Understanding how to manage electric vehicles can help fleet managers reduce payback periods

The idea of getting an electric vehicle (EV) is an exciting one.  Not only are plug-in vehicles environmentally friendly but they are also an interesting new technology.  Despite their attraction, fleet managers may be hesitant to try one out.  Adding an EV to your fleet is supposed to have financial benefits, like reduced operating costs for fuel and maintenance; however, without being sure of these savings the initial price tag is often too high to make the jump.

Perhaps you added a plug-in vehicle to your fleet like a Nissan Leaf, or a Chevrolet Volt, just to try out how electric vehicles work for you.  This car is a way to test the water before making a more significant investment.

Fleets with that first electric vehicle sometimes face frustration and disappointment when trying to use it.  Sometimes it’s just not the right vehicle for the job, but often it is due to a disconnect between what fleet managers feel they should know about one of their assets and what they actually know and act upon.

As much as everyone wants to see an electric car exactly the same as a conventional one, they can’t. The differences we find aren’t inadequacies, but without recognizing these differences fleet managers are not able to get the benefits of plugging in.  In order to fully realize all of the great aspects that come along with having an EV in your fleet, you need to be smart about how you use it.

Lessons from early adopters on how to make plug-in vehicles work for your fleet

We have had several webinars in the past with helpful tips for fleet managers for some common issues like how to handle hot and cold weather in an electric vehicle, or the best practices for plugging in.  Throughout these webinars we have found that there are several tips that can help fleet managers reduce the payback period for electric vehicles no matter what the particular aspect.

In the last year we have worked with over 40 organizations that are in the process of integrating electric vehicles into their fleet.  These vehicles are in a variety of applications and locations across North America.  On Tuesday April 16, 2013 at 2 pm we are having a webinar where we are going to detail the lessons we have learned from these early adopters and key takeaways for fleets that are considering purchasing an electric vehicle or already have some within in their fleet. If you are interested in learning more about how to make electric vehicles work for your fleet, join us for this free live webinar by registering at the link below.

Register Here!

Tuesday, April 16th, 2pm-3pm EDT

This webinar is provided at no cost to you, however spaces are limited so we recommend registering right away to reserve your spot.

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Last night we received some great news:  the winners of the Apps For Vehicles Challenge
were announced and we won the Grand Prize – Popular Choice.  This happened because of you.

The Popular Choice award criteria was pretty simple; all the submissions that made the final round were posted online and anyone could vote for one.  Whoever got the most votes won.

For us, the popular vote was the most important part as it represents the voice of exactly who MyCarma is built for. You. And we take the large number of votes received as a clear message that fuel economy needs to be personal, and MyCarma/FleetCarma is the way to do that.

If you want to take another look at the submission it is here: http://vehicles.challenge.gov/submissions/14025-mycarma-personal-fuel-economy-label-mobile-app

We believe that winning this comes with a commitment. A commitment that we will continue to grow and invest in the technology and team behind MyCarma and FleetCarma. To continue to make fuel economy personal.  And simple.  And most importantly, fun!

Thank you so much for helping us to grow to where we are today.  We will continue to work tirelessly to make a positive impact and keep you proud of the work we’re doing.

Happy Driving,

Matt (on behalf of the entire CrossChasm/FleetCarma/MyCarma Team)

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CEV for BC

On December 1^st 2011 the Clean Energy Vehicles (CEV) for BC incentive program was created. The program was designed to encourage the people of British Columbia to purchase an alternative fuel vehicle.  The program was set to expire on March 31^st of this year, However we are happy to announce that the incentive has been extended an extra year!

Incentives are important to the mainstream adoption of clean energy vehicles such as the fully electric Nissan Leaf. The incentive gets the product into the hands of the early adopters who can then champion the technology for the rest of the population. The extension of the program clearly shows that the BC government is committed to the mainstream adoption of alternative fuel vehicles.

“Extension of the purchase incentive, along with the on-going rollout of public charging stations in BC are making plug-in vehicles and even more appealing option to BC residents. This is a strong example of how the BC government is keeping more dollars and jobs in the province by helping people fill up their vehicles with home- grown BC energy.” –Matt Stevens (Electric Mobility Canada Chairman)

Everyone here at FleetCarma is excited that the program has been extended in one of the Canadian hotbeds for alternative fuel vehicles, and wish it continued success in the following year.

You can learn more about the program on its official site here http://www.cevforbc.ca/

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I am the biggest offender of gas pump amnesia. Every month when the credit card bill is due I am reminded of just how much I am spending on gas. My problem is not that I drive long distances or that I have a lead foot the problem is my 2001 Oldsmobile Alero (with the added bonus of having a V6).  I recently used our new MyCarma app, a mobile application that shows how much you are spending on gas based on how you drive, to determine that my Alero is getting 12.9 L/100km (22 mpg).  The worst part about discovering my personal fuel economy was that I actually have a very high ecodriver and ecoroute score. The money I’m spending at the pump is no fault of mine but rather the result of an old inefficient car.

