Fleet electrification provides opportunities to achieve climate goals while delivering social, financial, and environmental benefits to individuals, businesses, and communities. But the road to successful electric vehicle (EV) implementation is not without obstacles. EV fleets need to work all the time under varying conditions to ensure optimal uptime while maintaining energy efficiency.
Consequently, electric vehicle service equipment (EVSE) can’t just be “tacked onto” an existing operation. Rather than a “new standalone addition,” it requires a thoughtful and forward-looking approach to seamlessly integrate into the overall facility. Ensuring the type of reliable power needed for an electrified fleet is critical. Luckily, several new and emerging solutions promise to deliver clean and reliable local power generation.
The challenges
The availability and reliability of the power needed to support electrified fleets is a primary roadblock for many commercial fleet operators. It’s important to look at where that power comes from, how much it will cost, and whether it will be available when needed.
Today’s energy landscape is complex. Projections indicate that the electricity demand will surge by 50% during the next two decades — with no signs of slowing down. According to Grid Strategies, the U.S. electric grid is not prepared for this level of significant load growth. The sheer amount of power needed to keep trucks charged and running 24/7 can be substantial. This poses a key risk for reliability in EV infrastructures, particularly in mission-critical situations.
In addition, most fleet operators have become accustomed to fairly predictable fuel costs, since many take advantage of long-term supply arrangements. By contrast, electricity grid costs can vary and result in unpredictable spikes. This adds an extra layer of complexity when it comes to the planning and timing of fleet charging. As a result, many fleet charging operations are turning to local power generation.
Intelligent microgrids, the energy insurance policy
Microgrids are nothing new — rural communities have relied on them for decades. Increased affordability and shifting regulations are allowing for more of these microgrids to be powered by renewable energy methods.
A common misconception is that microgrids can completely offset power from the grid. In reality, they are designed to provide peak load shaving and system resiliency. Coupled with an EV infrastructure, microgrids can offer more flexible and reliable energy management.
When compared to a traditional microgrid for a building system, microgrids for fleet electrification present new challenges. Most notably, microgrids for fleet electrification are not modeled on an existing load, but rather anticipated demand, which can make reliable load-based modeling more difficult.
However, an “intelligent” microgrid uses control systems to manage, store, charge, and discharge energy across the system. These controls monitor supply and demand, track real-time electricity prices, and create efficient charging schedules, considering factors like time of use (TOU) and peak day rates. For example, when electric fleets plug in, demand may increase significantly overnight, making strategic energy management crucial.
The system can buy power from the grid during low-cost periods while storing self-generated solar power for later use. When prices rise, it discharges stored energy, keeping costs stable. It can also operate independently, ensuring continuous power during outages and disruptions, and improving efficiency, cost control, and reliability. Conversely, fleets often permit charging flexibility within defined boundaries, providing a unique dispatchable resource that can be tuned to fit the needs and energy resources of the customer.
A new category of local power generation
Linear generator technology is proving to be an innovative solution for EV infrastructures by providing flexible, resilient, and cost-effective on-site baseload power. Linear generator technology provides fuel flexibility, meaning they can directly run and switch among traditional fuels like natural gas or propane. Or, they can use low- and zero-carbon fuels such as RNG, biogas, hydrogen, and ammonia. Its backup capabilities ensure power through hurricanes, sub-zero snowstorms, excessive heat, and other extreme conditions. Based on capital expenditures and operating costs, linear generators can provide a competitive levelized cost of ownership compared to grid power or other alternatives in certain regions.
The technology can also be quickly deployed at scale, which is ideal for large fleet operators looking to quickly and cost-effectively deploy resilient EV charging infrastructure while reducing emissions and working toward net-zero goals.
What’s more, linear generators deliver a more “future-proof” path. While the dominant sources of fuel for local power generation today are well understood, new and exciting fuels are on the horizon. These solutions allow for flexibility and integration of new fuels as they become available — all without having to replace or retrofit existing equipment.
Experts will power the future
As companies look to integrate EVs into their operations, a well-thought-out plan for infrastructure is essential to ensure safety, reliability, and long-term success. The integration of on-site power systems will play a critical role in optimizing energy use, lowering costs, and maintaining system resilience.
The good news is that energy management is becoming more flexible, ensuring that fleet electrification is not only sustainable but also cost-effective. To ensure a seamless transition and maximize the benefits of fleet electrification, many companies will be moving forward by working with experienced consultants, engineering firms, and electrical contractors to create a future-proof infrastructure that meets both operational and environmental goals.
