Electric vehicle suitability assessment (EVSA) for fleets

Telematics is a key component in determining a fleet's electrification potential via an EV Suitability Assessment (EVSA). Before doing an EVSA, Geotab's telematics device records the driving patterns of the fleet's petrol and diesel vehicles to use as a basis for the assessment. During an EVSA, Geotab taps into telematics data to compare which EV models can best service the fleet's range requirements. The EVSA leverages:

• the largest set of real-world EV performance data 
• ratings from the EPA and WLTP on upcoming EV models, and
• data on speed, trip patterns (e.g. idling) and environmental factors like localised ambient temperature for increased accuracy.

A key benefit of an Electric Vehicle Suitability Assessment is that it can save fleet managers time by making it easy to pinpoint fleet vehicles that can be replaced by an equivalent EV based on their function and range requirements. The EVSA compares EVs based on factors such as: 

• Total cost of ownership (includes retail price, maintenance costs, fuel/electricity costs and other expenses) 

• EV type (Battery Electric vs. Plug-in Hybrid) 

• Vehicle class 

• Range 

• Local availability 

Electric Vehicle Suitability Assessment (EVSA) is a Geotab Marketplace solution developed to help fleet managers identify which vehicles are best suited to be replaced by electric fleet vehicles. 

EVSA analyses the driving data of the vehicles in the fleet and recommends replacement when two conditions are met: 

• There is an electric vehicle replacement that is sufficiently autonomous to perform the required driving cycle without needing to be charged during the day. 
• The life cycle cost of the electric vehicle is lower than that of an equivalent non-electric vehicle.

An electric vehicle adoption report (EVSA) provides an accurate understanding of which fleet vehicles could be replaced by electric vehicles. This analysis covers the type of vehicle and its autonomy level, and the cost savings of a change.

Many fleet vehicles can be replaced by electric vehicles, but the first step to making a well-informed investment in electric vehicles is to identify the needs within your fleet and seek out the vehicles that will best address that need. Understanding the driving patterns of your fleet and how to maximise operational efficiency can provide the extra clarity that is needed for a switch to electric vehicles. Using telematics data to identify existing driving profiles can be a helpful starting point for deciding whether to switch to electric vehicles.

There is no fixed timeline for a switch to electric vehicles. Each fleet carries out different operations and has its own challenges when it comes to embracing electric vehicles. If you are developing a timeline for electrifying your fleet, it is therefore important to build a picture of the needs within the fleet, your goals and your budget. 

Geotab currently supports more than 200 brands and models of electrical vehicle. Check our reference sheet for a complete list of the electric vehicle brands/models supported.