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.
Electric vehicles (EVs) are great for deliveries, maintenance, and other commercial businesses within city limits. They are clean, quiet, and ultra-efficient at lower inner-city speeds. They could also be the only option for running your commercial business downtown as more metros across the globe restrict or ban internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in cities. Madrid has already banned ICE vehicles in its downtown and Paris, Athens, and Mexico City have all agreed to ban diesel-powered vehicles by 2025. If you are a building maintenance provider, tradesman, florist, window washer, cleaning company, mobile auto detailer, mobile auto maintenance provider, mobile dog groomer, or any type of small, medium, or large business, you will need EVs to serve customers in many major cities around the world.
Thankfully, many manufacturers are bringing electric vans and commercial vehicles to market, and many have already secured orders from world’s largest retailers and logistics companies and are selling their vehicles to businesses around the world. Here are some new commercial EVs hitting the market in the coming months that could help you make your business more sustainable and prepare you for future legislation or limiting of diesel-powered vehicles.
California-based Mullen Automotive is delivering its I-Go micro delivery vehicle to European cities in 2023. The compact four-door hatchback is perfect for last-mile deliveries in dense European cities. The I-Go is essentially a rebadged Chinese Xiaohu FEV car. It features a 16.5kWh battery pack that is good for 124 miles (200km) on a single charge thanks to the car’s small size and light weight. With a top speed of just 62mph (100kph), the I-Go will not be a great highway vehicle, but with a 34kW motor it will have enough power to compete with urban traffic.
The I-Go meets EU standards and will be available for sale throughout Europe, the UK, Australia, and the US. Mullen has priced the I-Go at just $11,999 (£9900).
French car maker Citroën has released the ë-Dispatch modular electric cargo van in Europe and the UK. The van can be configured for delivery, maintenance work, carpentry, or any other trade its owners need it for. Accessories include exterior cargo racks, interior shelving, and tow hitches. The van has a range of 196 miles (315km) with a 75kWh battery and can charge up to 100kW, giving it 80 percent charge in about 30 minutes. It can carry up to 1,400kg (3,086 pounds) and has about 6,600 liters (233 cubic feet) of cargo volume. The van has a built-in infotainment system, a spot to hold a tablet, and hands-free sliding doors. The ë-Dispatch has a starting price of about £26,000 in the UK.
California-based Canoo made headlines last year when it announced that retail giant Walmart agreed to purchase 4,500 of its new electric Lifestyle Delivery Vehicle (LDV) electric vans. Several pre-production LDVs were rolled out for testing in Dallas, Texas in 2022 and Canoo plans to deliver production LDVs to Walmart in 2023. Walmart can purchase up to 10,000 LDVs for last-mile deliveries across the US, but the LDV will be available to other businesses too. Canoo has not released official pricing for the LDV, but the company’s consumer Lifestyle Vehicle passenger van is priced at $39,950.
The LDV is equipped with comforts like a tilting, telescoping, heated steering wheel, heated seats and mirrors, automatic wipers, a 10.2-inch touchscreen, and nearfield communication (NFC) smartphone keyless interface. Canoo can also outfit the LDV with interior power outlets, shelves and racks, bin and tote management systems, and roof racks. Last, but not least, Canoo offers custom vinyl wraps for company branding. The Canoo promises to be a great option for small-to-medium businesses looking to electrify their commercial vehicles.
Retail juggernaut Amazon agreed to purchase 100,000 Rivian delivery EVs for use in the US and worldwide. The first 1,000 Rivian Electric Delivery Vans (EDVs) have already been making deliveries around the US. The EDV is offered in three lengths with three different cargo capacities—500, 700, and 900 cubic feet (25,485 liters max). The front-wheel-drive vans have a range of about 150 miles (240km) loaded and can charge at 50kW. It has a heated and air-conditioned driver’s seat and a full infotainment system onboard. The cargo area is outfitted with LED lighting and shelves to store packages. The EDV also uses modular body panels that can be easily replaced if damaged. Rivian has not released pricing for the EDV, but the company plans to start selling them to companies other than Amazon in 2023. The Rivian EDV is larger than the Canoo, but could be a great option for business who need to carry larger cargo or who need more interior space for equipment and power tools.
