December, 2011

FleetCarma

Electric Vehicles: Right For Your Fleet?

Jil McIntosh

Data determines if electric vehicles will save you money.

Electric vehicles (EVs) are the headlines these days. They’re expected to initially make the most impact in fleets that cover fixed distances each day and return to a central charging area at night. But before you simply swap plug-in for petroleum, you need to know if EVs are the most cost-effective solution for your use.
   
A new tool from Ontario-based FleetCarma intends to help you make the right decision by tracking your fleet’s real-world data and comparing the operational costs of conventional vehicles and EVs.

Analysis reveals total cost of ownership

“This isn’t Excel spreadsheet calculations,” says Eric Mallia, business development manager for FleetCarma. “We want to make sure that fleets don’t make a bad decision, so we remove the uncertainty with highly-sophisticated analysis that gives them realizable total cost of ownership.”
   
FleetCarma uses a thumb-sized device that clips into the OBDII port of any vehicle. The vehicle is then driven for three weeks, and its data is uploaded into FleetCarma’s website using a USB cable.

Shortly afterwards, the user can view a breakdown of plug-in vehicles and how much it would cost to operate them within the fleet, based on the current fleet’s real-world data. The system is patent-pending and Mallia says it is the first and only one that logs real-world data and applies it to electric vehicles.
   
The system currently compares OEM vehicles that are available or coming to market soon, including the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Nissan Leaf, Ford Transit Connect Electric, Chevrolet Volt and Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid.

Should your fleet be 100% electric?

Published figures vs. real-world data

The system’s strength is that it doesn’t depend on published fuel figures to determine the total cost of ownership (TCO). While the numbers set out by Natural Resources give you a basic guideline of a conventional vehicle’s efficiency, they are calculated in a laboratory based on specific drive cycles that are not indicative of the way most people drive, especially in a fleet setting.

Mallia says FleetCarma’s energy consumption forecast models are accurate to within 4% of real-world situations. A similar comparison of window-sticker ratings ranged from 6% to 68% - and that can translate into a considerable difference when you’re looking at your fuel bills.
   
Determining the TCO of electric vehicles means considering a wide range of variables that may currently be unfamiliar. “We look at the range requirements for an EV in the fleet and look to see which vehicles meet it,” Mallia says. “We focus on acquiring the vehicle, any incentives, financing, resale value, the energy requirements and cost of the requirements, maintenance costs and regular service costs, and we even factor in emissions costs if fleets need to consider this in their jurisdiction, depending on public policies.”

Free trial

The report shows how much it would cost to use each available EV in your fleet applications, if their range and charging times are viable, and which are most applicable. The report also states if a conventional vehicle is a better choice. The basic idea, Mallia says, is to determine if an EV is cost-effective before you buy it, not after.
   
For a limited time, fleet operators can sign up for a free, no-obligation trial. For more information, visit www.FleetCarma.com/offer.