Most fleet managers at small and mid-sized organizations haven’t moved to electric vehicles but many are preparing to as states adopt EV-fleet requirements, according to a survey by a company that provides EV fleet services.
Since California adopted a zero-emission fleet requirement for state agencies in 2012, about a third of states have adopted something similar, including for private organizations, and more states are looking at their own requirements.
Fleet operators say the transition to EVs would be easier if there were a bigger selection of trucks, particularly larger ones, and better mileage range and payload options, according to Mitra, an EV services company that surveyed fleet managers at 300 small and mid-sized organizations in four states: California, Colorado, Georgia and Ohio.
Access to one-stop shops that provide the vehicles and oversee installation of the on-site charging infrastructure would also help, the survey showed.
In the ideal scenario, “they dig the holes and they run the line and they put in the charger and they bring in the truck and they go, ‘there you go,’” a fleet operator in the survey report said of one-stop shops. “If you get somebody who can do all that in one package, then that’s something to look at.”
Many states offer incentives to help organizations transition fleets to EVs but being aware of and navigating the rules to get the assistance isn’t easy, the survey found.
“With all the things that a person like myself has going on, we don't always have the time to dive into it and find out what that assistance is," one manager quoted in the report said.
Fleet managers are also concerned about the availability of support once they make the transition.
“We don't have a technician on staff,” one fleet manager said. “The shop that we take [our vehicles] to doesn't have a technician. So we rely on the manufacturer to have a technician [but] I need it now, I don't need it three days from now.”
The survey doesn’t identify the percentage of respondents that have adopted at least one EV but it’s less than a majority, the report says. Among those that haven’t yet adopted one, about a third say they’ve considered it.
There are a handful of concerns standing in the way, the report says:
- High upfront cost of EVs and getting the charging infrastructure installed.
- EVs’ limited range.
- Lack of charging infrastructure in the area.
- Uncertainty over long-term reliance and maintenance.
- limited model options, particularly of larger trucks.
The survey showed some variation in adoption rates and views about EV viability depending on geography. Fleet managers in California, for example, were the most knowledgeable about EVs and also the most likely to electrify, while those in Colorado were the least knowledgeable and also the least likely to electrify. Those in Georgia tended to be more knowledgeable and also more likely to electrify than those in Ohio.
The findings suggest adoption can be encouraged if states focus incentives on EV pickups and vans, invest in charging stations that small organizations could share with other organizations and make resources available to vehicle dealerships so they can become go-to sources of information about adoption for fleet managers.
