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Light-duty fleets are some of the best candidates for electrification due to their low cost of ownership, savings on gas, and relatively short daily driving distances. These fleets often operate within set patterns, making it easier to plan charging schedules. However, transitioning to electric vehicles (EVs) comes with its own set of challenges, such as ensuring charging availability, managing energy consumption, and maintaining uptime in high-turnover operations.

In this post, we’ll explore three key types of light-duty fleets: workplace fleets, rideshare fleets, and car rental fleets. We’ll dive into their specific EV charging needs, explore when to use Level 2 versus DC fast charging, and discuss the critical features of EV fleet management software that streamline operations.

Which light duty fleets are electrifying?

Light-duty fleets often cover consistent routes or operate within confined areas, making them suitable for electrification. Some top examples of light-duty fleets that are already transitioning include:

• Workplace fleets: Used for employee perk programs. Examples include Salesforce, Microsoft, and Google.
• Car rental fleets: Prominent at airports or urban centers, where high turnover demands a steady supply of charged vehicles. Examples include Hertz, Enterprise, and Avis.
• Rideshare fleets: Companies like Uber and Lyft run fleets that need to be charged and ready to meet high demand periods, especially in urban environments. Examples include Waymo, Revel, Uber, and Lyft.

Charging infrastructure: Level 2 vs. DC Fast Charging

Selecting the right charging infrastructure is crucial for keeping vehicles operational. Understanding when to use each type of charging ensures vehicles are ready when needed while avoiding unnecessary energy costs. Here’s a breakdown of when to use Level 2 charging and when DC fast charging is a better fit:

Level 2 Charging

Best for: Fleets with vehicles parked for longer periods (e.g., overnight or during shifts). It provides a more gradual charge, making it suitable for vehicles that don’t need immediate turnaround.

Examples: A workplace fleet operating during business hours can use Level 2 charging overnight, ensuring the vehicles are ready for the next shift. Car rental fleets can leverage Level 2 charging when vehicles are rented out for extended periods.

DC Fast Charging

Best for: Fleets that require rapid vehicle readiness, such as those with continuous demand or high turnover.

Examples: Rideshare fleets that need quick charging during peak times to drive multiple shifts. Car rental companies at airports benefit from DC fast chargers to ensure cars are ready for the next customer quickly.

Critical EV fleet management software features for light-duty fleets

To manage the complexities of an electrified fleet, EV fleet management software provides tools that keep operations efficient. Here are the key features that fleet managers should look for:

Real-time charging visibility

‍Monitor charger availability and vehicle charging status to avoid downtime and increase turnaround. This ensures that fleet managers can quickly identify which vehicles are ready to go and which need more charging time.

Why it matters: For rideshare fleets, real-time visibility means fewer delays during high-demand hours, ensuring more vehicles stay on the road.

Power management

‍Manage and optimize charging sessions remotely, allowing for better control over energy use. This feature is especially important for fleets with limited charging infrastructure and sites with power capacity constraints. By implementing load management, fleet managers can balance the energy drawn by multiple chargers to avoid overloading the site’s power capacity.

Why it matters: Car rental companies often face power limits at airport locations or urban centers, making it challenging to install enough chargers to meet peak demand. With smart load management, they can install more chargers while ensuring that the energy draw stays within site limits, avoiding costly infrastructure upgrades. This keeps vehicles in service and ensures charging operations remain smooth and efficient, even during peak demand times.

Energy use and performance tracking

‍Track energy consumption and vehicle performance to ensure operations remain cost-effective. Fleet managers can also monitor metrics like cost per mile and total energy used.

Why it matters: Workplace fleets can use this data to align with corporate goals and understand the total impact of electrification on operational costs.

Sustainability tracking and reporting

‍Monitor emissions and energy use, helping fleet managers meet corporate sustainability goals. This feature is critical for light-duty fleets focused on reducing their environmental impact.

Why it matters: Companies can leverage sustainability data to enhance their corporate responsibility initiatives and demonstrate their commitment to green practices.

Conclusion

Electrifying light-duty fleets comes with unique considerations, from choosing the right charging infrastructure to implementing software that simplifies management. Fleet managers must evaluate their specific operational needs, vehicle turnover rates, and available charging options to build a strategy that ensures efficiency and uptime.

By leveraging tools like real-time charging visibility, remote management, detailed performance tracking, and sustainability reporting, light-duty fleet operators can streamline their transition to electric vehicles—whether they’re just beginning their electrification journey or looking to optimize existing EV operations.