In June 2023, Ford and GM announced they’d be switching from the Combined Charging System (CCS) to Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) connectors for their future EVs. Less than a month later Mercedes-Benz, Polestar, Rivian, and Volvo also announced they’d support the NACS standard for their US vehicles in the coming years. The switch to NACS from CCS seems to have complicated the electric vehicle (EV) charging landscape, but it’s a great opportunity for charger manufacturers and charge point operators (CPOs). With NACS, CPOs will be able to charge more than 1.3 million Tesla EVs on the road in the US.
NACS is Tesla’s previously proprietary direct current (DC) fast charging connector standard—formerly known simply as the “Tesla charging connector.” It has been used with Tesla cars since 2012 and the connector design became available to other manufacturers in 2022. It was designed for Tesla’s 400-volt battery architecture and is much smaller than other DC fast charging connectors. The NACS connector is used with Tesla superchargers, which currently charge at a rate of up to 250kW.
The Magic Dock is Tesla’s charger-side NACS to CCS1 adapter. About 10 percent of Tesla chargers in the US are equipped with Magic Dock, which lets users select a CCS1 adapter when charging. EV drivers need to use the Tesla app on their phones to charge their EVs with Tesla chargers, even when using the Magic Dock CCS1 adapter. Here’s a video of the Magic Dock in action.
The CCS (Combined Charging System) standard was created in 2011 as a collaboration between U.S. and German automakers. The standard is overseen by CharIn, a group of automakers and suppliers. CCS contains both alternating current (AC) and DC connectors. GM was the first auto manufacturer to use CCS on a production vehicle—the 2014 Chevy Spark. In America, the CCS connector is usually referred to as “CCS1.”
CCS2 was also created by CharIn, but is used primarily in Europe. It’s a larger size and shape than CCS1 to accommodate Europe’s three-phase AC power grid. Three-phase AC power grids carry more power than the single-phase grids common in the U.S., but they use three or four wires instead of two.
Both CCS1 and CCS2 are designed to work with ultrafast 800v battery architectures and charging speeds up to and beyond 350kW.
CHAdeMO is another charging standard, developed in 2010 by the CHAdeMo Association, a collaboration between the Tokyo Electric Power Company and five major Japanese automakers. The name is an abbreviation of “CHArge de MOve” (which the organization translates as “charge for moving”) and is derived from the Japanese phrase “o CHA deMO ikaga desuka,” which translates to “How about a cup of tea?” referring to the time it would take to charge a car. CHAdeMO is typically limited to 50kW, however some charging systems are capable of 125kW.
The Nissan Leaf is the most common CHAdeMO-equipped EV in the US. However, in 2020, Nissan announced it would move to CCS for its new Ariya crossover SUV and would discontinue the Leaf sometime around 2026. There are still tens of thousands of Leaf EVs on the road and many DC fast chargers will still retain CHAdeMO connectors.
Auto manufacturers choosing NACS will have a big impact on the EV charging industry in the short term. According to the US Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center, there are approximately 1,800 Tesla charging sites in the US compared to around 5,200 CCS1 charging sites. But there are approximately 20,000 individual Tesla charging ports compared to about 10,000 CCS1 ports.
If charge point operators want to offer charging for new Ford and GM EVs, they’ll need to convert some of their CCS1 charger connectors to NACS. DC fast chargers like Tritium’s PKM150 will be able to accommodate NACS connectors in the near future.
Some US states, like Texas and Washington, have proposed requiring National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI)-funded charging stations to include multiple NACS connectors. Our NEVI-compliant fast charging system can accommodate NACS connectors. It features four PKM150 chargers, capable of delivering 150kW to four EVs simultaneously. In the near future, it’ll be possible to equip each one of our PKM150 chargers with one CCS1 connector and one NACS connector.
To learn more about our chargers and how they can work with NACS connectors, contact one of our experts today.
If charge point operators want to offer charging for many future Ford, GM, Mercedes-Benz, Polestar, Rivian, Volvo, and possibly other EVs equipped with NACS connectors, they’ll need to update their existing chargers. Depending on charger configuration, adding a NACS connector could be as simple as replacing a cable and updating charger software. And if they add NACS, they’ll be able to charge approximately 1.3 million Tesla EVs on the road in the US. Tesla cars represent around 60% of all EVs currently in the US and the manufacturer is expected to maintain that share (or close to it) as the number of EVs increases.
