MIT’s Center for Transportation and Logistics researchers have conducted a new study on a fleet of electric-drive delivery trucks. The results show that using electric vehicles on a large scale are not only environmentally friendly, but also provide economic benefits to your business!

A company looking to buy an electric-powered delivery truck might experience some sticker shock—such vehicles cost around $150,000, compared to $50,000 for an internal-combustion engine truck.  But keep in mind this is a purchase that should pay for itself in the long run!

“There has to be a good business case if there is going to be more adoption of electric vehicles,” says Jarrod Goentzel, director of the Renewable Energy Delivery Project at CTL and one of the co-authors of the new study. “We think it’s already a viable economic model, and as battery costs continue to drop, the case will only get better.”

Compared to the conventional diesel-engine deliver trucks, electric vehicles can lower operational costs of a fleet used to make daily deliveries in urban areas anywhere from 9% to 12%. The researchers used data from ISO New England, a nonprofit organization that runs New England’s electric power grid, and Staples, an international supplier of office products. The researchers used the data to model the costs of a delivery truck fleet with 250 vehicles.  Three types of motors: diesel engines, hybrid gas-electric engines, and purely electric engines were analyzed fleet use in the study. Purely electric trucks achieved 0.8 kWh per mile, they hybrid trucks averaged 11.56 miles per gallon, and diesel engines averaged 10.14 miles per gallon. 

The researchers also examined electric truck fleets as part of a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) system that would allow their batteries to be plugged into the electric grid for 12 hours overnight as an additional resource for providing electricity to consumers.  In this scenario, the truck owners would be paid by utility firms for the electricity they provide.  The results showed that companies could earn about $900 to $1,400 per truck per year in vehicle-to-grid revenues, translating to a drop in operating costs ranging from 7% to 11%.  To put it simply, this means the electric truck will help save money in terms of fuel and maintenance, since they induce less damage on brakes. 

To sum it up: operational costs per mile (the basic metric used by fleet managers) would drop from 75 cents to 68 cents per mile when V2G-enabled electric trucks are used instead of gas-engine trucks.  I guess you could say using electric trucks for delivery fleets makes ‘cents’!

What do the cities of Los Angeles, Seoul, and Lisbon have in common? They are all recipients of the "e-Visionary Award"!

EVS26, the 26th International Electric Vehicle Symposium was completed on Wednesday May 9 with the designation of the "e-Visionary Award" recipients. Like at every Electric Vehicle Symposium (every 12 to 18 months), three cities, one from each region (Americas / Asia-Pacific / Africa-Europe), received the award. At EVS26, the cities of Los Angeles, USA; Seoul, Korea; and Lisbon, Portugal were recognized. The 3 EVS26 E-Visionary recipient cities join 21 other cities who have received this award since its creation in 2002.


The City of Los Angeles

The City of Los Angeles has made several important steps regarding the future of electric vehicles. More than one hundred charging stations have been upgraded to the newest charging standards within the city and a program has been put into place that provides financial incentives for the installation of a home charging unit (up to $2,000). The city also provides a financial incentive for a refill during off-peak at 2.5 cents per kWh. Other practices include a free information hotline on EVs, regulations in the area of the building making it easier for EVs to be adopted, a pilot program for zero-emission buses, and deployment of an "incubator" for emerging cleantech startups promoting EVs.

Additionally, the City of Los Angeles supports companies with L.A. headquarters including CODA Automotive, BYD Motor Inc., and Boulder EV, while also "twinning Electric Vehicles" with Shanghai to share experiences of their EV programs.


The City of Seoul

The City of Seoul received the award particularly for its political support to electric buses. The city expects 120,000 electric vehicles in 2020 with 50% of its public transport being electric.


The City of Lisbon

The City of Lisbon was recognized especially for its policy in support of charging stations deployment (514), the incorporation of electric vehicles in its fleet, equipment and the municipal police. The City of Lisbon also introduced the "green certificate" that allows free parking for drivers with electric vehicles. Finally, it organizes a very concrete feedback with its program EVIEW and has organized several international events on electric mobility.