Transitioning to an Electric Fleet: A Strategic Approach

Posted on August 22, 2023August 24, 2023 by admin

Advanced fleet planning and charge management strategies with the BetterFleet platform accelerate delivery of zero emissions outcomes

A Fleet Charged with a Challenge: Going Electric

Contributing to an overall target of net-zero emissions by 2045, the state of Victoria in Australia has committed to purchasing only Zero Emission Buses (ZEB) from 2025 onwards. To kick-start this transition, understand the challenges and foster industry collaboration, the Victorian Government launched a ZEB Trial with $20 million in funding for 50 buses throughout the state.

As part of this initiative, nine electric buses and the associated charging infrastructure were funded for the bus depot in West Footscray, serving the inner western suburbs of Melbourne. With the funding approved and Australian-made electric buses from Volgren going into production, focus turned to the next big challenge: planning the infrastructure installation and charging schedules in a way that facilitated efficient operations while avoiding a grid upgrade and maximising government funding.

To uncover the right charge management strategy for the depot, the Evenergi team worked in collaboration with Transit Systems, operator of the vehicles providing service at the West Footscray depot, in addition to thousands of buses throughout Australia.

A Data-Driven Plan

To get an accurate understanding of how much time each vehicle would need to charge upon returning to the depot, different route schedules had to be accounted for. Route data was imported into Evenergi’s fleet planning and management software, the BetterFleet platform, and analysed to provide detailed insight into the amount of energy each 348kWh vehicle would consume and need to replenish before hitting the road again.

The existing grid infrastructure at the West Footscray depot is able to support a limited number of kilowatts (kW) of overall power demand, and existing equipment at the site was already utilizing up to 75% or more of the available capacity throughout the day. This left an even more limited amount of capacity that could be dedicated to charging buses (minus additional safety margins), only available at certain times when not needed for offices, workshop, bus wash and other onsite facilities.

**Energy consumption load profile**
Example from BetterFleet scenario modeling results

With robust energy modeling capabilities, the BetterFleet platform enabled the team to quickly look at different charging schedules, compare the grid impacts of using different charge rates and times, and hone in on a smart charging plan that met operational needs while keeping overall energy consumption under required thresholds.

If a simplistic approach had been taken without a smart charging strategy, power consumption could have easily exceeded the kW threshold and triggered a grid upgrade. An upgrade to the grid equipment providing power to a depot can come with significant cost and lengthy timelines that may entail installation of hardware such as transformers and switchgear, in addition to adding new transmission lines that require trenching along streets and footpaths.

Instead, a plan was formulated with the BetterFleet platform that used existing grid infrastructure by keeping overall power demand under the limits while ensuring each bus would be charged sufficiently to meet its routes for the day. With an informed plan in hand, the Victorian Government was able to push implementation forward with confidence before breaking any ground. This helped to streamline the deployment of electric buses at the West Footscray depot in addition to lowering upfront cost, getting the state of Victoria one step closer to their goal of zero-emissions by 2045.

“Zero emissions buses are a key part of our plan to decarbonise transport and meet Victoria’s world-leading emissions reduction targets of 75-80 percent by 2035 and net zero by 2045.” – Minister for Climate Action Lily D’Ambrosio

Putting the Plan into Action

Establishing a strategic charging plan provided the necessary inputs for BetterFleet Manage, the charge management system now used on a daily basis to manage the depot’s 160kW Kempower charging system with 3 dual-port dispensers, providing 6 charging plugs distributing power to the new electric buses. Data since the vehicles’ deployment in May 2023 has shown an average charge time of 1 hour 50 minutes per bus and maximum power demand has remained underneath the threshold.

Taking into account power availability at different times, route schedules and overall grid infrastructure limitations, the BetterFleet charge management system dynamically adjusts charging in response to site loads throughout the day and maximizes use of available capacity.

Transit Systems CEO Michael McGee said the transport industry is undergoing a remarkable transformation, with technology further accelerating the decarbonisation of cities.

“Getting more passengers on public transport remains our priority as it is the most effective way to reduce a city’s emissions. By creating a public transport network that people want to use, it makes investing in the right technology even more valuable. We’re proud to work with industry leaders to provide solutions to our Government partners and customers to provide a seamless and more sustainable service to the community,” he said.

With a cloud-based, self-service portal, West Footscray depot managers can see the real-time status of their chargers and vehicles, control chargers remotely, and adjust charging schedules as needed. By using an advanced charge management platform, fleet supervisors can also receive alerts with diagnostics information to quickly resolve issues, and access reports on vehicle and charger performance, including odometer readings, emissions reduced, and energy consumed.

With the BetterFleet planning and charge management platform, Transit Systems can take advantage of operational data to continuously improve the planning and operations of their electric bus fleet, helping the state of Victoria stay on track to meet their zero-emission vehicle goals.

“This is another significant milestone for Evenergi and the public transport community, as one of the first bus depots in Australia actively using smart charge management software for a fleet of electric buses,” said Dan Hilson, Evenergi CEO. “We look forward to continued collaboration with Transit Systems and the Victorian Government at the forefront of the transition to zero-emission fleets.”