NACS represents a huge opportunity for CPOs and charger owners. For minimal expense, CPOs can enter the expansive Tesla charging market—without asking EV drivers to carry or use their own NACS to CCS adapters.
In 1999, three University of Queensland students decided to challenge the world’s largest automakers in a solar car race across the Australian outback. They spent two years building a race car in a garage, engineering a sophisticated battery management system and ultra-compact, three-phase electric motor controller. They made every component as light as possible and entered their car, the SunShark, into the World Solar Challenge against the likes of Honda, Toyota, and Volkswagen. The students, David Finn, James Kennedy, and Paul Sernia placed 3rd and won a technical achievement award for their innovative power electronics systems.
After their success in the World Solar Challenge, the three students made their award-winning motor controller a commercial product: The Wave Sculptor 22. The controller is still used in solar racing today and in 2017 the three podium teams in both the Challenger Class and the Cruiser Class in the World Solar Challenge used the Wave Sculptor 22.
Finn, Kennedy, and Sernia went on to start an engineering consulting firm in Brisbane, Australia where they created systems to manage hydroelectric power stations, develop multi-MWh storage systems for green buildings, and even create the battery management system for James Cameron’s Deepsea Challenger mission. The three needed a memorable name for their consulting company. Dr. David Finn found it in an old chemistry book: Tritium. Tritium is a rare radioactive isotope of hydrogen. Unlike pure hydrogen, Tritium has one proton and two neutrons—three fundamental particles in its nucleus, just like the three founders.
In 2012, the Tritium team was asked to create a robust, weatherproof DC fast charger for electric vehicles. They used their experience in power electronics, solar racing, battery management systems, and engineering for harsh environments to create a compact, liquid-cooled EV fast charger. They commercialized that charger and shifted their company to focus exclusively on DC fast chargers. The liquid-cooled, weather sealed RT50 DC fast charger was Tritium’s first success. The 50kW charger was the most compact to date, measuring just 2000mm x 580mm x 270mm (78.75in x 22.8in x 10.6in).
During the following years, the Tritium team grew, expanding their range of chargers and building a factory at the company’s Brisbane headquarters. Tritium built and sold thousands of DC fast chargers around the world. In 2020, the company released their new modular line of fast chargers, which can be scaled to meet charging demands. The chargers are designed to let customers save costs on charging site infrastructure while reducing their capital investment and maintaining high charger availability and power output to vehicles.
In 2017, Tritium launched its first international office in Torrance, CA just outside of Los Angeles. The next year, the company opened an office in Amsterdam to serve the European market.
In 2021, Tritium launched a state-of-the-art testing facility at its Brisbane headquarters. The facility features one of the highest-power commercially accessible EMC testing chambers in the world. It’s designed to deliver up to 720kW of regenerative power from its integrated system with fully integrated AC and DC power feeds. The facility is used to test and develop ultrafast DC fast chargers.
In 2022, Tritium joined the Nasdaq exchange and began trading under the ticker DCFC, launching a new era for the business. The company launched a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Lebanon, TN the same year to help electrify America’s transportation. The factory will employ more than 500 people and is designed to produce up to 30,000 DC fast charger units per year.
Tritium continues to develop faster, higher-capacity chargers for electric vehicles and our team works tirelessly to electrify transportation around the world.
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Fleets across the world are going electric, but many fleet owners are still asking: How do I implement fast charging to move more goods and people? Here are five steps to get started with fast charging for your EV fleet.
There are many incentives available for businesses who want to install fast chargers for their fleets. In Europe, the European Green Deal provides funding for EV charging stations. For example, Germany approved €1.8 million in funding to build a network of public charging stations that will encourage German citizens to switch to EVs. There are many funding programs available throughout Europe available for EVs and EV charging infrastructure, many of which are outlined on the European Automobile Manufacturers Association website. The European Commission has also compiled a list of incentives for EVs and EV chargers.
In the United States, the Inflation Reduction Act provided nearly $370 billion in climate change investments that included incentives for EV charging infrastructure. The Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit covers 30% of total costs of purchase and installation of charging equipment—up to $100,000 per charger.
