Management costs are on the forefront of any fleet manager’s mind—after all, it’s one of the biggest expenses a business can undertake. When conducting a fleet utilization analysis, one question that is bound to pop up again and again is the following: while electric vehicles are better for the environment, are they better for the business’ bank account?

When fleet operators are making decisions about electrification, one of the key considerations is when is mid-route charging feasible and when is it too much of a burden on your operations.

Fleet analytics provide operators with the data needed to make informed decisions about fleet electrification. In other words, telematics provides an additional layer of information that can help fleet operators make the best decision for their drivers.

It’s no secret that electric vehicles are becoming increasingly popular for both individuals and businesses alike. Between their environmentally friendly nature and their potential for cost savings, it isn’t difficult to see why. However, similar to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, temperature and weather can also impact electric vehicle performance.

As more businesses, organizations, and municipalities make the switch to electric vehicles (EVs), one important factor that needs to be considered is charging take-home vehicles. Offering at-home charging for fleet EVs is one component to simplify the process of transitioning from traditional fuel-burning fleets to EVs and, ultimately, boost your organization’s fleet sustainability.

This October, the Sawatch Labs team took a trip to beautiful São Paulo, Brazil, to attend the Free Electrons Grand Finale. There, we met with industry professionals from all over the world to discuss more innovative, more effective, and more sustainable energy solutions. Here are some of our biggest takeaways.

Until very recently, it was common to hear “Well, EVs won’t work for us because our vehicles are used off-road and we need higher clearance.” We still get a lot of questions around EVs capable of handling off-road or inclement weather conditions.

Many light duty vehicle manufacturers now offer larger models that can be equipped with all wheel drive systems and increased ground clearance.

Unlike the light duty segment, most medium and heavy-duty BEVs (battery electric vehicles) available today do not achieve cost parity with internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles over their service lives.

Driven primarily by sustainability goals, government agencies around the country are looking to increase the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) into their fleets. These fleet managers are faced with trying to calculate the total cost of ownership (TCO) with many new factors, which can be daunting.

The Fleet Forward Conference convened once again in person Nov. 10-12 at the Hayes Mansion in San Jose. This year’s agenda had a heavy focus on electrification, particularly with commercial EVs and building infrastructure to support them.