State Government – EV Grants and incentives

Posted on November 19, 2021March 2, 2022 by admin

With some exciting announcements around funding from the Australian Government, we’re seeing a significant increase in grant funding for electric infrastructure and vehicles. Australia is getting serious about a cleaner transport future and it’s more important now than ever to start thinking about your future fleets.

The Australian government has presented its Future Fuels and Vehicles Strategy, which provides for $250 million of investment in electric transport to include the expansion of electric car charging infrastructure and the establishment of hydrogen filling stations.

Below is a detailed overview of the specific measures being taken, or having been announced by each state around charging infrastructure network funding.

State: New South Wales

Activities for infrastructure

The NSW Government has announced a $490 million commitment to incentivise the EV uptake.

The NSW Government has committed $171 million investment to help co-fund private operators for installation of EV charging infrastructure throughout the major highways of the state at the interval of 100 km, over the next four years. This includes $131 million for new ultra-fast vehicle chargers, and $20 million in grants to small tourism businesses over the next three years to boost EV infrastructure at regional tourism destinations. According to the EVC, until 2020, the overall investment in charging infrastructure by the NSW Government was around $5 million.
They are developing guidelines for installation of charging points in roadside service centres
They’re supporting EV charging through strategic land use planning and guides (NSW is creating a state-wide master-plan with Evenergi)
The NRMA is investing $10 million in more than 40 fast chargers across NSW and the ACT:
NSW Government and the NRMA will deliver at least 20 additional electric vehicle fast chargers to the existing regional network along NSW’s major highways. Previous to this announcement through its Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Plan the government plans to:
- co-invest in fast chargers in regional NSW
- co-invest in charging points in commuter car parks
- adopt preferred charging standards

NSW is also launching its Electric Vehicle Infrastructure and Model Availability Program:

It will run competitive funding processes that will co-fund the deployment of fast electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
It will also incentivise vehicle fleet owners, such as car rental companies, car share companies, and local councils to procure electric vehicles.

State: Queensland

Activities for infrastructure

Queensland launched EV Strategy in 2017

They have previously delivered the Electric Vehicle Super Highway (QESH), totalling 31 stations with the investment of $5.3 million.
Queensland are rolling out an EV destination charging network from 2017 onwards
They’re developing a workplace EV charging trial
Queensland has committed to invest $2.75 million for expansion of charging infrastructure by installing 18 new charging sites. The expansion will lead to the extension of the highway by 1800km into the regional outback.

State: Western Australia

Activities for infrastructure

The recent WA strategy includes:

Up to $20 million has been allocated to support the creation of an electric vehicle charging infrastructure network
Investment of $800,000 to install electric vehicle charging stations in government buildings to support the State Government electric vehicle fleet target
Investment of $3 million to install two hydrogen refuelling stations – the two stations will generate renewable hydrogen, one station will be in Jandakot and provide hydrogen for fleet vehicles and another at Christmas Creek Mine, in the Pilbara, will power hydrogen buses
Implementation of actions outlined in the State Government’s Distributed Energy Resources Roadmap that will assist the integration of electric vehicles, including consideration of incentives to promote daytime charging to help make best use of the midday solar generation peak and assessment of vehicle‑to‑grid technology forecasts. Buyback payments will be extended to energy exported to the grid from electric vehicles in the same way as rooftop solar
Planning for the integration of electric vehicles in the electricity grid, including the deployment of charging points (household and fast charge) and trials to better understand the capabilities of vehicle‑to‑grid technology
Tax exemptions on sales/use and leasehold till year 2025

State: South Australia

Activities for infrastructure

The South Australian Government is investing $18.3 million to deliver its Electric Vehicle Action Plan. This includes:

An investment of up to $13.4 million towards developing a state-wide charging network
Planning of 110 rapid highway charging stations installed across South Australia
A network of more than 350 fast destination chargers installed across major metropolitan centres, including an expected 100 destination chargers installed across Adelaide
An initial investment in September 2020 of up to $3.6 million on EV smart charging trials
Seeks $25 million of private investment in public charging stations
The State Government invites businesses and communities to be a part of a statewide project for charging infrastructure development

State: Victoria

Activities for infrastructure

In its recently announced plan, the Victorian Government has committed $19 million for charging infrastructure.

This investment will establish a fast-charging network at key tourist places, community destinations, and high use locations.
As part of a $100 million plan to drive ZEVs uptake, the State Government is investing $5 million for 100 charging stations (80% of this investment will go to Regional Victoria)
The Government has also provided the funding of $644,000 to install chargers across 17 sites in the Loddon Mallee region and $3 million to install ultra-rapid chargers connecting Euroa, Moe, Torquay, Ballarat and Horsham.
VIC has published a charging map with all available and planned stations
It’s also published its draft 30-Year Infrastructure Strategy (2020)
The Victorian Government has provided $3 million funding to support Chargefox’s roll-out of seven ultra-rapid charging sites across the state
Victoria is the first state in Australia to introduce the latest generation ultra-rapid EV charging stations capable of fully charging an Electric Vehicle in under 15 minutes and sourced from 100% renewable energy.