Fast chargers can help your fleet move more goods or passengers so your fleet vehicles can spend less time charging and more time on the road. But there are many types of fast chargers and fast charging configurations. When choosing a fast charger, consider:
Charging Time Requirements
Your fleet may consist of vehicles with high-capacity batteries that would benefit from ultra-fast chargers. Or you may operate a fleet of passenger vehicles that don’t require ultra-fast charging. Before you choose a charger, consider how your vehicles will be used, how long they can be off the road for charging, and how quickly they can charge. For example, large electric cargo trucks with high-capacity batteries could benefit from shortened charge time offered by 150kW-plus chargers, whereas lower-capacity electric city taxis could use 75kW chargers.
Available Space
How much space is available for your chargers? Do you need compact, all-in-one chargers like our Tritium RTM75, or do you have space and the need for a complete charging system like our Tritium PKM150? Your charging site location can determine which chargers are right for you.
Upgradability
EV development moves quickly and while your current fleet vehicles may only be able to effectively charge at 50kW, your future vehicles may be able to charge at much faster rates: 150kW and above. Look for modular chargers like our RTM75 and PKM150, which can be upgraded over time to meet faster charging requirements.
Durability
Fleet vehicles have rough service lives, and their chargers may also be exposed to harsh conditions. Look for chargers that are built to last and to endure no matter where they’re installed. Our RTM75 and PKM150 chargers are fully sealed with an IP65 rating, so they can operate in a wide temperature range and keep dust and dirt away from sensitive electronic components.
Scalability
Individual chargers can be upgraded over time, but charger system can also be scaled to meet charging demands. For example, the Tritium PKM150 power grid system can be easily scaled from two to four chargers without additional equipment. The PKM150 power rectifier (power cabinet) can accommodate up to four chargers. The system automatically balances the power requirements of charging vehicles, ensuring each vehicle gets the power it needs when it needs it.
Direct current (DC) fast chargers require a high-voltage, high-capacity power source. Many commercial and industrial areas are equipped to handle fast charger installations, but some retail areas or locations in older cities and towns may require new power feeds or even electrical substations. Consult your local utility or council to determine if your proposed charging location has the power you need to support your chargers. Tritium experts can help you find the correct local authority or electrical contractor to determine whether your charging site will need additional utility work.
DC fast chargers must be installed by qualified companies to ensure safe operation. Work with your charger manufacturer to find a certified installer in your area. Most installers can help with wiring, site preparation, excavation, and anything else required to get your chargers up and running. Tritium works with qualified, certified installers across the globe to ensure our chargers are properly installed and can operate for years without replacement.
DC fast chargers move an incredible amount of energy—potentially millions of kilowatt hours over the course of their lifespans. Over time the internal components of a DC fast charger can degrade, just like any other piece of machinery that sees heavy use. External components like screens, buttons, and charging cables can also get damaged during normal use, or in an accident. To ensure your chargers remain operational and available, find a maintenance provider that can diagnose and repair chargers in the field. Tritium works with maintenance providers across the globe to ensure chargers are operational and available when they’re needed most. Work with your charger manufacturer to find a maintenance provider that can help keep your chargers up and running. Look for a maintenance provider who:
Once your chargers are installed and a maintenance contract has been secured, you’re ready to get charging!
Contact one of our experts to get started and learn more about how to implement fast-charging solutions for your fleet.
When EV drivers spend more time charging, they spend more money shopping. If you’re thinking of installing fast chargers at your retail shopping mall, there are benefits to longer charge times for you and your customers.
Direct current (DC) fast chargers come in different speeds and configurations. For many EVs, 150kW chargers can provide 200 miles (320 km) of range in under 30 minutes. A 50kW charger can take more than 40 minutes to deliver the same amount of range. In EV charging, time spent at the charger is called dwell time. Charging speed directly correlates to dwell time: Slower charging speeds mean longer dwell times. And choosing faster chargers to get shorter dwell times isn’t always the best for charger owners and EV drivers. At a highway rest stop, drivers need the shortest dwell time possible. When they’re shopping, however, they can spend more time charging—dwell times don’t matter as much. Choosing chargers that have longer dwell times have several benefits.
Longer dwell times mean customers have more time to shop, which can result in more sales and higher revenue for businesses. While waiting for their car to charge, customers will have more time to browse the aisles and make purchases. They’ll be more likely to purchase additional items or services, like snacks, drinks, or even car washes.
EV drivers typically have higher incomes than average and have higher spending potential. Charging network EVgo surveyed users about their charging and spending habits in 2022. They found that EV drivers spent about $1 a minute shopping while their EVs charged. That means EV drivers can spend $40 or more while their EV charges, and possibly visit shops and buy goods and services they might not otherwise purchase.