Using the MyCarma app I am able to see my current fuel consumption, but also the fuel economy I could expect to see in a new vehicle based on how I drive. The app generates a fuel economy sticker for each vehicle I’m considering to buy instead of relying on a generic fuel economy sticker that is displayed in the vehicle show room. I was surprised to find out that I could cut my yearly fuel spending in half by moving into a new vehicle (not even a hybrid). If I drive a Mazda 3 the same way I drive my Alero I could cut my fuel expenditure from $1,600 to $700 or 56%.

The MyCarma app aims to inform all drivers of how much they really spend on fuel and show them how much they could save in their next vehicle. The app is now in the final round of a US White House sponsored competition. If you like the idea of getting a personal fuel economy rating and knowing what you could save in your next vehicle, let the government know by voting for us!

Vote for MyCarma Here!

Also generate your own fuel economy sticker with our app.

Get the App!

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You can vote for MyCarma mobile here!

The app allows individuals to generate a personal fuel economy sticker based on the way they drive. The days of relying on a generic sticker value to determine your gas spending are over. The app uses your mobile device’s GPS to determine your driving habits and generate a fuel consumption value specific to you. The app also lets you select three vehicles you are considering to purchase and see what your fuel consumption would be in these vehicles as well.

Here is our submission video:

Everyone should be able to purchase a new vehicle knowing what they can expect to pay in gas. If you agree please help us by voting for MyCarma Mobile.

Vote Here!

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Hybrid Cars & Rodney Dangerfield

And today when I was reading that Prius took the #1 spot for New Vehicles Sales in California in 2012 and is the World’s 3rd Best-Selling Car Line I couldn’t help feel like hybrids just don’t get no respect.

When I talk about the EV industry, I usually start with the reality that hybrids are between 2-4% of sales and plug-in vehicles are less than a tenth of that. That’s the reality we live in, and I think it’s important that we realize we’re a small but growing part of the market.

Now that I see these numbers maybe I should reconsider my narrative. 247,230 Prius sales in three months is serious business. Those aren’t tree-huger numbers, they’re Jane-public numbers. Hybrids are no longer relegated to those that buy based on the green score of the vehicle. They are for those that want a vehicle that’s smooth to drive, quiet, and keeps your gas money in your pocket. And, p.s. it’s a hybrid.

This excites me. Hybrids are becoming a smart decision for more and more people. Through FleetCarma and MyCarma we’re trying to help people know if a hybrid’s a good decision for them based on how they drive. And with a bit of luck; hopefully we’ll be able to help get the 3% number to 6%. And then 9%. And then 20%.

Anyway, for those that still think hybrids are an anomaly that will go away, I have a challenge for you. Go to negotiate a deal for the standard sedan of your choice. Then try to negotiate a deal on a Prius C. I’ll bet my lunch you’ll hear you will get little or no price break on the hybrid, because “there’s too much demand”.

And that makes me smile. Price theory appears to be giving hybrids some … well …respect.

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Before the hard facts came out the EV community responded at first with helpful tips for the driver in the future (ever the altruists).  Once the data was out there, lines were drawn.  People either took the side that the article was a smear job, that facts can be manipulated, or that we could never really know the whole story.

The author’s intentions aside, this story illustrates the difference between fact and feelings.

There is no doubt that there is a divide between what a user experiences and feels, and the cold truth of what happens.  I’m sure that at some point in each of our lives we have been confronted with an unbiased record of a situation that we experienced and remembered much differently.  Our opinions are warped from an entire life of previous experiences, and in the moment we can perceive things according to our own expectations.

For example, I too have run an EV down to 0 available range, and when it hits the point where you are notified of that fact, the only thing I felt was panic.  Even though a charger was well within the remaining range, and even though I had planned on it happening, there is something about ‘running out of gas’ that leaves a pit in my stomach.  My heart raced, I wanted to pull over right away, I felt like I was completely out of control of the situation. Getting to the charger gave a huge feeling of relief, but not enough to make the net experience positive. The logs won’t tell that story.

Data doesn’t need to be ‘cold hard truth’ it doesn’t need to illustrate user error in a ‘gotcha’ sort of way.  Good data can help the user, it supports the user.

Take any sort of pride or bias away, and instead look at the things that you can learn from the data, the way in which it can help you.  More information isn’t a bad thing.  Measurement and analysis helps close the gap between what a user feels and the facts of what happened.  Closing that gap is critical to the widespread adoption of electric cars.

Graphs can’t convey emotions, but understanding them can help change the way we feel

In order to get more people into electric vehicles they have to actually enjoy electric vehicles. The first time they push down the pedal and feel the rush of a silent acceleration is such a positive feeling.  How wonderful would it be if that delight lasted the entire ride?

Without seeing data (like the logs from Tesla) the driver can only rely on how they felt.  A bad feeling from a previous drive can roll over onto future trips, even if it’s only minor things going wrong, the frustrations seem to compound upon one another.

I don’t think there are many things more frustrating than not understanding what is going wrong.  Without a grasp on what is going wrong, you can’t take the steps to fix it.  No driver should feel helpless or clueless about their vehicle.