State: Australian Capital Territory

Activities for infrastructure

ACT Government is working on a ZEV Public Charging Master Plan (to be launched later in 2021) for a charging infrastructure roll-out including 50 publicly accessible chargers.

They’ve introduced 29 public stations (2019)
ACT has launched its 2018-21 strategy
They’ve facilitated the installation of further charging points in the ACT and on major routes to Canberra
Streamlined the approvals process for installation of publicly accessible electric vehicle charging points
The ACT Government seeks to amend the Parking and Vehicle Access General Code to require all new multi-unit and mixed use developments to install vehicle charging infrastructure
They’re working with local and state governments to facilitate the installation of charging stations on major routes to and from Canberra including routes to Sydney and coastal areas
Conducting a feasibility assessment for the installation of covered car parks with solar powered vehicle charging stations
To support the integration of EVs in the ACT, a $2.5 million grant for V2G technology trials was announced in 2020 through ARENA. This grant also supports the instalment of 51 bi-directional charging stations across the ACT and upgrades of ACT Government buildings to host charging infrastructure.

State: Tasmania

Activities for infrastructure

Tasmania’s state-wide electric charging network comprises of 14 fast chargers, from Geeveston to Scottsdale, and Queenstown to Burnie, as well as the Midlands in between. The network ensures that mid-range vehicles can travel nearly anywhere around the state.

The State Government invested $600,000 for 14 fast chargers and 23 workplace and destination chargers.
Tasmania’s ChargeSmart Grant Program is committed to $2.5 million investment in charging infrastructure throughout the state.
They’ve offered a number of grants for charging (2019):
- ChargeSmart Fast Charging Program offered grants of up to $50,000 to support organisations to purchase and install Direct Current (DC) electric vehicle charging stations.
- Destination: to $2,500 to support organisations to purchase and install Alternating Current (AC) electric vehicle charging stations for public use.
- Workplace: up to $5,000 to support workplaces (e.g. councils, businesses and not-for-profits) to purchase and install electric vehicle charging stations

The Electric Vehicle Fast Charger Scheme, offers a refund of up to 50% cost rebate of the TasNetworks charges for power supply, only when considering installation of DC fast chargers for public use

Charging at home

Posted on September 2, 2021November 16, 2021 by admin

Home charging for fleets can require a process to recoup costs for employees. From working with several councils, we’ve found that 60% of Council staff garage at home. Understanding the options for home charging, therefore, will be critical in the absence of a suitable public charging network. Typically, at home people can install a 3kW or 7kW charger; however, it is also possible to charge from a standard wall plug.

It is generally a simple exercise which only becomes complex if switchboard upgrades, wall penetrations or civil works are required.

There are several key benefits of home charging:

Reducing the need for public charging
Taking advantage of the low household electricity costs at night
Ensuring that all electric vehicles are fully charged for the next day
Reducing the demand for fleet facility infrastructure investments

There are also several challenges with respect to home charging that must be considered:

Charging at night at home will not synchronise with daytime solar renewable energy provision unless there is a separate battery for the home or hydro/wind generation on the grid.
Policy decisions must be made in terms of who pays for the installation of the charger, and what happens when staff leave Council or move house.
It can create complexity in terms of the need to recoup costs.
The correct electricity rate must be applied to the energy consumed for proper reimbursement. This may include varying time-of-use tariffs.

Reimbursements for infrastructure and electricity costs for home-based charging of fleet EVs can be considered as follows:

Infrastructure
If the fleet decides to allow for home charging, then clear policy guidelines can ensure that home charging installation costs are fully reimbursed – including labour, electrical upgrades, charger installation and network service fees.
Electricity
When fleet vehicles are charged at home, there may be a need to track and reimburse electrical expenditures. Electricity consumption from EV charging can be measured in a variety of ways:

a. Odometer readings: a corporate cost per km could be established, which is seen as a fair reflection of the average cost per km. This would be the simplest way to manage the issue, given that employees may also charge at public charging stations.

b. Telematics: Making use of fleet vehicle telematics enables the company to track energy consumption by vehicle rather than charger. Setting up charging reports by location guarantees that the amount of electricity consumed at home can be tracked.

c. Smart or networking-based charging stations: Smart charging stations that are networked have the capacity to track electricity usage and provide reimbursement. Some networks enable for company accounts, allowing for use reports to be delivered directly to the company administrator. Additional capabilities such as access control and charge management may be available with networked stations.

d. Monitoring through digital meters: Electricity meters are commonly used to assess energy consumption for invoicing and/or monitoring purposes. The meter must be dedicated to the EV charging circuit or integrated with a smart home monitoring system in order to track only the EV load. However, there are some restrictions to this approach. If the charger is ever used by non-fleet vehicles, or if the meter is not connected to a dedicated EV-only circuit, consumption data for the fleet vehicle will not be accurate.

