The Off-Peak

There are sizable challenges ahead in matching electric vehicle mandates with the charging infrastructure and energy sources needed for mass adoption of EVs. As more EVs plug in to the grid in coming years, what resources and policies are best suited to ensure electric power will remain stable and seamless 24/7? And how should fleet managers factor energy, power grid, and utility access options into planning for EV fleet growth in the years ahead?

How can AI help fleet operations with the overall usage of EVs, such as duty cycles, routing, deployments, maintenance, and charging schedules? Talk with expert Jim Fish, VP of Opus Intelligent Vehicle Support (IVS) to learn more.

How are automakers and minerals producers facing the challenges of finding enough supply of metals to feed the demand for electric vehicle batteries? One minerals company executive offers on-the-ground, from-the-earth insights on the raw elements that will sustain EVs.

Electric vehicles drive lots of data which enables them to become more data driven, in a virtuous information cycle. That means fleet operations can adapt to EVs with more efficient deployments and informed usage. Here are some key steps in taking the smarter approach to fleet electrification.

Fleets are finding out that charging electric vehicles is a bigger hurdle than thought. It raises many questions and choices a fleet manager must navigate. One big decision centers on how to pick and choose the right parking facility for charging, and then retrofitting it with the right equipment.

Before fleet electrification can realize broad potential, many factors must align that span the areas of energy sources, battery materials and development, the power grid, and widespread charging infrastructure. A recent study looks ahead at how to reconcile the demands and needs of electrification with the resources and support that can enable it to grow.

Plugging in an electric vehicle is one of the easiest automotive tasks. Setting up the charging system is not. It requires careful, detailed planning amid a public shared infrastructure that has proven unreliable. How do fleets adopting EVs figure out the right charging strategy and navigate the challenges?

The electrified digital-driven automotive sector will bring major shifts in how vehicles are bought, sold, and remarketed. Industry expert and author Steve Greenfield outlines the big changes ahead.

As fleets race toward electrification, one expert offers some reality checks that can inform fleet managers as they look to find the right electric vehicle models, adapt them to duty cycles, and find reliable charging networks.

Because batteries play such a major role in the long-term value of an electric vehicle, how to score and grade them becomes vital to buying and selling used EVs. One EV battery evaluation firm is rapidly accumulating data from many scores across fleets with EVs and ones turning them over. What does the initial data indicate?

What goes into making a strong, reliable electric vehicle battery? How do you identify the battery technology that works best long-term? An electric truck company CTO gives some answers drawing on his experience with a patented battery innovations that his company successfully adapts to medium and large trucks.

Fleet managers don’t have to wait and over-plan for the perfect moment to electrify fleets. Find out in this video why the right time is now. There are as many custom plans for electrification as there are fleets. Don’t let the hurdles lead to delays, because waiting can cost fleets more in the long run. 

Fleet managers don’t have to wait and over-plan for the perfect moment to electrify fleets. Find out in this video why the right time is now. There are as many custom plans for electrification as there are fleets. Don’t let the hurdles lead to delays, because waiting can cost fleets more in the long run.

Editor of Charged Fleet, Martin Romjue, sits down with Co-Founder of MOTEV, Robert Gaskill, to discuss the lessons he's learned as an early EV adopter in running an all-electric fleet.  

🎙 Episode topics include: 

• Challenges running an EV fleet. 
• Deciding how and when to turn over an EV and what variables impact that decision. 
• How battery performance declines over time. 
• What the residuals of EVs are right now.  

In this special episode of The Off-Peak, we take a look at the highlights of a recent webinar hosted by Charged Fleet Executive Editor, Martin Romjue discussing how to develop a used electric vehicle market.   

Episode topics include: 

• Creating standards for EV remarketing. 
• What can decrease wholesale values? 
• Controlling residuals by taking care of batteries. 
• The importance of buyer confidence.
• Standardizing the plug for EV charging.  

Wireless charging doesn’t get as much attention as the near-universal plug-in mode for electric vehicles, but fleet operations are showing much promise in being compatible with the low-maintenance, off-peak setup for wireless charging. Learn more about how fleets can save money and keep operations charged and ready to roll at all times.  

Episode topics include: 

• Technical and infrastructure challenges for wireless charging stations.
• Is wireless charging faster than plug-in charging?
• How wireless charging works for fleets.
• Maintenance, repair and installation costs for wireless charging.
• Variations to TCO depending on fleet and vehicle size.

Fleets are not necessarily locked into new models when looking for electric vehicles. One global company with operations in Southern California has found a tailor-made custom solution that provides a practical alternative.  

In this inaugural episode of The Off-Peak, Editor of Charged Fleet, Martin Romjue, visits SEA Electric in Torrance, CA to learn more about what they do and how they help businesses electrify their fleets.

Episode topics include: 

• SEA Electric's specialization in the more direct and affordable option of providing efficient power systems for electric trucks and buses while partnering with OEMs.  
• An industry niche that prefers a specific or customized version of an EV without having to pay the higher prices of a full-on new electric vehicle.  
• The electrified power trains, batteries, and equipment of SEA Electric can accommodate multiple makes, models, and brands. 
• How SEA Electric says its power systems can decrease the total cost of ownership (TCO) of a fleet truck by 50% over 10 years.