{"id":12302,"date":"2021-09-08T16:48:32","date_gmt":"2021-09-08T14:48:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/?p=12302"},"modified":"2021-09-08T16:48:32","modified_gmt":"2021-09-08T14:48:32","slug":"zero-emission-6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/2021\/09\/08\/zero-emission-6\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Steps for a Successful Zero-Emission Vehicle Strategy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Photo: Ford Motor Co.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

Electric vehicles are growing in popularity and capabilities, with recent offerings, such as the Ford Lightning Pro, aimed specifically at the work truck market<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

If commercial adoption of zero-emission vehicles had an origin story, the opening scene would be set in California. Back in 1990, when the California Air Resources Board (CARB) adopted the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) requirement as part of its\u00a0Low Emission Vehicle regulation, the most stringent criteria for exhaust regulations for light- and medium-duty vehicles. The ZEV regulation has changed over the years, but the aim continues to be to achieve California\u2019s long-term emission reduction goals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Today, the regulation requires auto manufacturers to produce a certain number of ZEVs and plug-in hybrids each year based on the total number of cars each manufacturer sells in California. ZEVs are coming into their own, and they\u2019re being ushered in by legislation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

California isn\u2019t alone. Ten other U.S. states have adopted the ZEV regulation, and recently governors from 12 states urged President Biden to order 100% zero-emission car sales by 2035.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As the ZEV story unfolds, fleets will need to be prepared to adopt these vehicle types. Following these seven steps can make it easier for fleets to write the next chapter.<\/span><\/p>\n

Step 1:\u00a0Understand the ZEV Options<\/span><\/h2>\n

Niki Okuk, program manager for CALSTART, an organization focused on advancing the clean transportation market, said the current state of climate change is shifting the focus from alt-fuel to zero-emission vehicles.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve zeroed in on the zero-emission options because the climate challenge we\u2019re facing is so steep, the need to reduce emissions has become dire,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

ZEVs fall into one of two categories: battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell. Hydrogen vehicles are still relatively new, which means they\u2019re still relatively expensive and are difficult to find. But they do have their benefits.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe big pro is that hydrogen vehicles are fueled in a way that\u2019s a lot like traditional gas and diesel vehicles,\u201d Okuk said. \u201cThey also have great range at about 300 miles and 500 miles for larger trucks.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Battery-electric vehicles sit at the other end of the ZEV spectrum. The technology is widely available and has matured since it first emerged in the mid-1990s, alleviating some of the range anxiety associated with early models.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBattery technology has accelerated over the last decade, and battery prices have dropped by nearly 90%,\u201d Okuk said. \u201cSo, when you combine that extended range, lower acquisition costs, and the lower cost of electricity, the big pro is incredible fuel savings.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Step 2:\u00a0Figure Out Fueling<\/span><\/h2>\n

When adopting ZEVs, Okuk says fueling is the biggest challenge. While gasoline and diesel are publicly available everywhere fleets travel, that\u2019s not the case for hydrogen and electric charging stations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen fleets adopt ZE trucks, they\u2019ll have to determine where to install a charger or whether they\u2019ll rely on public charging,\u201d Okuk said. \u201cWe recommend getting in touch with the local electric utility right away to see if they have a program to install a charger and can provide low energy rates.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Fleets that take the hydrogen path will have to choose between finding a publicly available fueling depot or getting hydrogen trucked on site.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHydrogen stations are popping up all over the place, but if you have a large fleet, trucking it on site can make a lot of sense at scale,\u201d Okuk said. \u201cBut for your smaller fleets and those that travel less than 300 miles per day, battery-electric makes a lot more sense because you can have chargers installed right at your facility.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Step 3:\u00a0Assess Savings<\/span><\/h2>\n

When considering ZEVs, Okuk recommends tallying up the potential savings early on. This can help fleets understand the return on their investment in assets and infrastructure.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHaving data in hand about mileage, the type of terrain you\u2019re traveling, and how much fuel you\u2019re using lets fleet managers see how much fuel savings they\u2019ll recognize with an electric vehicle,\u201d Okuk said. \u201cOnce you can make that argument to yourself, you\u2019ll see that the transition is quite viable and quite affordable.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Step 4:\u00a0Factor in the Fringe Benefits<\/span><\/h2>\n

When assessing an investment in ZEVs, Okuk encourages fleets to include the full host of benefits in addition to fuel savings. These include:<\/span><\/p>\n