Given the large number of home garaged vehicles, it’s important for organisations like utilities, local governments , logistics companies or corporates to explore potential solutions to home charging including potential policy changes. There is also an opportunity to work closely with state and national government agencies and charging networks to create a network that assists Council’s fleet transition while giving networks greater financial certainty.

EV Basics – Maximising EV efficiency

Posted on July 8, 2021 by admin

Just like with other types of vehicles, you can maximise the lifespan and operability of your EV, depending on how it is used and maintained.

What can affect EV efficiency?

The range is usually determined by the capacity of a fully charged battery and the power of the vehicle’s electric powertrain, but there are also other factors that can affect the range performance.

Source: American Automotive Association [1]

To maximise the driving efficiency of an EV, one can follow these five suggestions: [2]

Conserve momentum: Just like with conventional vehicles, conserving momentum is the best method for efficient driving as it reduces the additional need for accelerating and braking, and thus energy consumption.
Avoid harsh braking: One of the key features of EVs is regenerative braking, where some of the movement (kinetic energy) is converted back into electricity to recharge the batteries. Once a driver stops accelerating the motor creates a reverse torque – slowing down the car. Energy captured through regenerative braking is ~10% in normal driving and up 30% on descents. Regenerative braking differs from vehicle to vehicle.
Observe the speed limit: EVs tend to be more efficient at lower speeds – which is why they are great for city driving.[3]
Reconsider use of heating and air conditioning: the use of heating or air cooling in an EV has the most impact on energy efficiency when in extreme conditions.
Be aware of eco-features: Most EVs have eco-driving features that can increase the driving range up to 20%.

Note: Checking that tyres are correctly inflated, closing windows at higher speeds and removing unnecessary weight from the car can also improve driving efficiency- just like in internal combustion engine vehicles.

Maximising range in extreme weather conditions

Extreme weather conditions can have an impact on battery efficiency. However, understanding the effects of the weather, and the tips to counteract them, will allow for range optimisation.

The biggest drain on an electric vehicle battery is the use of the air-conditioning and heating systems.

In freezing conditions (-6°C), when the vehicles’ heating is being used, range can be reduced by around 40%. Similarly, driving in hot conditions (35°C +) with the use of air conditioning, range can be reduced by approximately 17%. [1] For this purpose, one can maximise driving range when driving in extreme weather conditions by: [4]

Using the precondition mode: Most EVs have a precondition mode that allows you to heat or cool the cabin (and battery) remotely. This can be activated when the EV is still connected so it uses electricity directly from the grid (or the power source) instead of using the electricity stored in the battery.
Using seat heaters: Most EVs use resistance heaters to heat the air in the cabin, which consumes a lot of power. Preheating the car while plugged in, and then switching to a seat heater, will extend the efficiency of your vehicle in cold weather. [5]
Parking the car in a garage: This will protect the battery from extreme cold, particularly if there is insulation in the garage or parking facilities.
Parking in the shade: When parking for long periods of time, it is wise to park in the shade to stop the vehicle and battery from getting warm in direct sun.

Maximising the life of an electric vehicle battery

It is important to charge your battery correctly, to maximise its life span. Vehicle manufacturers, such as Nissan, believe that EV batteries will outlast the vehicles they are in by 10-12 years.[6]

To maximise the lifespan of a battery:

Avoid charging to full when possible. Just like with other batteries, EV batteries degrade faster when they are frequently fully charged or completely drained. To maximise the battery’s life, keep it charged between 20% and 80% of the onscreen capacity. Many EV drivers only charge every few days to meet their driving requirements. [7]
Use timers when charging. Allow the battery to have a cooling period in between charging and driving to minimise the use of the battery when the cells voltage is high. For this a simple clock timer used as a reminder to unplug your EV 30-60 minutes before the drive can be helpful. [8]

Source: American Automotive Association [9]

Understand what powers an EV.

References

EV Basics – Ensuring EVs are fit for purpose

Posted on July 8, 2021July 8, 2021 by admin

During a fleet transition, ensuring the vehicles are operationally ‘fit for purpose’ should not be compromised when considering electric vehicles.

It is essential that fleet assets are suitable for their corporate and operational requirements and also meet occupational health safety and transport legislation obligations in the mobile workplace.

Understanding the main ‘fit for purpose’ criteria

Electric vehicles should:

be operationally effective and have the range and performance needed to do the job
have an Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) or
European New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP) equivalent five stars rating
be available in the market as and when required
have a demonstrated level of reliability and local service agents
be supported by their manufacturers
come with spare parts – commitment to parts inventory and expedient supply lines.

Are current electric vehicles ‘fit for purpose’?

Electric vehicles are designed with the same fit for purpose considerations as other vehicles. Whether they are fit for purpose for a specific organisation depends on the self-established criteria set by each organisation.

Each organisation will prioritise a variety of the above components differently and it is important to review these when considering an electric vehicle

The focus when organisations are first considering electric vehicles is often on whether they will have a driving range to perform a specific job function. Many of the newer electric vehicles will have sufficient range for the function, as the average daily driving distances for vehicles is generally far less than the typical range of new electric vehicle.