BrightDrop, General Motors’ electric van subsidiary, has sold 2,500 of its electric delivery vans to shipping giant FedEx. The shipping company could purchase up to 10,000 BrightDrop EVs in the future and Walmart has also placed an order. The BrightDrop Zevo 600 can haul up to 2,200 pounds (998kg) and has about 250 miles (402km) of range. The van was designed for utility with low step heights and a configurable area. Pricing info for the Zevo 600 has not been released yet. A smaller Zevo 400 for tight urban environments is also in the works. BrightDrop EVs may be available in Europe in the future, but for now they are only available in the US.
The venerable Ford Transit has gone electric. The E-Transit van is available in three different roof heights, three body lengths, and three configurations. The vans have a range between 108 miles (173km) and 126 miles (202km) and can be equipped with Ford’s 2.4kW Pro Power Onboard power supply that can be used for power tools. It also comes standard with Ford’s SYNC infotainment system and air conditioning. The flexibly utility van starts at $49,575 and can be equipped with a wide variety of gear to make hauling and working easier. It is also available in a variety of colors. The Ford E-Transit is available in the US, Europe, and the UK.
Spartan Motors (now known as the Shyft Group) has built more than half of all Class 3 through 5 square-bodied, riveted walk-in vans on the road in the US. The Michigan-based company oversees truck and truck chassis manufacturers Spartan RV, Utilimaster, Strobes-R-Us, General Truck Body, Royal Truck Body, DuraMag and Magnum, and Blue Arc. Blue Arc is the company’s foray into electric delivery vehicles and their first EV is a modular, configurable Class 3 to 6 delivery van (12-16-foot length options). The van uses a new motor/differential from well-known driveline manufacturer Dana. In traditional rear wheel drive drivelines, power is sent from the engine or motor do the rear wheels via a driveshaft. Dana has mounted the motor directly on the rear differential, negating the need for a driveshaft.
The Blue Arc can be outfitted with two 164-240kWh battery packs good for about 150 miles of range when loaded to 50-percent capacity. The Blue Arch motor and battery runs on 800-volt architecture, meaning it can charge up its batteries in just two hours. For now, Blue Arc electric vans are only available in the US, but they could be a great option for businesses that need extra cargo and hauling capacity for large-scale jobs.
If you want to learn more about how to electrify your fleet, contact one of our experts today.
Sustainability is crucial to building a better world. During Earth Month we’ll explore ways businesses can improve sustainability through electric vehicles and electric vehicle charging.
We know that electric vehicles (EVs) can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but how sustainable is EV charging? Short answer: More than filling up a gas tank, regardless of the power source.
According to Climate Watch, ground transportation is responsible for 11.9 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Those emissions are the result of directly burning gas and diesel fuel in internal combustion engines (ICEs). Reducing or eliminating greenhouse gas emissions from ground transportation is crucial to reducing the effects of climate change. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that humanity needs to keep global warming to under 2° C by the year 2100 to avoid catastrophe. Swapping our ICE vehicles for EVs will help us hit that target. However, there’s a catch.
More than 63 percent of our electricity worldwide is generated using fossil fuels. Surprisingly, switching to EVs without switching to low-carbon energy sources will still help reduce emissions. EVs eliminate tailpipe emissions and reduce greenhouse gas emissions even when they’re charged with power generated with fossil fuel powerplants. That’s because EVs are far more efficient than ICE-powered vehicles.
Motortrend Magazine found that 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 isn’t used to push the car down the road.
EVs can be charged using power from renewable energy sources like solar, wind, geothermal, nuclear, hydro, and tidal. Currently only 36 percent of global energy comes from low-carbon sources, but that figure is growing daily. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that global renewable power capacity will grow by 2400 gigawatts (GW) between 2022 and 2027—that’s about the current total power output of China. The estimate is 30 percent greater than the group’s predictions in 2021 and the IEA estimates that renewable energy sources will account for more than 90% of global electricity expansion during the next five years. According to the IEA, the world is set to add as much renewable power in the next 5 years as it did in the past 20. And powering EVs with renewable energy will drastically reduce atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions.will drastically reduce atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions.
Manufacturing has to be considered when assessing the sustainability of any technology. EVs store energy in batteries, which are complex and energy intensive to manufacture. Do those complex, mineral-rich batteries make EVs and EV charging unsustainable when compared to their ICE counterparts? No, even when considering the energy and materials needed to make lithium-ion batteries, EVs are still more sustainable than ICE vehicles.
