Overcoming Electric Vehicle Adoption Barriers

How OEMs can help fleets be safer, cleaner and more efficient by encouraging the move to EVs

by Greg Colvin, Zonar

Since its invention more than a century ago, the internal combustion engine (ICE) has been responsible for powering the majority of the world’s 1.466 billion (and counting) vehicles. It also has fundamentally remained the same. While automakers and manufacturers have learned to refine the ICE, their innovations have been applied elsewhere—improving safety; streamlining operations and efficiency; and, more recently, reducing fuel consumption and limiting climate impact.

A renewed global focus on the environment, several commendable but failed attempts (such as the rotary engine), and modern technologies have brought about the next true automotive evolution nearly one-hundred years later: the electric vehicle (EV).

According to the Alternative Fuels Data Center from the Department of Energy, the average EV emits 3,774 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent per year—a 67% reduction from the 11,435 pounds of CO2-equivalent from a gasoline-powered vehicle emits. And it is a more drastic reduction from the 223 tons (491,631 pounds) of CO2 produced by diesel vehicles. Reducing fuel consumption and emissions is critical for smart fleet management.

Additionally, studies prove that EVs are safer than traditional gasoline or diesel engines because lithium-ion batteries pose less of a risk of fire or explosion. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety also showed that crashes involving EVs resulted in less chance of injury.

President Biden set an ambitious goal for half of new car sales to be electric, fuel-cell or hybrid EVs by 2030. Consumer transition to EVs is on a fast track. However, despite government mandates to lower vehicle emissions overall, fleets are still slow to adopt without proof of financial benefits and improved safety and operational efficiencies

Software can connect GPS, electronic logging devices and predictive maintenance technology with transportation management systems to provide insights for drivers and dispatchers.

The Reality of EV Costs

A major barrier to EV adoption is overhead costs. From an infrastructure perspective, EV charging stations can cost about $1 million to install. On the fleet side, on average, early model EV school buses are two to three times more than the cost of a diesel bus. However, government funding is available through the annual Bus and Bus Facilities Grant and Discretionary Grant Program for Charging and Fueling Infrastructure.

This money supports states and transit organizations that want to invest in new or rehabilitated transit equipment and infrastructure, including EV charging. The Biden Administration also announced private U.S. investments that will help develop the nation’s EV charging network.

With low-cost overnight charging, reduced cost and downtime for maintenance, and overall savings on energy costs, EVs will have lower total cost of ownership (TCO) than a typical diesel vehicle. McKinsey estimates that by 2030, electric fleets will have a 15% to 25% lower TCO than ICE vehicles.

Infrastructure Needs

Another concern is the relative lack of EV charging infrastructure. In some cities, charging stations are available at grocery store lots, but in others, options are more limited.

While government is focused on investment in charging infrastructure with the previously mentioned funds, diesel trucks already struggle to find truck parking spots en route let alone EV charging stations. In fact, 2021 marked the tenth year in a row

Alternative Fuels Data Center: https://bit.ly/3OuToFY The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: https://bit.ly/3PRkclc Bus and Bus Facilities Grant: https://bit.ly/3cCLwVW National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program: https://bit.ly/3opojsU Discretionary Grant Program for Charging and Fueling Infrastructure: https://bit.ly/3Bbm0RS “Charging electric-vehicle fleets: How to seize the emerging opportunity,” from McKinsey: https://mck.co/3OojWbX American Transportation Research Institute’s annual survey: https://bit.ly/3PSDre5

that truck parking was listed among the top 10 industry concerns in the American Transportation Research Institute’s annual survey.

Fleet drivers of ICE vehicles must preplan routes for fuel stops based on the hours-ofservice rules and estimated parking spots. EV and hybrid trucks will have to do the same. Fleets must plan for EV charging options at work facilities, employee’s homes and/ or public access points. Utilities also recommend charging during off hours or overnight for cheaper prices and less strain on the power grid.

Technology and Data

For EV route planning, OEMs should include smart fleet management software. This software can connect GPS, electronic logging devices and predictive maintenance technology with transportation management systems to provide insight.

Data overload may be another obstacle. Left untouched, data only accumulates. Organizations must be able to use data to manage electric and hybrid fleets. OEMs can help fleet managers understand how to use the data that software provides to make decisions.

Smart mobility solutions provide data critical to identifying charging inefficiencies and compliance needs. This gives predictive maintenance guidance and a look at diagnostic information they may not have had. A solution like this provides a health score with actionable data, which can be used to improve asset uptime. Preventive tools help identify inefficient charging or ill-timed maintenance.

Through in-cab tablets, applications and management systems, drivers and remote managers receive data on EV power usage and analytics. The necessary data is captured on a unified dashboard, so reviewing and acting as needed is simplified.

Planning for EV Adoption

The decision to add EVs to a fleet requires planning and investment. OEMs can help contractors understand the long-term benefits, which include saving money, keeping vehicles and drivers safe, and reducing the overall carbon footprint.

Greg Colvin, senior director, OEM solutions, for Zonar

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