How to assess whether vehicles have sufficient range

Telemetry (vehicle data monitoring), and/or user interviews, average km readings from (odometer) or fuel card information can be used to determine the average kms a vehicle drives.

It is important to properly understand real range under conditions to do this assessment properly. In addition, when assessing range, it is important to understand “dwell-times” as this will indicate if the vehicles have sufficient time to charge between being used for tasks.

What to take into consideration when buying an EV

When considering electric vehicles, it is important to take into account that vehicle servicing needs are reduced, and the implications of this on staffing and support needs.

It is important to use a holistic approach when considering an electric vehicle.

You need to think about:

model availability
spare parts
customer service
quality of support for maintenance

These will all affect the decision to purchase a new fleet vehicle.

How EVs are supported

The more volume a product has in a market, the more likely it will be supported and have a ready supply of spare parts.

Support is of particular concern to fleet managers in remote locations where local dealer partners may not support the vehicles. Some vehicles have nationwide support offerings, however organisations should ensure that there is sufficient support for fleets from local dealerships and manufacturers when evaluating their purchasing decisions.

EV Basics – EV Batteries

Posted on July 8, 2021 by admin

EV batteries

The lithium ion-battery is the most important component of an electric vehicle, as it is the energy source. The battery size is demonstrative of the vehicle’s driving range and charging capabilities. Battery size will also affect the cost of the vehicle.

It is important to consider how to manage your electric vehicle battery, as its condition can impact residual values and vehicle efficiency.

An electric vehicle battery

The most common type of electric vehicle battery is made of lithium-ion. This is due to their specific energy (Wh/kg), cycle life and high efficiency. The battery is made up of two electrodes in an electrolyte.

The electrolyte is where the exchange of ions takes place to produce electricity. The lithium ions act as the charge carrier, allowing for the simultaneous exchange of positive and negative ions in the electrolyte. There are many options for the materials of the electrodes and electrolytes, hence there are different possible battery chemistries, each with their own advantages and disadvantages.

These include:

Cobalt Oxide (LCO)
Lithium Manganese Oxide (LMO)
Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP)
Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (NMC)
Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminium Oxide (NCA)
Lithium Titanate (LTO). [1]

Comparisons of different types of Li-ion batteries used in EVs from the following perspectives:

specific energy (capacity)
specific power, safety
performance, lifespan and cost.

Source: Miao Y. et. al, Energies, 2019

Battery life

Electric Vehicle (EV) batteries do not need to be replaced as frequently as a battery in an ICEV. Car manufacturers offer battery warranty to provide comfort for consumers, though it is not intended to be demonstrative of a battery’s life.

A BEV may need a battery replacement after 10-20 years, just like parts in an ICEV will need to be replaced over its lifetime. In an ICEV there are more moving parts, so there are more things to be replaced.

Battery charging

Electric vehicles now include Battery Management Systems (BMS) that limit charging capacity to prolong battery life. They control the temperature of the battery to reduce degradation and capacity loss. [2]

As electric vehicle batteries are lithium-ion it means that certain conditions degrade the battery over time. It is important to charge the battery according to the guidelines to get the most out of the technology.

Australian driving habits indicate an average drive distance of less than 50km per day, [3] so most drivers wouldn’t have to recharge daily given that the average BEV range for 2018/2019 Battery Electric Vehicles is 379km at 100% charge. [4]

There are different ways to charge an EV, all with different capacities and time frames to suit the situation. There are currently four levels of chargers. For more information, refer to the All about chargers article.

Battery conditions

Heat can affect battery life, so automakers are continuously innovating and investing in thermal management systems which protect the battery in harsh conditions.

Battery Thermal Management Systems (BTMS) form part of the battery cells to protect EV batteries by warming them up or cooling them down as required. A BTMS consists of systems that may be either active (external or internal sources of heating and/or cooling) or passive (natural convection). [5]

Climate has not shown to be a barrier to uptake in warm or cold regions. California, which has a similar climate to the highly populated areas of Australia, has reached EV market penetration of 9% EV uptake in June 2021. [6] India, with a comparative temperature to the northern regions of Australia, has committed to EV policies to build India ‘as a driver in electric vehicles. [7] Norway, with an average winter temperature of -6.8°C [8] has the highest global EV uptake and a 54.3% market share of BEVs as of December, 2020.

Battery technology: cost and range

Battery prices

Battery technology is constantly evolving, and as battery technology develops, the kWh cost of the battery drops. The price of a lithium battery has dropped significantly since 2010. In China the minimum reported price for batteries in e-buses is below $100/kWh. [9] On average, it is expected that the battery cost will reach $100/kWh by 2023.[10]

Source: Union of Concerned Scientists

Technological advancements are increasing Lithium-ion battery capacity, and innovation in the chemical make-up of lithium-ion batteries is driving the price of vehicles and end-of-EV-life replacement down. New developments include NCM 811 cells (available as early as 2019), [11] Lithium-sulfur, and lithium-solid state (2020-2030). [12, 13]

Battery sustainability

Read more about battery recycling and repurposing here.