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory recently conducted a study to estimate total lifetime greenhouse gas emission for both a gasoline car and an EV with a 300-mile electric range. They found that the emissions associated with building EVs are slightly higher than they are for ICE vehicles, but lifetime emissions are less than half.
The lower lifetime greenhouse gas emissions are the result of greater EV efficiency and the greater estimated overall lifespan of EVs. EVs are less complex than ICE vehicles. The typical internal-combustion engine (ICE) drivetrain has about 2,000 moving parts while a typical EV’s drivetrain has about 20. Because of that, it’s estimated EV drivetrains (motors and transmissions) should last longer than their ICE counterparts. Many EV drivetrains are engineered to run for up to 500,000 miles without service. That far exceeds the typical ICE drivetrain lifespan of about 133,000 miles.
EVs (and EV charging) are better for the environment and humanity than ICE-powered vehicles. When powered by renewable energy, they become the most sustainable form of powered transportation we’ve created. EVs and their charging infrastructure are crucial to our future. And governments around the world are investing heavily in EVs and EV charging infrastructure. The United States federal government is providing more than $5 billion in funding and incentives to build a coast-to-coast fast charging network and the European Union has dedicated $270 billion to its own green new deal to invest in renewable energy and other sustainability projects, including EV charging. EVs and EV charging infrastructure are here to stay for the long term and they’ll help humanity reduce greenhouse gas emissions and avoid catastrophic climate change.
Contact us today to consult an expert about how to get started with EV charging for your business.
Finding space for EV charging infrastructure in Ireland’s dense and compact cities, towns, and villages can be a challenge. Street parking is limited and many residents don’t have access to car parks outfitted with direct current (DC) electric vehicle (EV) fast chargers. EasyGo, has teamed up with Ireland’s leading telecommunications company, eir, to find a solution. eir is working with EasyGo to convert hundreds of former telephone booth locations to DC fast charging locations. EasyGo chose Tritium’s 50-75kW all-in-one, modular DC fast chargers to get the job done and serve the needs of drivers.
EasyGo is the largest private car charging network operating in Ireland. It hosts and operates more than 3,000 chargers throughout the country and has more than 35,000 subscribers. The company was founded in 2018 and is headquartered in Maynooth, Kildare. EasyGo’s mission is to provide EV drivers with the network they need to make sustainable transport a reality. EasyGo has approximately 30 employees and offices in Belfast and Cork. EasyGo are supported by Rubicon, one of the world’s leading investment banking firms focused solely on the infrastructure, energy, and utilities sectors.
According to the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI), about 1 out of every 7 cars sold in Ireland in 2022 were fully electric. Ireland needs a network of fast chargers to keep up with growing demand. Additionally, transport accounts for one-third of Ireland’s energy-related CO2 emissions so increasing adoption of EVs is a key aspect in Ireland’s Climate Action Plan.
Ireland’s eir phone booth locations are great for building that network, but they were never meant to have a large footprint. When EasyGo was tasked with converting the spaces into EV charging sites, they needed an all-in-one charger with a compact footprint that could be easily installed in the same space as a typical phone booth. The chargers would also need to provide reliable, fast charging capable of recharging an EV in a matter of minutes to maximize charger usage.
EasyGo chose Tritium’s RTM compact and modular 50-75kW DC fast chargers. Two RTM chargers can easily fit in the space formerly occupied by a single phone booth. The charger is sealed against the elements (IP65 rated), is liquid cooled, and is modular which means it can be easily upgraded, maintained, and serviced. “The RTM is the perfect solution for tight spaces like the former eir phone booth plots,” said Chris Kelly, Founder and Technical Director of EasyGo. “And its modular design lets us configure it based on site power availability—some sites can handle 75kW chargers, others 50kW. The RTM gives us the flexibility to spec the right charger for the location.”
EasyGo ordered more than 200 Tritium RTM chargers to install at sites around Ireland. The chargers will be configured to deliver 50kW or 75kW based on site power availability.
EasyGo and eir launched their new program in May 2022 and installed Tritium chargers at 70 locations in the counties of Offaly, Mayo, Cavan, Waterford, Kilkenny, and Tipperary. EasyGo are actively engaged with other local authorities to identify 120 additional locations across Ireland to install new Tritium DC fast chargers, and this program will be delivered at zero cost to county councils.
