“ Select the proper charging method by considering existing and future fleet needs for EVs, expected fleet growth, the charging model and type and the lifecycle and maintenance of the charging infrastructure for the EV fleet,” he said.“ It’ s also essential to determine requirements for fleet baseline energy needs, on-site energy management and electrical and utility upgrades.”
Interconnection requirements to meet capacity and peak demand should be considered at this point. An assessment of the site helps size EV charging stations and plan network capacity to meet operational needs. It is also important to consider energy optimization and vehicle availability for determining smart charging and energy management systems.
The second step in the process is the design and build stage. Structural, foundation and electrical design, as well as EV charging infrastructure plans are developed and then a preliminary site plan from survey information and selected equipment is created. Activities to account for include distribution network upgrades, installation of transformers, meters and panels, utility interconnection, site trenching and conduit and cable installation.“ The third step is to test and commission EV chargers with tools known as vehicle emulators,” Rackliffe said.“ For independent validation of a charger’ s operation, don’ t risk damaging your vehicles by using them to test chargers.
Employ plug and play practices that allow for repeatability of tests including testing chargers up to their maximum power rating.”
Other aspects of the testing process that Rackliffe recommends:
• Site and energy management for meeting demand peaks through a response capability including battery energy storage, and to deliver energy to meet fleet vehicle state-ofcharge requirements.
• Integration of operational optimization software with vehicle telematics, scheduling and maintenance management systems to manage location and state of charge and to capture data to report fleet energy consumption for identifying charging patterns. This allows for optimization of the fleet charging with respect to operational needs or time-ofuse energy costs. For sites that may not have an adequate utility interconnection, Rackliffe discussed leveraging mobile and temporary charging infrastructures.“ Flexible charging and storage support pilot programs and help launch fleet transitions, and they are a means of temporary charging at roadside assistance events or on jobsites during storm response and restoration activities,” he said.“ Things can go wrong, so advanced planning is needed to ensure issues with EVs will not impact operations. Temporary charging infrastructure also allows for fleet depots to transition to EVs even if the network interconnection is not yet built.”
For a smooth fleet EV transition, Rackliffe advised outlining short-, mid- and long-term roll-out plans, including the initial implementation and how to scale as the EV fleet grows. Provide feedback on the expected electrification timeline and pace and create a structured reporting and evaluation program to modify the mid- and long-term plans using the lessons learned from the previous phase. The data can also be used for sustainability reporting.
Outlining key performance indicators can help validate the success or failure of the original plan and make effective changes, Rackliffe pointed out. Considering that the transi-
One of the first steps in fleet electrification, according to Gary Rackliffe, is to define the types of vehicles that will be deployed.
8 June 13, 2025 www. contractorshotline. com