Fleets Take Many Forms; All of Them Can Benefit from Electrification
All types of fleets are electrifying to reduce operating costs and meet sustainability goals. There are already more than 500,000 eBuses and 400,000 electric delivery vans in use globally (BNEF), and electric fleets are expected to grow rapidly as more medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles become available.
Fleets of passenger EVs paved the way for widespread electrification, but large, scheduled logistics and delivery fleets are the starting point for true fleet electrification and will set the standard for the entire fleet industry. Any fleet can benefit from electrification. Let's look at the many different types of fleets in operation.
Passenger EVs may have led the way, but advances in battery technology have supported electrification across vehicle classes needed for every fleet, including buses, vans, tractors and medium- and heavy-duty trucks. As more and more vehicles become available across all classes, every type of fleet will be able to electrify.
Replacing fossil fuel–powered heavy-duty fleet vehicles with electric vehicles will support innovation, clear the air and save money, no matter what type of fleet is being electrified. Some common fleet types include:
Company vehicle and motor pool fleets tend to be made up of light-duty vehicles that can be assigned to specific drivers. These vehicles are often used primarily to transport people and may be kept in a central depot or taken home by individual drivers.
Delivery and logistics fleets are responsible for moving goods from place to place. This could include pickup and delivery, last mile or meter, short-haul and, ultimately, long-haul delivery, and may require many types of vehicles, from light-duty delivery vans to long-haul semi trucks.
Passenger transportation fleets include electric buses and shuttles used in public transit, as well as for local transportation such as airport shuttles. Buses are well suited for electrification due to their predictable defined routes and schedules. These fleets typically operate out of a depot and can recharge overnight.
Service and work fleets include light- to medium-duty vehicles used to provide or support services such as trades, government services or telecommunications. Work vehicles may also include yard tractors, forklifts and other vehicles used in a freight yard. These vehicles typically charge in a central depot.
Shared mobility services include services like Lyft, Uber and other transportation network companies (TNCs) that serve many riders.
Different types of fleets require different types of vehicles. Fleet vehicles are organized into classes, typically by vehicle weight or purpose. In the United States, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) governs vehicle classes.
While the specifics of vehicle classes vary by region, overall classification of vehicles into light-, medium- and heavy-duty provides a useful way to think about which vehicles are appropriate for which purposes. These tables show vehicle classifications for the U.S. (NHTSA) and European Union (EU).
2b
8,501–10,000 lbs (3,855–4,535 kg)
3
10,001–14,000 lbs (4,536–6,350 kg)
4
14,001–16,000 lbs (6,351–7,257 kg)
5
16,001–19,500 lbs (7,258–8,845 kg)
6
19,501–26,000 lbs (8,846–11,793 kg)
7
26,001–33,000 lbs (11,794–14,968 kg)
8
> 33,001 lbs (over 14,968 kg)
M1
Carries passengers; has up to 8 seats.
M2
Carries passengers; weighs < 5 tonnes (11,023 lbs).
M3
Carries passengers; weighs > 5 tonnes (11,023 lbs).
N1
Carries goods; weighs < 3.5 tonnes (7,716 lbs). Also known as Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV); includes pick-ups.
N2
Carries goods; weighs between 3.5 and 12 tonnes (7,716 to 26,455 lbs).
N3
Carries goods; weighs more than 12 tonnes (26,455 lbs).
L
Motor vehicles with < 4 wheels and some lightweight 4-wheelers.
L6
A 4-wheeler weighing less than 350 kg (772 lbs), not including battery, with top speed up to 45 km/h and power < 4 kW.
L7
A 4-wheeler < 450 kg or 992 lbs (650 kg or 1,433 lbs for those carrying goods), not including batteries, with power < 15 kW.
CALSTART, a nonprofit working to advance clean transportation, has developed a Zero-Emission Technology Inventory (ZETI) tool to showcase the rapidly growing availability of electric vehicles for commercial applications.
By 2023, 195 commercial EV models will be available, opening up the logistics and delivery fleet markets to more rapid electrification. No matter what type of fleet needs to be electrified or what type of vehicle is needed, the technology is increasingly available to support the shift to electric vehicles.
All fleet vehicles will use a standard connector type to charge. The graphic above shows the most common connector types that fleet managers can count on to keep their vehicles charged and ready. The use of standard connectors enables the development of EV charging solutions that will work for a variety of fleet vehicles.
Many lighter-duty vehicles are able to rely more heavily on AC charging, which uses a universal J1772TM connector in North America or Type 2 connector in Europe.
DC fast charging may use a CHAdeMO or SAE Combo connector (available in CCS1 in North America or CCS2 in Europe) and is suitable for heavy-duty vehicles or vehicles that travel high-mileage routes.