“Electric vehicles are a critical part of the Government’s Climate Action Plan which sets out a target of almost one million electric vehicles on the road by 2030,” said eir CEO Oliver Loomes. “We are proud to partner with EasyGo and each of these county councils to assist in the installation of EV charging points across the country. This new infrastructure will benefit the community the way the public payphone service once did. Today, EasyGo and eir are in discussion with county councils across the country, and we hope others will follow this lead. By replacing unused infrastructure with fast EV charging, we are helping to make the transition to electric vehicle ownership a viable alternative for people across Ireland.”
Tritium’s stand-alone RTM75 50kW-75kW DC fast charger is perfect for retail environments or anywhere a compact, all-in-one charger is required.
During the past few years, the global electric vehicle (EV) industry has experienced tremendous growth. According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, total global electric vehicle sales went from approximately 3.2 million in 2020 to 10.3 million in 2022. The firm predicts more than 13 million EV sales in 2023 and exponential growth in the coming years—as many as 20 million EV sales in 2025. Global sales of commercial EVs also more than doubled in 2021 and Bloomberg reports that large global truck makers expect 35 to 60 percent of their annual sales to be electric trucks by 2025.
EV charging infrastructure is growing as well. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), there were nearly 1.8 million public charging points worldwide in 2021. Nearly 500k chargers were installed globally just in that same year. According to the IEA, the average annual fast charger deployment growth rate in 2021 was 48 percent. BloombergNEF estimates that between now and 2040 the growing global EV fleet will require between 340 and 490 million chargers to stay on the road. The firm also predicts that the cumulative global investment in global 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.
There is undoubtedly a huge push to build global DC fast charging networks. The US government is providing more than $5 billion in funding and incentives to build a coast-to-coast fast charging network, and many countries in Europe are rolling out similar programs to spur EV charging infrastructure growth. 2023 will be a big year for EVs and EV charging, but there’s more to the story. In this article we’ll explore some trends and predictions for the EV and EV charging industry in 2023 and beyond.
On February 15, 2023, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Biden Administration announced standards for chargers purchased and installed with NEVI funding. These include:
Chargers used in NEVI projects must also meet Buy America standards:
Tritium will soon announce the company’s NEVI solution, which is expected to meet all the requirements outlined by the FHWA and the Biden Administration, and will be built in our new Tennessee facility.
NEVI is accelerating EV charging infrastructure rollout in the US, but we’re just at the beginning of the exponential growth curve. Many states are just getting started with their NEVI programs and most won’t be ready to install chargers until later in 2023. We predict that NEVI chargers will start to be deployed en masse in 2024.
Norway proudly proclaims that it’s the EV capital of the world—for good reason. In 2022, 73% of new cars sold in Norway were EVs and the country plans to transition its entire fleet to EVs by 2025. The country is fueling the transition with a combination of incentives and taxes on fossil-fuel-powered vehicles.
Norway is expanding its DC fast charging network to keep up with its growing EV fleet. The country of 5.3 million people has more than 18k public charging stations total and more than 5k DC fast charging stations. That gives the country one of the highest ratios of EVs to charging stations in the world. Demand for DC fast chargers remains steady in Norway, and the country is installing the fastest-available chargers along highway corridors to facilitate longer trips with EVs and electric trucks. We anticipate that Norway will continue to build out its charging networks, upgrading low-speed chargers with high-speed DC fast chargers in 2023.
Germany also saw rapid growth in EV charging infrastructure in 2022. The number of public charging stations grew from around 25k to 30k over the course of the year. Most of those were DC fast charging stations. Germany has approximately 13,192 kilometres (8,197 mi) of Autobahn (highways), where DC fast charging is key to crossing the country in short timeframes. German automakers have been at the forefront of fast charging, producing some of the fastest-charging cars in the world. Volkswagen (VW), the world’s largest automaker in 2022, released a series of EVs under its brands VW and Audi in 2022 capable of DC fast charging. The flagship Audi e-tron GT is capable of charging at a maximum rate of 270kW and most VW EVs charge at a maximum 120kW rate. DC fast chargers will be key for German EV owners and many charging stations in Germany have already upgraded to ultra-fast 350kW-plus DC chargers.
Both countries will also be deploying more heavy freight electric trucks, which have large-capacity battery packs and can especially benefit from 350kW-plus charging. We anticipate Germany and Norway leading the charge to 350kW DC fast chargers in 2023.
