San Diego Regional Clean Cities Coalition (SDRCC) has audited electric vehicle (EV) fleet programs since early 2014. Last year, the Coalition began helping fleets include EV fleet program metrics and change management best practices into their Green Fleet Plans.
Just like a fleet safety program, fleet EV programs require planning, communication, buy-in, continuous improvement and reinforcement. In partnership with North Carolina State University, SDRCCC provides actionable recommendations in its consultations for public fleets to improve EV fleet performance as measured by electric vehicle miles traveled (eVMT).
Here are three common recommendations:
1Use cross-functional teams
CSE is a mission-driven nonprofit organization providing clean energy program design and management and technical advisory services.Fleets should establish involvement and communication across the organization, not just among fleet management and drivers. A wider dialogue can provide better channels to identify potential barriers to EV integration success.
2Develop a Change Management Strategy
Chula Vista, the second largest city in the San Diego metropolitan area, has an EV fleet that SDRCCC has worked withFleet managers need a strategy to help employees understand the reasons for fleet electrification and to motivate participation. Recognition of accomplishments builds support, so communicate money saved, emissions avoided, petroleum displaced, electric vehicle miles traveled eVMT totals and other positive information related to the effort.
3Benchmark Against Peers
East Orange County Water District has an EV fleet that SDRCCC has worked with.
Metrics and goals are essential to measure program progress and vehicle utilization. Fleets should record and monitor eVMT and benchmark these results against other similar fleets in programs such as CSE’s EV Fleet Benchmarking, to gauge effectiveness.
