EV charging infrastructure specialist Mer has produced a guide to help last-mile logistics managers properly understand the process and ensure that their fleet electrification plans don’t get stuck in a bottleneck.
Mer’s free guide covers the importance of including each depot’s energy capacity as a metric when setting fleet electrification targets. It also explains how to calculate power availability and offers solutions to overcome grid limitations. Other steps covered in the guide include identifying whether fast or rapid chargers will best suit a last-mile operator’s needs; managing the procurement process; getting the installation right the first time; and how to minimize charger downtime for mission-critical EVs. The company also recommends site surveys at every depot to properly understand the implications of corporate electrification objectives for each site.
Natasha Fry, head of strategic accounts at Mer and co-author of the guide, said, “Delivery fleet managers are very data driven when it comes to identifying which vehicles can be electrified and the best way to optimize those assets. However, they need to start taking the same analytical approach to the charging infrastructure and planning for how vehicles will be charged, how much power it’ll require and establishing where that power comes from. Final-mile fleets are among those driving electrification and many have set ambitious goals to go even further. But without a true understanding of the power availability at each depot, and the cost implications of upgrading those grid connections, their rollouts of EVs risk being delayed while budgets are revised upward.
“Upgrading your grid connection comes at a price and takes time. But understanding that in the early stages means you go into it with your eyes open. Some last-mile logistics operators will be prepared to increase budgets to meet existing targets, while others might prefer to take a more phased approach. To run an effective last-mile logistics business, data is king. Being armed with the right information on EV charging will ensure you make evidence-based decisions on electrification, rather than making costly mistakes.”
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