As fleets face higher fuel costs and mounting regulatory pressures to improve sustainability, electrification has become a top priority. However, the path to achieving full electrification is filled with challenges, including the overwhelming costs of replacing current equipment with EV tractors, updating infrastructure to accommodate them, and operational disruptions and downtime associated with making the shift.
Fleets must make significant upfront investments to purchase EV tractors, which can be $200,000 to $300,000 more expensive per unit than diesel tractors. Because many depots lack electrical charging capabilities, the necessary infrastructure investments in order to keep the EVs charged can be overwhelming for many fleets, with a single DC fast charger ranging from $70,000 to $130,000. Fleets must also build additional time into their delivery schedules to account for time to charge, which — due to the limited range of EV tractors — can cause operational disruptions and impact overall productivity.
The required upfront costs of electrification combined with the pressure that fleets face due to regulatory requirements and evolving emissions mandates bring a great deal of uncertainty to fleets that are looking to comply without disrupting their operations. However, three key strategies — with help from an innovative new solution from Range Energy — can help overcome the hurdles to implementation and make the shift toward electrification a reality.
Beyond the Implementation Hurdle: Three Strategies to Streamline Fleet Electrification
In light of these challenges, Range Energy sought to provide a more scalable alternative to full electrification while still enabling fleets to achieve decarbonization goals through their hybrid eTrailer System. This innovative solution provides fleets with the flexibility of using their existing equipment to achieve greater efficiency and higher MPG while lowering emissions, reducing strain on their diesel tractors, and reducing fuel costs in the process.
As fleets strive to work toward electrification efficiently, Range Energy’s eTrailer System allows fleets to focus on three key strategies that can make decarbonization goals a reality.
Strategy 1: Adopt a Phased Approach to Electrification
Why it matters: The aforementioned costs and operational impacts involved in moving toward full electrification are more disruptive than most fleets are equipped to withstand. Adopting a phased approach enables them to gradually work toward their decarbonization goals while minimizing the operational impact.
The Range Energy advantage: The hybrid eTrailer System from Range Energy delivers immediate emissions reductions and fuel savings without requiring fleets to replace their existing equipment. Through a bolt-on mechanism, the eTrailer System can be utilized with any existing dry van or refrigerated trailer so that fleets can reap the benefits instantly. This allows them to achieve their goals with significantly fewer upfront costs and minimal impact to their operations, providing an opportunity for gradual adoption on their own terms.
Strategy 2: Utilize Existing Infrastructure for Charging
Why it matters: Updating existing infrastructure in order to accommodate fast charging stations creates strain in terms of both time and costs. Even after charging stations are implemented, charging often requires significant downtime for drivers, which must be accounted for when creating delivery schedules.
The Range Energy advantage: Due to the hybrid nature of the Range Energy eTrailer System, fleets have the option of using either current AC infrastructure or DC fast chargers to power up their eTrailers. This provides a much greater level of flexibility by allowing drivers to charge via existing AC shore power at distribution centers during their scheduled dwell times, minimizing the impact on operations while allowing delivery timelines to remain as scheduled.
Strategy 3: Reduce Operational Downtime with Flexible Charging and Deployment
Why it matters: In order to justify the investment, electrification should enhance fleet efficiency rather than create operational delays or other logistical challenges. After all, what could be worse than spending millions of dollars to replace equipment and make infrastructure updates only to be less operationally efficient in the end?
The Range Energy advantage: Range Energy’s hybrid eTrailer System integrates seamlessly with a fleet’s existing equipment, requiring only a few short hours to install and no major changes to workflows. It can also be used with existing electrical infrastructure, so charging can take place during existing dwell times while loading/unloading, eliminating the need for additional charging time. Because the eTrailer System can be installed on any dry van or refrigerated trailer, fleets are also able to gradually adopt the technology across their fleets, enabling scalable deployment as their needs grow.
Streamlining Electrification at Scale
As fleets are challenged to make the shift toward electrification in order to comply with regulatory requirements, Range Energy’s hybrid approach is making this a reality for many fleets. By providing fleets with an alternative that can be adopted gradually as their needs change and finances allow, the eTrailer System offers a scalable solution that can be applied within a few short hours, drastically reducing the financial burden and with minimal impact on operations.
The eTrailer System’s ability to be utilized on any existing dry van or refrigerated trailer allows fleets to use their existing equipment to achieve instant efficiency gains and cost savings — providing the benefits of electrification without the need for major investments, infrastructure updates, or impacts on operations.
To learn more about how Range Energy’s eTrailer System can help your fleet achieve greater efficiency and cost savings, complete our Pilot interest form to have a member of our team contact you to schedule a demo.