Fleets incorporating commercial battery electric vehicles (CBEVs) today will get on the learning curve ahead of those who wait. Early adopters will learn how to optimize operations to make the most of electric vehicles for improving their company’s bottom line. As CBEVs improve, these early adopters will be better positioned to rapidly take advantage of the improvement.
Kenworth recently unveiled its newest battery electric options, the K270E Class 6 and K370E Class 7 trucks to combine fully integrated, state-of-the-art electric powertrains with superior visibility, maneuverability and driver comfort. Read More >>
WHO SHOULD CONSIDER ADOPTING CBEVs INTO THEIR FLEET?
There are several factors fleets should consider before adopting new models. One is the need to address regulatory issues, such as mandates to adopt zero-emission vehicles in specific regions or metropolitan areas. These vehicles are a viable alternative in daily return-to-base applications of fewer than 100 miles per day (with the option to extend to 200 miles through additional batteries).
Other considerations include higher capital investment costs, which might be offset by the availability of grants, tax breaks and other incentives. The range of different models, availability of a charging infrastructure, and maintenance needs and costs are important to analyze before making any acquisition decision.
The North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE) published a free, downloadable Total Cost of Ownership Calculator to compare diesel and gasoline truck lifecycle costs against comparable battery electric trucks. This tool was designed to support expressing the many factors that come into play when operating an electric vs. gasoline or diesel truck down to dollars and cents.
Interested in learning more about CBEVs? Talk to your local MHC dealer about optimizing your fleet today!