Lower-speed DC fast chargers typically have lower installation and site construction costs than higher-power DC fast chargers. Our standalone RTM75 charger can be configured to deliver 50-75kW and doesn’t require any additional equipment. Higher-power chargers like our PKM150 can deliver 100-150kW of power but require additional equipment.
The Tritium RTM75 standalone charger is also compact—about the size of a single mattress stood on its end—and can easily fit in tight spaces in supermarket parking lots and garages. It can also easily be upgraded from 50kW to 75kW over time to meet customer demands.
There are many incentives available for businesses to install EV chargers. Charger rebates and tax breaks are available in the United States, Europe, and the United Kingdom. These incentives can help offset the cost of installation and make it a more cost-effective solution for businesses. In the US, they include:
United States: Inflation Reduction Act Alternative Fueling Credit in the US
The Alternative Fueling Credit is a general business tax credit for any company or organization that installs DC fast charging stations. It will offset up to 30% of the total costs of purchase and installation of charging equipment, up to $100,000 per charger.
European Union: Green Deal Industrial Plan
In February 2023, the European Union presented the Green Deal Industrial Plan, which will enact faster permitting, financial support, enhanced skill training, and open trade. The Green Deal Industrial Plan will also include tax incentives and grants for businesses to purchase and install charging infrastructure.
United Kingdom: EV Infrastructure Grant for Staff and Fleets
This grant covers up to 75% of the cost of installing charging infrastructure up to £15,000 per grant. The grants are part of the UK government’s larger program to help build EV charging infrastructure throughout the UK.
If you need help choosing the right charger for your supermarket or retail shopping mall, reach out to one of our experts today. We can help you find the right chargers to meet your needs, help you plan installation and construction, and help you find maintenance and repair providers in your area.
More and more hotel and resort guests drive electric vehicles (EVs), and many guests rent EVs to get around while they’re in town. Soon EV fast chargers will be standard at many hotels and resorts, but today adding a charger or two to your property can set you apart from the competition, attracting EV drivers and guests who want to drive EVs during their stay. Here are some benefits to installing a charger at your hotel or resort.
About 12 percent of cars in Europe and about 5 percent of cars in the United States are electric and more people are buying EVs than ever. EVs will become more common and eventually ubiquitous as many governments around the world enact bans on the sale of new petrol and diesel-powered cars.
By providing a DC fast charger, hotels and resorts can offer a valuable service to guests who drive electric car, helping them recharge their EVs quickly and get back on the road. Many hotels also provide EV charging as a concierge service, parking the guest’s car and charging it up for their next adventure.
In addition to offering charging to guests, hotels and resorts can also charge visitors for the use of their fast charger. This can be a great revenue stream, especially for hotels and resorts located near major highways or popular tourist destinations.
Many hotels and resorts have rental car fleets, and if those fleets include EVs, having a fast charger on site can be extremely beneficial. It allows you to charge your rental cars quickly and efficiently, ensuring that they are always ready to go when your guests need them.
When choosing a DC fast charger, there are a few key factors to consider. First and foremost, it should be compact, as space can be limited at hotels and resorts. It should also be modular and upgradable, so that you can easily upgrade chargers and add more chargers as demand increases. Finally, it should be reliable, as downtime can be costly. For help choosing a charger for your hotel or resort, contact one of our experts today.
Installing a DC fast charger can be a complex process, so it’s important to work with a qualified installer. Factors to consider include site power availability (make sure you have enough electrical capacity to support the charger), rules and regulations (building codes, permits, and zoning restrictions), and site prep (pouring a concrete pad for the charger).
There are a number of incentives available to help offset the cost of installing a DC fast charger. In the US, for example, there is a federal tax credit of up to 30% of the cost of the charger, up to a maximum of $100,000. Additionally, some states and municipalities offer their own rebates and grants. In the EU, there are various grants and subsidies available through national, regional, and utility programs.
Adding DC fast chargers to your hotel or resort can be a smart investment that helps you stand out from the competition, generate revenue, and provide a valuable service to your guests and visitors. To learn more about DC fast charging and how you can install chargers at your hotel or resort, contact one of our experts today.