In 2022 many companies began electrifying their fleets. Walmart purchased 4,500 Canoo Electric Delivery Vehicles (EDVs) and reserved 5k GM BrightDrop electric vans for last-mile deliveries. The company also trialed Freightliner eCascadia and Nikola heavy electric trucks for larger deliveries. Amazon also recently rolled out a fleet of Rivian electric trucks to 100 cities across the US and plans to eventually deploy 100,000 electric trucks for deliveries. The United States Post Office is also going electric, promising to spend nearly $10 billion on a fleet of more than 60k EVs by 2028.
In Europe, Amazon is also planning to spend €1 billion to electrify its delivery fleet. Many other companies are already switching to electric delivery vehicles to reduce noise and air pollution in cities. In early 2023, Germany opened up its first electric truck corridor designed specifically for heavy freight vehicles. The 600-km (373-mile) stretch of the Rhine-Alpine corridor across Germany has six charging locations that feature ultra-fast 300kW charging specifically for heavy trucks. Swedish truck maker Volvo also started delivering their heavy freight EV, the VNR electric, across the world. The truck gets a range of 440km (275 miles) from its massive 565kWh battery and is capable of easily hauling heavy loads long distances.
Many rideshare fleets are also going electric or partially electric. US-based rideshare company Revel is fully electric and in Europe Uber has teamed up with Hertz to make 25k EVs available to rideshare drivers. Uber also says that nearly 50k drivers in the US have rented a Tesla through the program and have completed more that 24 million fully electric trips. Uber plans all of its trips to be “zero emissions” under its Green Program by the end of the decade. US rideshare company Lyft has also vowed to go 100% electric by 2030.
Tritium has received orders for DC fast chargers from fleet operators around the globe and we anticipate more fleets will continue to transition to electric in 2023.
Many EVs have relied on 400v battery architecture, but the future is 800v and beyond. Twice the voltage means significantly faster charging times for EVs. The Audi e-tron GT and Porsche Taycan, Lucid Air, Hyundai IONIQ 5 + 6, and Kia EV6 already use 800v architecture and they are capable of gaining about 200 miles of range in under 20 minutes. 800v battery systems can also be smaller than 400v systems. We believe that more auto manufacturers will make the move to 800v architectures in 2023 and beyond. Toyota/Lexus is already working on 800v systems and much of the industry is expected to shift to 800v systems by 2025. These faster-charging EVs can take full advantage of ultrafast 350kW+ chargers currently on the market or in development. Tritium is currently planning to release a 400kW charger in the near future to meet the needs of ultrafast charging EVs.
But not every EV needs to charge at blistering speeds. Many commercial and fleet EVs can charge up over an hour-long lunch break or slowly overnight. That means commercial EV fleet owners can be better served by multiple, smaller DC fast chargers. DC wall box chargers offer high-speed charging in a compact, affordable, and scalable package. Tritium is currently developing a DC fast charging wall box for our PKM system. These compact chargers will connect to our PKM power rectification units and provide DC fast charging at scale for commercial fleet EVs. We expect the market for wall box DC fast chargers to grow in pace with the growth of commercial fleet EVs.
Alternating current (AC) chargers were cheap and convenient in the early days of EV infrastructure. But they’re slow, capable of delivering a maximum power of just 22kW. Many public AC charging points are being replaced with DC chargers to improve turnaround. Even lower-power DC fast chargers (50kW) can charge EVs in half the time of the best AC chargers. DC chargers are becoming the standard for public charging. According to the IEA, the rate of DC charger adoption has grown faster than the rate for AC charger installations between 2015 and 2021.
In 2020, Europe installed far more DC fast chargers than AC chargers and in 2021 the number of fast charger installations were up 30% to about 50k units. The United States also saw rapid growth in DC fast charger installations during the same time. More than 15k DC fast chargers were installed in Korea in 2021, 50% more than 2020.
Tritium expects to see continued growth in DC fast charging, and slowing growth for AC charging. We still see a role for AC charging at home where one or two cars can charge overnight, but many public AC chargers simply won’t be feasible for many charge point operators or businesses.
The EV charging market is growing fast. It helps to have experts by your side who can keep up with the changes and developments in EV charging. Our experts monitor and analyze the EV charging industry, its developments and regulations, and the latest trends and developments. Contact us today to learn how EV charging could help your business be more sustainable, efficient, and profitable.
