced plans to electrify all government vehicles.
Setting up an EV fleet charging network may be easier when you are a massive multinational or federally funded organization, but the switch to electric can be overwhelming regardless of fleet size.. Navigating the array of hardware and equipment options alone can be a tall task — let alone managing your new system to ensure your new fleet continues to operate at peak performance.
Luckily, there are a myriad of financial and technological advantages for early EV adopters which makes now the perfect time to commit to a sustainable fleet for the present and future of your business. Here’s how EV fleets are driving the electric evolution forward, and how EV Connect can help get your new vehicles on the road — and keep them running smoothly for years to come.
Wheels of Change
In just a few short years, EV fleets have accelerated from fad to trend to a full-on movement. Paced by advances in technology and backed by both government legislation and global financial markets, EV fleets continue to turn corporate, public and residential garages green at breakneck speed. Despite a worldwide pandemic and subsequent economic uncertainty, the EV industry surged over the last year, and is poised for even more massive growth over the next decade.
Perhaps, the biggest galvanizing force behind that growth is timing. EV technology continues to advance exponentially, increasing reliability and efficiency for EV fleet charging infrastructure and helping reduce the costs of both purchasing and maintaining the vehicles themselves. Federal, state and local tax credits and incentives offer strategic advantages for early EV adopters which helps to subsidize sustainability for companies ready to commit to a cleaner, greener fleet. Moreover, the private sector is betting big on the future of EVs, rewarding innovative EV startups with investments and spurring the old guard of the auto industry to invest tens of billions of dollars in new electric vehicle models that will put millions of new drivers into EVs each year.
Simplifying Sustainability
While EV fleets are the clear destination, many businesses are still trying to find the on-ramp. The EV industry is fueled by emerging, cutting-edge technology that can make the barrier for entry look more like a road block. Companies looking to commit to an EV fleet face a wave of cascading decisions and details. They must sort through seemingly endless data and options in order to pick the right vehicles, infrastructure, charging stations and management software.
However, smart companies like yours can take the guesswork out of going green by partnering with a third-party charging station and network provider to create a bespoke strategy for your specific fleet needs. Plus, you can get the tools and support your team needs to maximize the return on your significant investment. The right partner will help you:
Leverage Incentives — Find all available tax credits, incentives, grants and local utility programs to offset initial infrastructure costs and reduce long-term operational costs.
Choose Equipment — Present the best infrastructure, charging stations and formats that will serve your EV fleet now with the ability to adapt and expand to future technology.
Manage Your Stations — Equip you with powerful management software to ensure your stations stay operational and your fleet stays on the road.
While those are the basic expectations, the best EV charging partners — like EV Connect — go above and beyond. EV Connect provides both front- and back-end solutions to help your company navigate the road — from planning to breaking ground to the first fully-electric fueling station. Once the equipment is installed, EV Connect’s innovative EV charging station management software is designed to support your new network and keep it running smoothly and efficiently. But that’s just the beginning of an ongoing relationship between EV Connect and your business— one that will continue to pay dividends for the lifetime of your EV fleet.
Connecting the Dots
EV Connect is a partner for each step of the process. As an official partner with dozens of government, municipal and local utility programs, we are uniquely positioned to help your business leverage all available incentives in your area. Our experts will help you select the right infrastructure for your situation. We also maintain strong relationships with equipment manufacturers and resellers to ensure you purchase flexible, upgradable hardware that won’t get left in the dust by the next big advancement in EV tech.
Finally, EV Connect’s proprietary software lets you manage and maintain your entire network with one powerful, intuitive platform. The software enables real-time data capture and benchmarking on everything from energy use to efficiency to charging payment structure. Our brand-new Network Health Dashboard uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to monitor station status and automatically alerts EV Connect to any potential irregularities. This allows our dedicated customer service team to troubleshoot remotely and even predict station problems before they happen to further reduce station downtime.
The electric vehicle evolution is already in motion — making now the ideal time to upgrade to an EV fleet. If your business is ready to go green, EV Connect is the perfect partner to help get your fleet ready for the road ahead.
Resources:
Green Fleet Magazine - FedEx to Expand EV Fleet Charging Infrastructure
International Energy Agency - Global EV Outlook 2020
CNBC - GM ups spending on EVs and autonomous cars by 35% to $27 billion