Commercial electric vehicles (EVs) are the future. They’re clean, efficient, easier to maintain, and cost less to own and operate than gas or diesel-powered trucks and vans. But electrifying your fleet isn’t as simple as placing an order at your local commercial vehicle dealer. Here are some of the barriers to fleet electrification and how you can overcome them.
Cost is the number-one barrier to fleet electrification. Thankfully, there are many incentive programs to reduce EV purchase prices, and ways to spread purchase costs over time.
Finding the right commercial EV for your fleet can be overwhelming. But commercial EVs aren’t that different than their gas and diesel-powered counterparts. Here are just a few differences to consider:
Range anxiety can be significant if you’re thinking about electrifying your fleet. But there are ways to ease range anxiety and meet your fleet’s charging needs.
EV charging infrastructure is expanding at a blistering pace. According to the International Energy Agency, publicly accessible chargers worldwide approached 1.8 million in 2021 and a third of those were DC fast chargers. Still, installing DC fast chargers at your depots or warehouses can help you take control of energy/fueling costs and relieve range anxiety. Here are some tips for building your own charging sites:
For more guidance on how to build your charging sites, read our article: How to Save When Building an EV Charging Site.
Electric vehicles have fewer moving parts than traditional gas or diesel vehicles, leading to lower maintenance costs. But they do require some specialized knowledge and maintenance. Here are some tips to keep your EVs on the road.
There are many benefits to electrifying your fleet, including lower total cost of ownership, reduced emissions and fuel costs, improved efficiency, increased sustainability, and increased profitability. These are just a few tips to help you get started. For more help electrifying your fleet, talk to one of our fleet EV charging experts today. We can help you find incentives, plan your charging sites, and connect you with other fleet EV industry experts to help you choose the right mix of vehicles to meet your needs.
More people are buying and driving electric vehicles (EVs) than ever before. According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance (NEF), global EV sales went from 3.2 million in 2020 to 10.3 million in 2022. All those EVs will need a place to charge up and retail shopping areas may be the perfect places to do it. EV drivers can charge while they shop and dine, giving them more reasons to visit your shops and restaurants. Chargers are also good for business as they can attract EV drivers, boost sales, and generate additional revenue.
People love multitasking. If we can do two things at once, we will. If there’s a direct-current (DC) fast charger at the local retail outlet, EV drivers can charge while they shop. It typically takes between 30 minutes to an hour to fully charge an EV with a DC fast charger, which is more than enough time for a shopping trip or meal. If EV drivers see your charger on the map, they’ll be more likely to visit your stores and restaurants so they can charge up while they shop or dine.
Many large retail, dining, and convenience chains have recognized that DC fast chargers can increase foot traffic and sales. This year convenience store giant 7-Eleven announced their 7Charge EV charging network. The retail giant will install DC fast chargers at their convenience stores across the US. Fast-food restaurant chain Subway also recently announced that they will be installing EV chargers at their stores. Coffee giant Starbucks have also followed suit and are installing EV chargers at some of their store locations.
DC fast chargers can draw more customers, but those customers can also purchase more goods and services while their EVs charge up. EV drivers tend to have higher incomes than average consumers and therefore have higher spending potential. Last year charging network EVgo surveyed users about their charging and spending habits at retail locations. The survey found that chargers enticed EV drivers to the shopping malls and that they spent about $1 a minute shopping while their EVs.
The world is building EV charging infrastructure at a blistering pace. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), more than 500k chargers were installed globally in 2021 alone. BloombergNEF predicts that the cumulative global investment in charging infrastructure will exceed $1 trillion between today and 2040. They estimate that fast chargers will deliver 50 percent of EV energy demand and will account for 60% of total charging investment.
The world is investing in EV infrastructure to meet charging demand, but it’s also investing in EV infrastructure for profit. Petrol provider BP recently released financial results for its 13,000 EV charging stations and found that they earn just about as much money as a typical petrol station. The company expects to earn between $9 and $10 billion by 2030 from its EV charging stations and renewable energy projects.
EV chargers can generate significant revenue for their owners. A recent survey from E Source found that EV drivers are willing to pay for the conveneince and speed of fast charging even though it costs less to charge at home. The survey found that “24% of EV owners or those considering an EV said they would use a fast charger every time they could, 59% would use it when convenient, and 15% would use it in an emergency.” There is clearly a demand for fast charging among EV owners.
