{"id":2663,"date":"2021-04-10T18:42:12","date_gmt":"2021-04-10T18:42:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quicktransportsolutions.com\/blog\/?p=2663"},"modified":"2021-04-10T18:42:14","modified_gmt":"2021-04-10T18:42:14","slug":"how-trucking-companies-can-prepare-for-an-electrified-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quicktransportsolutions.com\/blog\/how-trucking-companies-can-prepare-for-an-electrified-future\/","title":{"rendered":"How Trucking Companies Can Prepare for an Electrified Future"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As countries and companies around the world begin making moves to address climate change, one of the steps many are taking is to move towards an electrified future. The days of the gasoline\/combustion engine are beginning to wain and OEMs are answering the call. And with states like California putting EVs on the map,<\/a> what are trucking companies to do to prepare for an electrified future? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Your Acquisition Strategy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fleet managers considering investing in electric vehicles\nneed to first establish a game plan and focus on a long-term strategy. Rash\nactions not based on a comprehensive review could result in big losses if\nfleets don\u2019t invest in new technologies wisely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While many trucking companies have already began investing\nin electric vehicles (EVs) and charging equipment as part of a phased adoption\nprogram, it takes more than throwing money at something to make it successful.\nIt is important to consider that electrifying a fleet doesn\u2019t just involve\ntruck drivers and technicians, it should involve every aspect of an\norganization, from fleet manager to back office accountants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Commercial motor vehicles represent a paltry three percent\nof all registered vehicles in the United States, yet they play an outsized role\nin influencing vehicle technology trends. As a result, trucking companies will\nhave a big impact on how the industry adopts and utilizes EVs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet, there are bumps in the road. For example, most trucking\ncompanies with large fleets may not fully understand the costs or what is\nrequired to make the switch. Generally, when you look at how a trucking back\noffice does their job, they are tracking gas and diesel vehicles nearly 100% of\nthe time. How will they adapt to EVs?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Calculate EV Costs <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you consider that EV rigs will not use fuel cards, it\nbecomes a little harder to figure out how to calculate consumption costs. The\nfact is, truck OEMs are not yet building in electric meters, so trucking\ncompanies will have to use a third-party solution, much like a telematics or\nELD solution, to track kilowatt hour usage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another consideration should be up-front costs. While EVs\nare cheaper in the long-term, they cost more up-front. And while those up-front\ncosts are sure to drop as OEMs begin building to scale, they are still an\nimportant consideration fleet managers must evaluate as they think about\ninvesting in EVs. Your best bet is to work up a comparison chart looking at EV\nenergy and maintenance costs compared to their internal combustion\ncounterparts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are challenges in getting top brass to see the EV\nlogic, however. If a fleet manager wants to invest in EVs, which are more\nexpensive, what must they do to show that lower long-term operating costs will\nmake up for higher up-front costs? Without having processes already in place to\nparse through this data, no doubt it will be very difficult for fleet managers\nand accountants to figure it out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your best bet is to work with OEMs and vendors who work with\nEVs day-in and day-out. These operators will already have the sales information\nready and it should be easy for them to provide you with the materials you need\nto make the case to company executives and other high-level decision makers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Closer Look at Infrastructure<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is all well and good to want to invest in EVs, but there\nis an entire separate electric infrastructure that must be built or invested in\nto support your new vehicles. You need to take a moment to ask the right\nquestions about the potential transformation. Consider the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n