References

EV Basics – EV Driving Range

Posted on July 8, 2021 by admin

EV driving range

The driving range is the distance your EV can drive with the energy stored in its battery.

An EV’s driving range can depend on:

the battery capacity
how the vehicle is driven
the external conditions (e.g. cold or warm weather)
the weight of the vehicle.

Battery capacity

The average range for an electric vehicle depends on the battery size. New EV models have driving ranges between 270-600km on a single charge. [1]

How the vehicle is driven

The way in which EVs are driven can also have an impact on range. As with an internal combustion engine, quick acceleration and fast driving can impact a vehicles’ fuel efficiency.

Extreme conditions (hot and cold weather)

Driving in extreme temperatures (from -6C up to 35C) can affect battery range. The use of heating and air conditioning can have a significant impact on an electric vehicle’s range.

In weather conditions of -6°C, driving range can decrease up to ~40% while using heating, but it only decreases 12% when heating systems are not used.

Similarly in hot weather temperatures of 35°C+, with the use of air conditioning the driving range can decrease up to 17%, and without air cooling around 5%. [2]

Range Standards

Range standards are a key driver of the EV industry because vehicle manufacturers advertise driving range to market their electric vehicles. As such, standardised range testing provides consumers with a uniform approach to range measurement.

There are three main standards used to measure a vehicle’s range:

The Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP)
The New European Driving Cycle (NEDC)
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) testing standards.

The Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP)

WLTP is the newest accepted test standard. It is a dynamic test cycle that aims to reflect a more representative picture of real driving conditions. All new-car registrations in Europe from September 2018 are required to use WLTP range estimates. [3]

The WLTP test includes: [4]

More realistic driving behaviour;
A greater range of driving situations (urban, suburban, main road, motorway);
Longer test distances;
More realistic ambient temperatures, closer to the European average;
Higher average and maximum speeds;
Higher average and maximum drive power;
More dynamic and representative accelerations and decelerations;
Shorter stops;
Optional equipment: CO2 values and fuel consumption are provided for individual vehicles;
Stricter car set-up and measurement conditions;

The WLTP will tend to show lower range and energy efficiency (fuel consumption) than NEDC values due to the more realistic conditions.

The New European Driving Cycle (NEDC)

NEDC is the previously accepted standard of testing. It was designed in the 1980s but has become outdated due to technological advances and changes in driving conditions. [5]

The NEDC cycle is a cold-start driving cycle and it is divided into two parts, the first part simulates the driving conditions in an urban area, while the second part simulates the driving conditions in extra-urban areas (or highways) [6].

The NEDC has been found to have large differences (around 38%) between tested performance and real world performance. In Europe NEDC results on carbon emissions were on average 123 grams per kilometer (g/km), significantly less than the 170g/km evidenced on real world driving conditions [7]. Discrepancies are attributed to unrealistic low testing parameters and the narrow temperature range of NEDC testing [8]. The NEDC tests determined values based on a theoretical driving profile, which are considered to not match current driving profiles [9].

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

EPA’s testing standards are from the United States. They were established in 1978 and last updated in 2009, and they produce fuel economy estimates for the country’s fuel economy-related programmes.

The EPA requires car manufacturers to change and update their fuel economy values on fuel economy labels (the stickers visible in cars). The EPA tests for city, highway, high speed, with the use of A/C and in cold conditions. The EPA fuel economy ( energy efficiency and range for EVs) tend to show lower values than WLTP.

EPA fuel economy test parameters

The table below shows the test cycles and its attributes.

Source: EPA [11]

Comparing EV range across testing standards

BEV	WLTP	NEDC	EPA
Nissan Leaf 2018 [7]	270km	378km	242km
BMW i3 2018-19 [8]	310km	359km	246km
Hyundai IONIQ 2019	294km [9]	378km [10]	218km [11]

Measuring range

The range displayed on an EV’s digital display is not 100% of the actual capacity of the battery. While manufacturers tend to advertise the rated capacity (the full capacity the battery can provide), some of this total capacity is also used for other purposes.

For example: battery management systems save a reserve of approximately 5% for emergencies and prevent damage to the battery. [12]

If an EV displays 0% charged, it has emergency reserves (just like in an ICEV) however, it is not recommended to drive a battery down below 0%, because completely draining the battery can affect the health of the battery cells.

Optimum state of charge

An EV is typically between 20%-90% of its total capacity under most operating conditions. When discussing EV battery states of charge, common expressions such as “empty” or “fully charged” refer only to the portion of a battery’s capacity that is available for normal use, not its entire energy potential.

As the battery degrades, the battery management system will continue to show the virtual 100% of range until capacity reserves are fully used (see figure below) [13]. Once the battery gets to about 70% of its original usable capacity, then the battery is no longer usable for EV driving.

