As the demand for clean fleets rises, driven by supportive policies and mandates, the transition to electrified fleets is placing pressure on local distribution grids. A single large depot or truck stop may require more than 20 MW of power, equivalent to the power demand of a large factory. Charging demand for electrified fleets is highly concentrated in logistics centers, depots, and port facilities.
To accommodate these increased power loads, upgrades to grid infrastructure, such as new transformers, feeders, and sometimes entirely new substations, are necessary. However, distribution planning and implementing these upgrades takes time. Without proactive measures by utilities to ensure sufficient infrastructure, the electrification of fleets may face delays, slowing down the deployment of charging infrastructure and reducing the rate of electric vehicle adoption.
ACEEE provides one-on-one technical assistance to utilities and their regulators on the following topics:
- Compiling best practices for working with customers to assess fleets’ short-, medium-, and long-term power needs, including fleet assessment programs and integrating fleet data.
- Advising on community engagement as part of grid planning for new and expanded substations. Many of the new substations required for fleet electrification of truck and bus fleets will be in or bordering low- and moderate-income communities.
- Assessing the process for applying for and gaining approval for “make-ready” utility upgrades.
- Comparing the effectiveness of different types of subsidies and rebates for charging infrastructure installation costs.
- Providing feedback on utility medium- and heavy-duty program proposals.
- Developing lessons learned from utility program strategies to address demand management, such as offering battery energy storage, off-peak rates, and other EV rate design recommendations.
- Producing customized briefing documents on charging and load management fleet technologies such as vehicle-to-grid (V2G).