Most people grew up around conventional vehicles; to the point where their operation isn’t something we really need to give much thought to.  Knowing that this experience will undoubtedly be different when entering an electric vehicle, especially a pure EV, the less time it takes to bring them ‘up to speed’ (pun intended), the more enjoyment they will have. Let’s help these drivers.  Instead of having them guess at what works or what doesn’t  let’s show them.

A car is more than a set of wheels that takes us from place to place, there is a huge emotional aspect that comes with driving.  We can’t expect to capture that with some graphs.  What we can do is use those graphs to tell a clearer story, to assure and inform drivers, and give them confidence going forward.

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We thought we’d take a look through our real-world database to discover how these frigid temperatures are affecting the range of electric vehicles.  We looked specifically at the Nissan Leaf and pooled our data from the last 2 years (including most importantly the last few weeks).

The graph that we generated was put together by taking data from real-world trips of different Nissan Leaf vehicles throughout North America.  The temperature is the average temperature recorded during the trip, and the range value shown is the maximum daily range available for that vehicle.

What we see is the classic “lower half of the bow-tie” that we talk about in both our hot, and cold weather webinars.  This shows that as the temperature drops, the electric range of a vehicle drops as well.

It is important to note that variation in a drivers range will depend on many things including the driver’s style and the route that each vehicle needs to take.  Temperature has such a significant influence for two reasons, the efficiency of the battery decreases in cold weather, but what is more significant is the auxiliary load.  When the heater is on, available power from the battery that could be used to extend the range is instead used to heat the cabin, resulting in a trade-off for some EV owners between comfort and peace-of mind.

What can those with electric cars do?  Our EV Champions have been discussing this and many other things on their Participant Blog.  Some of the suggestions are alternative ways to heat the EV, driving without using any heating (except when it is essential for safety) and trying to find ways to get in as much charging between drives as possible.  Check out the challenge blog for the full discussion.

Want to learn more about the way in which temperature affects the range of electric cars? Our Hot Weather Webinar goes in depth into particular driving personas and how the different usage and driver comforts can maximize or minimize the effect that temperature has on range.

What can EV owners due to get more range in cold weather?

The folks at GreenCarReports have a great article about six tips to maximize you range in cold weather. Also, we’re going to profile one of our EV Champions in the next few weeks about how he’s able to get much higher daily range than the averages we’ve shown here. Stay tuned!

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By taking a subset of data from the FleetCarma database, we have evaluated over 400 real-world vehicles in fleet operations to provide insights into how fleets are currently charging their EVs and the implications this has for fleets considering plug-in vehicles for the future.  This investigation evaluated how current charging behaviors affect the financial side of owning an EV, and how effectively managing EV charging can minimize the costs and maximize vehicle utilization and availability.

But, we did more.  We deliver the goods on the charging profiles for various makes and models.  How is the Chevrolet Volt being commonly charged?  How would that differ from the Nissan Leaf?  How do these differences impact fleet operations and what is worth knowing before you buy any of these vehicles?

As a bonus, we’ve prepared preliminary analysis relating to how vehicles that plug into the grid impact those that are managing our electrical system.  When are peak loads from these vehicles and how does that differ from Level 1 charging to Level 2 charging?  The answer may surprise you.

And, finally, how can smarter charging and collaboration between fleet operators and grid operators create a win-win for both those parties?

This discussion has traditionally surrounded individual EV owners and often suggests that most electric vehicles will be plugging in once the vehicle is home for the day – mainly at night.  Looking at night time charging tells only half of the story.  So far in the EV landscape, we have learned that fleet vehicles are utilized very differently than personal vehicles, so fleet operators need to understand the implications of those differences.

We will be presenting this information at an upcoming webinar on Monday, January 21, 2013 at 2:00 EST.  If you’re interested in learning more, we invite you to join us for this free, live webinar by visiting our webinar registration page.

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Ontario ‘Green’ license plate, allowing electric vehicle owners access to HOV lanes without multiple people in the car.

The Ontario Government announced today that as of January 1^st 2013 it will be offering a rebate for electric vehicle charging stations.  The rebate applies to charging stations installed at an EV owner’s home, as well as those installed for fleet use.

The rebate offered is $1000, or 50% of the total purchase and installation cost, whichever is lower.  The charging station rebate compliments an incentive already in place which offers $5000 – $8500 towards the purchase or lease of a new plug-in hybrid electric or battery electric vehicle. The province has a vision to see 1 in every 20 vehicles on Ontario’s roads in 2020 to be an electric vehicle.  The new charging station rebate is offered to those who have received the electric vehicle rebate as well as those who are now installing, or planning to install a charging station for home or business fleet use.

The price of a charging station can range significantly due to factors during installation.  Some of these include whether or not there is a dedicated circuit available for the charger, how far away the charging station will be located from the panel, and permits that are required.

This program is similar to charging station rebate offered this year in Quebec, which offers those installing chargers 50% or $1000 for stations installed this year. British Columbia also offers a rebate of up to $500 for individuals and significantly more for municipalities and institutions.

EV Owners are also given a ‘green’ license plate, allowing them access to High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes even when there is only one person in the car. According to the Ministry of Transportation, these programs are designed to reward early adopters making it easier for people to choose an electric vehicle.

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