Source: CleanTechnica [12]

References

Measuring the efficiency of electric buses

Posted on July 8, 2021 by admin

With the rapid increase in electric buses around the globe, performance data is starting to emerge. Many municipalities are also conducting their own bus trials to work out how particular buses will perform on their routes. This is giving decision makers more clarity on stated, versus actual energy efficiency (kWh/km) of electric buses. Factors such as ambient conditions, topography and bus characteristics have significant effects on the real performance of an electric bus.

Efficiency plays a key part in sizing a depot’s charging infrastructure, electrical upgrades and potential upstream infrastructure costs. It affects how long buses need to charge for, the coincidence of peak demand from multiple chargers and ability of buses to meet their charging needs in line with their schedule.

Average efficiency vs. dynamic modelling

An average efficiency (kWh/km), using data manufacturer’s stated numbers, data from another region, or even a route serviced from the same depot can lead to significantly under or over estimated energy consumption.

We compare using an average efficiency versus a dynamic model for two typical metropolitan routes below.

Route A

Average from Manufacturer’s Data: 1.17kWh/km

BetterFleet Dynamic Model: 1.48kWh/km

Difference: 26%

Route B

Average from Manufacturer’s Data: 1.17kWh/km

BetterFleet Dynamic Model: 1.65kWh/km

Difference: 41%

This difference can lead to understated battery charging requirements leading to undersized charging infrastructure. Even if infrastructure is sized with margins for error, long-term operating costs from energy purchases will be significantly underestimated.

BetterFleet

Evenergi’s modelling software BetterFleet™ can model individual routes from your depot, using actual topography and travel data. This means we can significantly de-risk your investment decisions when it comes to electrifying your bus fleet.

Find out more about how Evenergi can help here.

Vehicle to Grid – An Overview

Posted on July 8, 2021 by admin

There are more than 80 V2G trials globally, with the majority of trials taking place in Europe where the world’s major automobile companies, distribution network service providers and electric car charger manufacturing companies are collaborating.

The V2G hub maps out V2G projects from around the world, which includes projects with physical deployment of V2G technology for a specific use case and excludes experimental research and narrow technology demonstration.

Companies can stay ahead of the game by taking part in V2G trials to test out the technology and evaluate the benefits for their fleet.

What is V2G?

Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) describes a system in which plug-in electric vehicles (EVs), such as battery electric vehicles (BEV) or plug-in hybrids (PHEV), communicate with the power grid to sell demand response services by either returning electricity to the grid or by throttling their charging rate.

V2G storage capabilities can enable EVs to store and discharge electricity generated from renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, with output that fluctuates depending on weather and time of day.

Benefits of V2G

V2G directs the charging and discharging of EV batteries based on users’ needs and the grid’s electricity supply, it allows the electricity grid to optimise the supply of local renewable energy and reduce infrastructure costs, while the EV owner can enjoy greener, more economical consumption of electricity and be financially rewarded for serving the electricity grid.

This means V2G comes with the following benefits for the EV owner and the distribution network:

Supporting electrical grid, reducing concerns for grid overload
Maximise the business case opportunity of your EVs
Cheap and fast energy storage
Making use of existing resources
Reduction of environmental impact

How V2G works

V2G directs the charging and discharging of electric-vehicle batteries in accordance with users’ needs and the grid’s supply of available electricity. When electricity supply exceeds demand (notably during peak periods of renewable energy production), charging occurs at the maximum level; however, during peak electricity demand, vehicles can then supply electricity into the grid.

The figure below shows four models of V2G and the potential electricity and revenue flows across its stakeholders.

Challenges of V2G

The only technical disadvantage of V2G operation is the battery degradation due to the high number of charge/discharge cycles. Most electric car manufacturers are not providing warranty for V2G operations except a few i.e. Nissan and Mitsubishi. This strategy is still in its early stages to be implemented on a large scale.

Applications for V2G

Apart from providing local services at individual levels, when aggregated, EVs can also provide services to the grid for:

Voltage regulation
Frequency regulation

Optimal utilisation of the energy resources (electric cars as battery reserves) will result in minimum cost of energy consumption for the end users as well as reduced impact on the electric power grid.

Apart from V2G, it is worthwhile to think about V2X, which can be vehicle-to-grid, vehicle-to-building, vehicle-to-vehicle, vehicle-to-home. The concept remains the same with different applications.

Evenergi consulting for V2G

Evenergi can provide services for modeling the energy management systems by optimal utilisation of available energy resources.

Evenergi can also help facilitate V2G trials with industry partners such as distributed network supply providers (DNSPs), electric car manufacturers, electric car charger manufacturers, and state governments.

Contact Evenergi here.

An introduction to electric road freight vehicles

Posted on July 7, 2021October 5, 2021 by admin

Road freight transportation enables economic and social development but is also a major contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to its heavy consumption of fossil fuels.

Globally, the truck sector currently contributes to 39% of the transport sector’s GHG emissions, and a total of 5% of all fossil fuel derived carbon dioxide emissions. While currently freight transport accounts for less than half of transport emissions, it is expected to grow by 56%−70% between 2015 and 2050, despite large improvements in energy efficiency. This is due to the demand for freight transport expecting to increase from the rise in online shopping, increased urbanisation and reduced car ownership.

