Public sector fleet electrification: Sharing insights from learned experiences at Connect 2024

In this discussion, Mark Goody, Geotab’s Senior Manager of Sustainability Solutions, sat down with panelists Dave Munn and Ed Guelfi to discuss fleet electrification strategies for the public sector. Munn’s experience as Branch Chief of Innovation for the U.S. General Services Administration’s (GSA’s) Office of Fleet Management provided him with a unique perspective to share the challenges and opportunities for fleet electrification across the federal government fleet. Guelfi also brought powerful insights on EV infrastructure challenges as the State of Connecticut’s Department of Administrative Services Assistant Director of Fleet Operations. This discussion touched on key topics such as simplifying the fleet electrification process via data intelligence, critically assessing the steps involved, and actual ways organizations are moving towards meeting EV deployment goals, including best practices for both EV acquisition and EV infrastructure planning.

Simplifying fleet electrification planning

Fleet electrification planning is a complex process. Geotab helps enable fleets to leverage data intelligence to simplify the process. Navigating the complexities of fleet electrification planning starts with collecting the right vehicle-side data. Measuring real-world duty-cycle data on driving profiles, seasonal EV range estimations across all EV model options, charging requirements, fuel usage and a calculated total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis all makes it easier to pinpoint vehicle electrification opportunities and initiate them. During the first half of the Connect session, Munn detailed how federal agency fleets can simplify EV acquisition planning via Electric Vehicle Suitability Assessments (EVSAs). As the leasing arm of the U.S. federal government fleet, GSA leverages Geotab’s EVSA solution to help assist federal agencies with surveying their fleet’s landscape for electrification feasibility, harvesting deep insights across the entire roster of vehicles to do so.

Compliance with President Joe Biden’s Executive Order (EO) 14057 is a key driver why GSA is helping agencies pinpoint EV acquisition opportunities, in addition to it making good business sense. EO 14057 requires 100% of light-duty vehicle acquisitions to be EV by 2027, and for all other vehicle types by 2035. As required in the EO 14057 implementing instructions, federal agencies “must deploy telematics and collect and use fleet operational data to inform fleet planning and zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) acquisition strategies, as well as ZEV and EVSE [electric vehicle supply equipment] operational management.”

In response to these requirements, GSA implemented a series of measures to develop a robust business and operational plan for fleet electrification, including increasing EV offerings and leveraging data intelligence via Geotab telematics software to ensure a data-driven approach.To help develop their fleet electrification plan, GSA, in collaboration with Geotab, deployed a customized model for their EVSA program that factors in specific GSA Feet metrics and real-world telematics data:

• Real-world range capabilities and applicable on-route charging requirements.
• A total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis including ZEV incremental costs.
• Strategies for reducing fleet CO2 emissions and fuel consumption by leveraging battery technology.

This EVSA solution helps GSA identify real-world range requirements, which ICE vehicles are the best candidates for EV replacement and applicable on-route charging thresholds, as they help support their agency clients in their respective fleet electrification journeys.

An example of a monthly range assurance chart that helps organizations move toward fleet electrification, factoring in key variables like weather and charging requirements:

Munn also mentioned how in January, GSA Fleet hosted their annual FedFleet conference in Washington, D.C. At this event, the Council of Environmental Quality’s Federal Chief Sustainability Officer was in attendance to evangelize the benefits of the EVSA solution for government agencies. GSA has already put this endorsement into practice by using Geotab’s EVSA solution to assess over 13,000 vehicles across 21 different bureaus.

The State of Connecticut: Overcoming challenges by pivoting from EV acquisition to EV infrastructure

During the second portion of this discussion, Guelfi shared how the State of Connecticut partnered with Geotab in 2023 to conduct a fleet-wide EV Infrastructure Assessment (EVIA). Using Geotab, they discovered that their leased light-duty vehicles were traveling a total average 34 million miles a year by studying odometer reports.

Under Governor Ned Lamont’s Executive Order 1, an integrated sustainability strategy is mandated for government fleet operations. Senate Bill #4 Public Act #22-25, also known as the Connecticut Clean Air Act, establishes key fleet electrification targets:

• On and after January 1, 2026, at least 50% of such cars and light duty trucks must be Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs).
• On and after January 1, 2028, at least 75% of such cars and light duty trucks must be BEVs.
• On and after January 1, 2030, 100% of such cars and light duty trucks must be BEVs.

If Connecticut’s vehicle leasing agency was to reach their 50 percent target by 2026, they would need to have 1,378 vehicles electrified, a number only feasible to reach if adequate EV infrastructure is deployed. Guelfi’s team focused on the EV infrastructure that would be needed to support this transition by partnering with Geotab. His agency was one of the first to deploy Geotab’s EVIA solution, a detailed report that helps determine charging needs including optimal locations for siting EV infrastructure, the number of charging heads recommended and incremental power needs (kW) for every site. The EVIA report detailed the following data insights and EV infrastructure requirements:

• Dwell times and charging locations: Determines which vehicles are most eligible for electrification based on when, where, and how long they dwell, compared to how much they drive.
• Charging heads required: Evaluates simultaneous vehicles charging to determine EV infrastructure requirements per site.
• Site load impacts: Calculates simultaneous charging energy load per site based on modeled charging cycles throughout the day.

The state of Connecticut also discovered site zoning inefficiencies they were able to adjust to accurately complete the EVIA. With realigned zones, detailed site and vehicle analyses and accurate load models, they were able to identify a large disparity between the number of charging stations they originally thought would be needed and what would actually be required. Guelfi presented these crucial EVIA findings to a sustainability and construction management group to help inform next steps relating to on-site engineering and construction for the deployment of EVSE at the optimal locations.

An example of a simultaneous charging and load impact projection analysis, demonstrating power availability and the maximum numbers of dwelling and charging vehicles in a given location.

Why fleet electrification matters for government organizations

There are more reasons to go electric than just maintaining compliance with executive orders. Investing in green strategies like EVs and infrastructure can help departments increase public trust as well as reduce fuel costs across their entire convoy. Another possible factor to consider is the price of maintenance. As EVs tend to have fewer moving parts than internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, they usually require fewer repairs over time, which means additional money in your budget. Shifting to EVs can also enable your department to lead by example and encourage the public to consider more environmentally-conscious travel options as we collectively work toward a more sustainable future.

Accounting for all necessary factors when moving your government fleet to EVs

When creating a plan to transition your public sector fleet vehicles to electric ones, the best way to account for all mandatory elements is by harnessing the power of telematics. These fleet diagnostics help your organization carry out thorough assessments, so you’re positioned to procure EVs with efficiency and accuracy in mind. Our public sector fleet electrification session at Connect 2024 highlighted real-world ways organizations are using these assessments to comply with sustainability goals, paving a smarter way forward for public service as a whole.

Learn more about Geotab’s sustainability mission and how we can enable you to reach environmental targets with our public sector fleet solutions: https://www.geotab.com/fleet-management-solutions/sustainability/