What Fleet Drivers Say About EV Adoption
May 10, 2023 | 5 min read
The once-fringe idea of phasing out gas-powered vehicles in favor of electric vehicles (EVs) is entering the mainstream—thanks, in no small part, to public and private investment.
In October 2022, the federal government distributed nearly $3 billion in grants across 20 companies to develop and grow domestic manufacturing of batteries for EVs in a dozen states.1073 That’s on top of the pledge to expand public charging infrastructure1074 and distribute tax credits1075 to offset up-front EV costs.
As for private funding, in 2021, Ford Motor Company earmarked $30 billion for EV investments through 2025 to help bring zero-emission cars to our customers at scale.1076 In pursuit of that goal, Ford invested $5.6 billion1077 in building a 3,600-acre sustainable auto manufacturing ecosystem in Tennessee. BlueOval City, as it’s dubbed, will focus on battery manufacturing, battery recycling and EV assembly. All told, the project is estimated to generate 6,000 new American jobs and encourage future growth in zero-waste manufacturing.1077
The commercial fleet space is moving toward EV adoption, too.
According to a Ford ProTM survey of fleet managers, more than one-third of commercial fleets have already adopted EVs, and nearly 90% are interested in adding more to their ranks.1060 Yet our survey responses show that fleet leaders are worried that their fleet drivers aren’t prepared to go fully electric. About 20% of fleet managers reported that drivers are the most prominent opponents of EVs, and another half of fleet managers said they worry about fleet drivers getting stranded or having to charge their EVs mid-shift.1060
The idea of running out of energy can be intimidating, but it is avoidable. An EV’s range will likely be shorter than a conventional gas or diesel vehicle’s range. Still, U.S.-based fleet managers say most drivers travel less than 100 miles per day,1060 meaning drivers should have enough energy to complete tasks between charges.1078
Even if drivers have a low EV battery in the middle of the workday, they’ll receive plenty of warning. Just as conventional cars offer gas gauges, Ford EVs use gauges that alert drivers when they’re running low on power. That EV range status is also dynamic and intelligent, constantly updating based on weather conditions, ambient air temperatures, traffic conditions and more. Ford Pro EVs even have a dashboard feature that locates and routes drivers to nearby recharging stations using Charge Assist.1079
Fleet managers shouldn’t let range anxiety prevent them from adopting EVs. Ford Pro EVs are equipped with features that streamline public, depot and home charging.
By optimizing a fleet’s charging strategy, fleet managers can ease drivers’ range anxiety and help ensure they’re ready to go at the beginning of each workday. If drivers take their EVs home overnight, fleet managers can install Ford Pro AC Charging Stations at drivers’ homes to allow for overnight charging.1061 And thanks to Ford Pro E-Telematics129 —software designed specifically for commercial EVs—fleet managers can see the real-time plug-in status of vehicles, create seamless digital workflows for administrative tasks like home charging reimbursements and manage departure preconditioning settings remotely.
Helping to ensure EVs are properly preconditioned prior to departure is particularly important where range anxiety is concerned. Preconditioning—or the process of preheating or precooling the cabin and battery to the optimal temperature—is important to long-term battery health and helps fleet drivers get the most out of each EV charge session.
Not long ago, the idea of switching to EVs felt tenuous. Today, commercial fleets are adopting more EVs and starting to understand the many benefits. Fleet managers, ask yourselves: As your organization transitions to EVs, will your fleet drivers be ready?
Fleet managers can begin planning their fleet’s EV adoption process with Ford Pro hardware and software charging solutions at the depot and/or drivers’ homes. And by activating Public Charge Management, fleet drivers gain access to North America's largest public charging network.62
Disclosure(s)
“Biden-Harris Administration Awards $2.8 Billion to Supercharge U.S. Manufacturing of Batteries for Electric Vehicles and Electric Grid.” Energy.gov. Oct. 19, 2022. https://www.energy.gov/articles/biden-harris-administration-awards-28-billion-supercharge-us-manufacturing-batteries
“FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Catalyzes More Than $700 Million in Private Sector Commitments to Make EV Charging More Affordable and Accessible,” The White House. June 28, 2022. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/06/28/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-catalyzes-more-than-700-million-in-private-sector-commitments-to-make-ev-charging-more-affordable-and-accessible/
“FACT SHEET: How the Inflation Reduction Act Will Help Small Businesses.” The White House. Sept. 12, 2022. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/09/12/fact-sheet-how-the-inflation-reduction-act-will-help-small-businesses/
“Ford to Lead America’s Shift to Electric Vehicles With New Mega Campus in Tennessee and Twin Battery Plants in Kentucky; $11.4b Investment to Create 11,000 Jobs and Power New Lineup of Advanced EVs.” Ford Media Center. Sept. 27, 2021. https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2021/09/27/ford-to-lead-americas-shift-to-electric-vehicles.html
“BlueOval City and SK.” Ford Motor Company. https://corporate.ford.com/operations/blue-oval-city.html
"Ford ProTM Fleet Manager Global Quantitative Study: Perceptions of Electric Vehicles January 2022." This quantitative study was fielded in the United States, United Kingdom and Germany among 1,250 corporate fleet decision-makers. The survey was conducted online in December 2021. PSB was hired by Ford Pro to conduct the survey. Results are not weighted.
“All-Electric Vehicles.” U.S. Department of Energy. https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/evtech.shtml
“How to Manage Public Charging | Ford ProTM E-Telematics | Ford ProTM.” Ford Pro YouTube. Nov. 16, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOxHK2rTVb8
“Charging Plug-in Electric Vehicles at Home.” U.S. Department of Energy: Alternative Fuels Data Center. https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/electricity_charging_home.html
Eligible (2022 and 2023 MY) vehicles receive a complimentary three-year trial of Ford ProTM E-Telematics services, and eligible (2024, 2025 and 2026 MY) vehicles receive a one-year trial that begins on the new vehicle warranty start date. Requires modem activation. Terms and conditions apply. Telematics service and features depend on compatible cellular network availability. Evolving technology/cellular networks/vehicle capability may limit functionality and prevent operation of connected features. Annual service contract is required for E-Telematics service after trial. Call 1-833-811-3673 or go to FordPro.com to activate E-Telematics service.
Based on original equipment manufacturers(OEM)/automotive manufacturers that sell all-electric vehicles and have active charging networks. Department of Energy data as of February 22, 2023 used. Numbers subject to change. FordPass®, compatible with select smartphone platforms, is available via a download. Message and data rates may apply.