There is a strong focus on electric road freight transport by governments worldwide, and IDTechEx forecasts the penetration of electric trucks into the global medium and heavy duty market to be 9.4% by 2030.

Benefits of an electric road freight fleet

Electric vehicle technology has the potential to provide significant benefits to operators of freight vehicles, including light commercial vans and heavy trucks. The key benefits of transitioning to an electric road freight fleet include reduced greenhouse gas emissions, noise and air pollution reduction and reduced lifetime costs.

Environmental – Battery electric vehicles reduce emissions, except in the cases of carbon intensive electricity production. It has been estimated that worldwide, electric trucks will influence road freight emissions from 2035 onwards and account for one third of the emission reductions in 2050.

Public and driver health – Battery electric vehicles will improve public and driver health due to lack of tailpipe emissions and reduced noise pollution.

Lifetime costs – Even with higher purchasing costs compared to a diesel truck, electric freight vehicles are competitive if annual driving distance is high enough and battery lifetime matches the vehicle lifetime.

What should you consider for the transition?

Battery electric trucks have not been a viable option to replace heavy duty trucks due to the high energy requirements and low energy density of batteries. However, recent developments in battery technology are making electric heavy duty trucks viable, a large part due to reduced battery prices leading to decreased life cycle costs of heavy duty electric trucks.

The main considerations when transitioning to an electric road freight fleet are vehicle usage requirements – what the vehicle is used for and how – i.e. what tasks does it need to fulfill, the load it is required to carry, the distance per mission for range, and parking/off duty cycles for charging. Benefits would depend on the drive cycle – with low payment weight, low speeds and frequent stop and starts favouring electric.

Weight – weight affects fuel economy. And the tare weight of the freight vehicle is important in determining the amount of freight it can legally carry.

Cost – upfront purchase costs including battery cost, operating costs including servicing and maintenance and charging, and residual value.

Charging infrastructure – electric trucks and vans will increase demand on electricity and require improved demand management and storage and new electrical charging infrastructure. The speed of charging also needs to be considered depending on duty cycles and route scheduling. We will discuss more about charging in the next episode of our logistics series.

Technology – improvements in battery technologies with increased capacity and decreased cost and weight compared to evolutionary changes to internal combustion engines. Improvements to battery capacity and recharging infrastructure should make electric trucks a viable option for a large share of road freight with medium duty trucks, heavy duty rigid trucks and semi trailers.

So, the key challenges of transitioning to an electric road freight fleet include limitations to charging infrastructure, high initial purchase price and uncertainty about vehicle residual value.

Charging – high capacity charging systems for fast charging are not yet available and therefore only off-duty charging is available, and the charging capacity needs to be properly modelled to ensure the grid can support charging demands.

Purchase price – the initial purchase price is high compared to a diesel truck.

Residual value – the residual value of an electric truck or van is questionable as there are minimal historical records.

Electric trucks and vans in Australia

In Australia, electric truck use cases have been in the small to medium size commercial vehicle and garbage truck segments in metropolitan areas.

For example, Renault Kangoo ZE is a popular option for light commercial vehicles, and some companies are trialling Fuso eCanter as a medium truck option. SEA Electric provides drive trains that can be fitted to new cab chassis such as those from HINO 300 series and HINO 500 series.

At Evenergi we provide like-for-like asset replacement recommendations for your current electric trucks and vans fleet based on their fit-for-purpose criteria.

Case studies for road freight fleets in Australia

IKEA and its logistics partner ANC piloted electric trucks for last mile deliveries in March 2019, with Hino 917 series chassis and SEA Electric’s SEA Drive 120a electric components.

Queensland-based transport and trucking operator All Purpose Transport has put its first electric truck in its IKEA operation in December 2019.

Logistics giant Toll has reportedly deployed the all-electric Fuso eCanter at its Bungarribee distribution site in Sydney.

In late 2019, Australia Post announced that it would be trialing the Fuso eCanter for use in the Sydney central business district. If the Australia Post trial is successful, the Fuso eCanter will become part of the Australia Post fleet.

Cleanaway, a waste management company that also operates more than 4,000 heavy trucks around the country, is carrying out a trial of an electric garbage truck in the western Australian city of Perth.

In early 2020, The City of Casey’s recycling of hard-waste is becoming carbon neutral with several new electric trucks joining the fleet at WM Waste Management Services as part of a new waste contract.

DHL is aiming to deliver 70% of its first and last mile services with clean pickup and delivery solutions by 2025. DHL is currently using the Renault Kangoo ZE (zero emissions) van to pick-up and deliver parcels in Melbourne and Sydney.

Evenergi consulting for logistics

The transition to electric road freight transportation is gaining momentum, and companies can stay ahead of the game by being prepared for these changes.

Evenergi can help freight and logistics companies to seize opportunities and manage risks of an eMobility future, through the development of economic and technical models to support the migration to electric road freight fleets. Find out how Evenergi can help here