There are also many government incentives and tax credits available for businesses that purchase EV chargers. Your business may qualify for government subsidies to offset the purchase of a DC fast charger. The recent Inflation Reduction Act in the United States provides tax incentives of up to 30% of the total cost of EV charger installation. There are also many incentives for EVs and EV charging equipment in Europe, as outlined by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association here.
DC fast chargers can do more than just charge up an EV, they can supercharge your retail business. Chat with one of our experts today to learn more about EV chargers and how they can help you attract more customers and increase revenue.
By Matt Stace, Senior Sales Manager, Tritium
Tritium’s senior sales manager for Europe Matt Stace recently sat down with sustainable transport experts Electronomous to talk about EV charging in Europe. This article appeared in their annual publication “Global Thought Leaders’ Predictions for Mobility 2023.”
Norway, one of the earliest consumer markets to embrace electric vehicles, has steadily increased the number of full or partial electric passenger vehicles registered over the last decade. While Norway now leads the world with fully electric vehicles comprising 20.9% of the national vehicle fleet, the rate of growth over the last 10 years has allowed the orderly establishment of charging infrastructure such that the ratio of electric vehicles to chargers has actually fallen. Norway has largely avoided charging bottlenecks.
Multiple data sources confirm a much more rapid increase in the number of electric vehicles in other markets. EVs in Germany, for example, moved from 2% to 10% market share in just 12 months, less than half the time taken in Norway. Denmark recently surpassed 100,000 registered EVs in 2022, and more than 21% and 33% of new vehicles registered in Denmark and Sweden during 2022 were fully electric.
In cities where drivers have no access to at-home charging, it is highly likely that charging bottlenecks will appear if a corresponding increase in the number of public chargers does not occur. To meet the twin goals of maximizing the number of available plugs for drivers and ensuring an adequate return on investment for operators, it is important that operators invest in chargers that provide a power level that matches the time a driver expects to spend at the location.
Battery chemistry, state of charge, software and temperatures all determine how fast an EV charges, rather than the maximum power output of the charger. In a type of charger arms race, some operators are making the expensive mistake of installing chargers with ever increasing rates of power output regardless of the charger’s location. An average passenger vehicle during an average charging session absorbs power at a much lower rate than the peak output available from many such chargers. A recent study in Denmark found that a group of new electric cars charge at an average rate of just 62kW.
For all but a few operators, investing in high-power chargers in locations where drivers do not require it will come at the expense of providing more plugs to meet the needs of the growing car fleet. There is a strong financial case to be made that installing a larger number of mid-power charging stations sufficient to meet the real-world needs of a growing EV fleet is a far more capital efficient way to invest in charging infrastructure and to avoid the type of charging bottlenecks that drivers hate. If given the choice, most EV drivers would prefer to have access to some power — even at less than the peak rate their vehicle can accept for a short period — than wait in line for a high-power plug to be available.
Building charging infrastructure that thoughtfully matches potential power output to real-world needs rather than a single-minded focus on providing high-power chargers with capacity that may never or rarely be used, is one way to ensure that drivers do not experience bottlenecks as the fleet of passenger vehicles electrifies.
Want to learn how capital efficient EV charging systems can work for you? Contact Tritium today!
Sustainability is crucial to building a better world. During Earth Month we’re exploring ways businesses can improve sustainability through electric vehicles and electric vehicle charging.
Electrifying transportation is key to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and mitigating the effects of global warming. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), about 37% of CO2 emissions in 2021 came from the transportation sector. Transitioning to electric vehicles (EVs) can help reduce GHG emissions and avoid climate disaster.
But there are immediate benefits to electrifying your fleet: Switching your fleet to EVs can save you a lot of money in long-term fuel and maintenance costs, give you more control over when and where you fuel or charge up, and even help you operate in more locations across the globe.
EVs eliminate tailpipe emissions and greatly reduce GHG emissions even when they’re charged with power generated with fossil fuel powerplants. EVs are far more efficient than ICE vehicles, which means it takes less energy of any type (even fossil fuel energy) to move them. Higher efficiency means fewer GHG emissions. Additionally, it’s easier to control emissions at a few power plants than it is to control them in millions of vehicles. Lastly, EVs can also easily be powered by renewable energy sources like solar, wind, wave, and geothermal power.
Switching to EVs can also help offset your business’ carbon emissions, reducing tax burdens and helping to avoid any future penalties or fines for carbon emissions.
