Companies are increasingly embracing vehicle fleet electrification to support decarbonization efforts in the transportation sector.
However, to achieve these ambitious goals, fleet operators must forge strategic partnerships with utilities.
Traditionally, fleets comprising internal combustion engine vehicles had limited interaction with utilities. But the transition to electric vehicles necessitates adequate charging infrastructure and coordinated planning to align with electrification timelines.
Bridging the Gap Between Fleets and Utilities
The complexity of transportation and electricity networks, coupled with potential delays in grid investments, could hinder vehicle electrification progress.
Fleet operators and utilities can overcome these challenges by collaborating proactively. With thousands of electric vehicle fleets on the horizon and numerous utility jurisdictions involved in planning and coordination, this collaboration is essential.
Information Sharing as a Cornerstone
Effective collaboration hinges on robust information sharing. By fostering increased data exchange, utilities gain valuable insights into fleet electrification plans, enabling them to provide the necessary infrastructure support.
Both fleets and utilities must also acquire new expertise and planning capabilities.
Key Considerations for Fleets
For fleet operators, engaging with utilities requires developing expertise in understanding local utility operations, the data required by utilities, and the intricacies of interconnection processes and utility regulations.
Utilities, in turn, must adapt their planning processes to accommodate the unique demands of electric vehicle fleets. Unlike traditional loads, fleets demand electricity in bursts, creating peak demands.
However, fleets also offer flexibility in shaping their energy consumption patterns. For example, fleets that charge during off-peak hours are easier to accommodate.
GridUp: A Tool for Streamlining Collaboration
RMI’s GridUp tool can facilitate information sharing between fleets and utilities. By providing utilities with aggregate data on the grid impact of charger use, GridUp enables proactive grid planning.
This helps ensure that necessary upgrades and new infrastructure construction are carried out efficiently and cost-effectively, supporting the growing trend of electrification across all transportation sectors.
Proactive Planning for a Successful Electrification Transition
As the electric vehicle revolution accelerates, collaboration between utilities and fleet operators is crucial.
Proactive assessment of charging and energy demands by fleets empowers utilities to integrate these demands into overall grid operations and determine the most efficient paths to connect fleets with the required charging infrastructure.
This collaborative approach ensures that the transition to electric transportation is both timely and cost-effective, benefiting all stakeholders involved.