Electric transportation paves the way for how companies, cities, and schools innovate how they deliver goods and move people. As organizations face increased public and regulatory pressure to switch to renewable energy for their vehicles, fleet electrification allows fleet owners to help meet their environmental goals while lowering operating expenses.


Lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) continue to become cheaper and more efficient, prompting organizations to increasingly electrify their fleets. It’s estimated that 31% of medium commercial vehicle sales1 and 20% of heavy-duty vehicle sales2 will be electric by 2040.


EVs provide organizations with long-term cost savings, reduced emissions, and simplified maintenance compared to diesel engine vehicles. The process of planning, designing, and implementing an EV fleet and its necessary energy infrastructure takes time, so the sooner organizations begin the process, the sooner they can begin to reap the benefits.


Which Industries Can Best Use Electric Transportation?

Whether organizations are looking to reduce their operating costs or reach their sustainability goals, leveraging electric transportation offers several benefits for:


Logistics and Last Mile Delivery Businesses

Companies using delivery trucks to transport their products can optimize their fleets for fuel efficiency and cost savings through electrification. Companies using EVs can help eliminate several maintenance responsibilities and reduce their total cost of ownership (TCO) through efficient charging management.


Municipalities

Cities embracing innovative transit can leverage electric buses to help meet their environmental goals while providing reliable transportation for citizens and visitors. Electric buses, garbage vehicles, and service vehicles can be easily optimized for fuel use through smart charging technology to help ensure buses have sufficient charge by the time they leave for their route.


Read more: 6 Factors Accelerating Electric Bus Adoption in U.S. Cities


Schools

Schools looking for an affordable, zero-emission bus fleet should consider going electric to help reduce emissions, which promotes safer transportation for students. Electric buses are also quieter to operate and have lower operating costs.


Special Duty Vehicles

Organizations leveraging specialized vehicle fleets, such as with airport shuttles and yard tractors, can also reap the benefits of EV. Electrifying special duty fleets provides companies with operational cost savings, reduced need for maintenance, and greater fuel efficiency.


Top Benefits of Electric Transportation

Transitioning to an electric fleet can bring organizations several benefits that promote cost savings, lower carbon footprint and reduce vehicle maintenance.


Reduced Operating Costs

One of the primary reasons fleet owners transition to EV fleets is to achieve lower TCO when compared to diesel-based vehicles. While the EVs can be more expensive upfront compared to their diesel counterparts, organizations using EVs save money spent on fuel and operating costs over time. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the national average for 1 gallon of gasoline was $2.85 as of March 20, 2021, compared to $1.16 for the equivalent electric eGallon.3


Decreased Emissions

Another commonly touted benefit of electric vehicle fleets is the reduction of vehicle emissions that harm the environment. Organizations looking to help satisfy public health mandates and meet their renewable energy goals may do so by electrifying their fleets. EVs don’t produce direct emissions and produce fewer emissions during their life cycle compared to diesel vehicles.


Less Maintenance

EVs have fewer moving parts that can break or may need to be replaced compared to diesel vehicles. With electric vehicles, fleet owners no longer have to worry about engine oil changes, air filter replacements, or spark plug changes, to name a few. In addition, brake pad replacement and coolant changes aren’t required as often as with diesel engines.


Increased Performance

EVs offer instantaneous torque, which allows them to reach desired speeds quicker and with less force. They also enable regenerative braking, which slows down the vehicle while storing the generated energy for later use.

Embrace Electric Transportation with an Energy Integration Collaboration

Organizations interested in electrifying their vehicles and optimizing their fleet for cost savings and the scalability to support fleet growth can promote long-term success with the proper planning and expertise.


eTransEnergy is an energy integration company specializing in end-to-end fleet electrification services for businesses, municipalities and academic institutions. We work with organizations to help ensure they can minimize the TCO for their fleet while helping them reach their sustainability goals.


Interested in learning how you could start the fleet electrification process? Speak to an EV fleet professional today and we can help answer any questions you may have.


Schedule a Consultation 1 https://about.bnef.com/electric-vehicle-outlook/
2 https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikescott/2019/06/10/electric-models-to-dominate-car-sales-by-2040-wiping-out-13m-barrels-a-day-of-oil-demand/#4cb4f535342e
3 https://www.energy.gov/maps/egallon