EVs are inherently less complex than ICE vehicles. According to a recent Forbes article, the typical internal combustion engine (ICE) drivetrain has about 2,000 moving parts while a typical EV’s drivetrain has about 20. And because EVs have fewer moving parts, it’s estimated their drivetrains (motors and transmissions) should last much longer than their ICE counterparts. Many EV drivetrains are engineered to run for up to 500,000 miles without service.
According to a study by the US Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the estimated scheduled maintenance costs for ICE vehicles is approximately 10.1 cents per mile compared to just 6.1 cents per mile for EVs.
According to Consumer Reports, EV drivers pay half as much for repairs and maintenance. Consumer Reports also found that EV drivers can expect to save an average of $4,600 in repairs and maintenance over the life of the vehicle.
More research by the Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory found that EV maintenance costs are 30% lower than ICE vehicles.
Diesel and gasoline prices fluctuate wildly, but they have steadily rose over time and are subject to large price increases due to conflicts, natural disasters, and political turmoil. These events often have more of an effect on fossil fuel prices than electricity prices. And while electricity prices have risen significantly in Europe, they are still lower than the price of gas or diesel when used for transportation. A recent study by Dutch automotive lease provider Leaseplan found that despite energy price inflation, “fuel costs remain significantly lower for electric cars than petrol and diesel cars: fuel costs represent 15% of the total cost of ownership of an EV, while this is 23% and 28% for petrol and diesel drivers.”
EVs will almost always have lower fuel costs than ICE vehicles because they are more efficient. According to Motortrend Magazine, between 74 and 84 percent of the energy contained in gasoline is lost to heat and friction in an ICE vehicle. If you were to spend €1.80 on a liter of gasoline, only €.36 worth of it is used to move your vehicle. In comparison, only 31-35 percent of the energy in an EV’s batteries is wasted: 10 percent of the source energy from the grid lost in the charging process, 18 percent lost to the drivetrain motor components, up to 4 percent lost to auxiliary components, and another 3 percent lost through powertrain cooling and other vehicle systems.
ICE vehicles rely on networks of fuel stations that may or may not be near your established routes. If you build your own charging network, EVs give you the freedom to charge up when and where you want. Installing EV fast chargers at your offices or distribution centers can:
EVs can charge up overnight and run all day. Amazon plans to deploy a fleet of more than 100,000 EVs for last-mile, in-town deliveries by 2030. The retail giant will use Rivian delivery trucks and trucks from other manufacturers for deliveries across the world. Amazon expects the trucks to run for 12 hours a day and to charge up using DC fast chargers at Amazon distribution centers. The vans are expected to have a 300,000-mile lifespan before major maintenance, greatly reducing total cost of ownership. With these Rivian vans and DC fast charging at its distribution centers, Amazon can eliminate fuel stops and reduce downtime during operating hours.
Many governments around the world are offering financial incentives to make the switch to EVs. Nearly every country in Europe also offers some form of incentive to purchase EVs and EV charging equipment. The European Automobile Manufacturer’s Association (ACEA) has compiled a comprehensive list of EV incentives by European member countries. Many countries are offering thousands to offset the cost of new EVs, and most also offer incentives to purchase EV charging equipment. For example, France is offering up to 40% off the purchase and installation costs of EV charging points for businesses and public entities. There are also many other regional and city incentives available throughout Europe.
In the United Kingdom, the government offers up to £2,500 in incentives for the purchase of a new electric car. Additionally, the UK government has approved £30 million of funding in 2022 to 2023 for fast charging infrastructure, including DC fast chargers. The UK government is authorizing up to £13,000 in grant money per public charge point.
In the US, many states offer tax credits for electric delivery vehicles, and the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes $5 billion to help states build extensive EV charging infrastructure. There are also many state and regional incentives in the form of tax credits or grants available in the US. You can read more about them in our article here.
In Australia, the Treasury Laws Amendment (Electric Car Discount) Bill provides $2000 off the price of battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV). The bill also delivers Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) exemptions for fleets and novated leases. Australia also raised the Luxury Car Tax threshold for low-emission vehicles to $84,916, from $71,849. The FBT savings amount to about $4700 for an individual.
Our experts can help you plan your fleet’s transition to electric vehicles. Our experts have decades of experience helping logistic companies, public transportation agencies, trucking companies, and rideshare companies integrate EVs and EV fast charging into their business models.