Not all EV chargers are equal. Like EVs, they come in many different configurations and offer different features. Whether you’re shopping for a personal electric vehicle or you’re thinking about electrifying your fleet, sorting it all out can be a chore. Here we’ll briefly explain the different types of chargers, how they work, and what it all means for people who use their EVs for at home or for business.
To make sense of EV chargers, the EV industry created three “levels” of charging that roughly correlate to charging power and speed—level 1 being the lowest power/slowest speed. This gives us a straightforward way to categorize and organize EV chargers.
Level 1 charging is the slowest and most accessible form of charging. It uses the standard home wall outlet (120v in US, 220v in EU) and your EV’s onboard charging hardware to charge your EV’s batteries. Level 1 charging usually delivers around 3-5 miles (5-8 km) of range per hour of charging. Not great, but if you leave your EV plugged in overnight you’ll probably have enough power to get to work in the morning. On the other hand, if you’re going on a road trip, it could take more than 30 hours to get 105 miles (169 km) of range. Level 1 charging is slow, but it’s cheap—the equipment comes with your EV and all you really need is an extension cord. If you have a short commute or work from home, you may not need more than level 1 charging.
But if you have a longer commute, or if you can’t wait a few days to fully charge your EV, you’ll need something faster. And if you’re running a fleet, level 1 charging won’t delivery anywhere near the power you need.
Level 2 is the fastest way to charge your vehicle at home. It uses the 240v power lines in your home that are dedicated to high-power appliances like clothes dryers, electric ovens, or central air conditioners. These higher-voltage lines provide more current (amperage) than a standard wall outlet, which means you can charge your EV faster. A level 2 charger can fully charge most passenger EVs in 8-10 hours, which is about three times as fast as a level 1 charger.
Depending on your home, you may need to have an electrician install a second 240-volt power outlet with its own circuit breaker to use a level 2 charger. Some chargers need to be hard wired into your home’s electrical system by a certified electrician and may also require a separate circuit breaker. Many can be used without a dedicated circuit breaker at lower charging levels. It’s also possible to use your existing clothes dryer outlet, swapping out the dryer’s plug for your charger’s when you need to. But before you use any level 2 charger, it’s a good idea to have an electrician inspect your home’s electrical system to make sure it can handle the power draw. High-power chargers and appliances can overload your home’s wiring, causing blown circuit breakers or even fires.
Level 2 charging may work great at home, but it won’t deliver enough power for businesses or fleets. They require more power to charge batteries much faster.
Level 3 charging doesn’t really exist as a category—it’s just a convenient way to categorize everything faster than level 2 charging. When a company or publication mentions level 3 charging, they mean DC fast charging.
Direct current (DC) fast charging is the fastest way to charge up your EV. Lithium-ion batteries store and release DC power, and there’s no way to charge them without first transforming the alternating current (AC) power in the electrical grid to DC power. Level 2 home chargers can only handle so much power. Commercial DC fast chargers connect directly to high-voltage AC power lines and have dedicated infrastructure for transforming it into DC power. Because of this, they can deliver much more power than level 2 home chargers. DC fast chargers can typically charge an EV from 20 to 80 percent in as little as 15 minutes. They are perfect for highways, retail environments, delivery vehicles, and even electrical industrial equipment.
DC fast chargers like our PKM150 are a quick and convenient way for EV drivers to charge up while they’re shopping, taking a road trip, or even grabbing a bite to eat. They will also be essential to “last-mile” delivery EVs that deliver goods from local warehouses to homes and businesses. Walmart and Amazon have both purchased electric delivery vehicles for last-mile delivery and they plan to purchase more in the coming years.
For a deeper dive into how DC fast chargers work, read our article here.
Expect to see more DC fast chargers at shopping centers, restaurants, rest stops, gas stations, and even convenience stores. Unlike gas stations, they can be purchased and installed by any business who has the space to install them. Modular chargers like our PKM and RTM series can be purchased and installed in “base” configurations and then upgraded over time to meet increased demand. According to a recent BNEF report, the world will need approximately 290 million more electric vehicle (EV) charging points by 2040 to keep up with the growing global EV fleet. The U.S EV market alone is projected to grow from $28.24 billion in 2021 to $137.43 billion in 2028.
If you’re interested in installing a DC fast charger for your business, contact a member of our sales team today: