By Lori Lovely

As the percentage of electric vehicle sales continues to rise (from 4% to 14% of cars sold between 2020 and 2022), it’s important for fleet managers to familiarize themselves with the latest trends to determine what technology they should incorporate.

As the percentage of electric vehicle sales continues to rise (from 4% to 14% of cars sold between 2020 and 2022), it’s important for fleet managers to familiarize themselves with the latest trends to determine what technology they should incorporate.

Focusing on cost savings and practical use, David Lewis, founder, and CEO of MoveEV, an A.I.-powered EV transition company that works with companies to convert fleet and employee-owned gas-powered vehicles to electric, shared a list of the top trends in electrification he expects to see in 2024.

Vehicle-To-Grid (V2G) Technology

V2G technology enables communication and the transfer of electricity between electric fleet vehicles and the power grid. It allows EV batteries to double as energy storage, wherein vehicles can discharge stored energy back into the grid, a building or local power system. EVs effectively become mobile energy storage capable of providing electricity on the job site.

Lewis listed some current EV models with this capacity: GMC Hummer, Ford F-150 Lightning, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Nissan Leaf and Volvo EX90. The electric Chevrolet Silverado will also feature V2G capability. Although V2G will improve efficiency and cost savings, Lewis believes it should not be a top consideration in vehicle purchasing decisions.

New Fleet Management Tools

Evolving technology has produced new software to monitor vehicle health and location, with some features available only for EVs, such as predictive maintenance based on real-time diagnostics. Route optimization calculates charging station locations, charging times and vehicle charge levels. Lewis said these updated fleet management systems offer efficiency gains that save money and improve fleet availability; thus, he thinks they’re worthy of influencing vehicle purchase decisions.

Faster Charging

Faster charging times are relevant when making purchasing decisions because they contribute to vehicle availability and minimize downtime. Recent advances in battery cooling technology enable EV batteries to handle frequent fast charges without much degradation, which extends their lifespan. Vehicles that can handle rapid charging and that can take advantage of a network of public fast chargers are a good buy.

Renewable Energy Sources

Sustainability goals extend to integrating renewable energy sources into fleet operations. Incorporating on-site renewable technology, such as solar arrays to power EV charging infrastructure at fleet depots, can lower electricity costs. Fleet batteries can even become temporary storage, adding to grid stability, and providing potential revenue streams.

Home-Based Fleet Charging

Employees charging their fleet vehicles at home can cost less because charging can be done during off-peak hours. It can save more money because a company doesn’t need to install extra on-site charging infrastructure to accommodate a large fleet. This decentralized approach to mass EV fleet charging costs about 30%–60% less than commercial rates. Of course, it requires a reliable method of tracking and reimbursing employees’ electrical costs for charging their fleet vehicles.