What You Need to Know About CaaS - Fleet EV Charging
Electric vehicles (EVs) are on the rise. Not only consumers, but businesses also have incentives to use electric vehicles in their daily operations. However, adding electric vehicles to your business' fleet can be a daunting task.
There are many challenges that come with electrifying a fleet, the most difficult being gaining access to EV charging infrastructure. This blog post will explain EV charging infrastructure for your fleet. It will also discuss how charging as a service (CaaS) can help your business go electric.
Why Switch to Electric Vehicles?
Besides company incentives, adding electric vehicles (EVs) can benefit your business in numerous ways. Vehicle electrification can save your business money on maintenance, fuel, and help meet sustainability goals.
An internal combustion engine (ICE) car needs regular maintenance, which includes oil and fluid changes, brake repairs, filter changes, etc. Additionally, gas prices and repair prices have gone up in recent years. According to AAA, the average ICE vehicle requires about $1,000 a year in typical maintenance, not including any unexpected repairs.
Electric cars require far less maintenance than an ICE vehicle. There are fewer fluids and fewer moving parts meaning lower maintenance costs. On average, driving an electric vehicle costs about $300 less than an ICE vehicle.
Fuel costs are also an important factor in the total cost of ownership for an electric vehicle. Gas prices continue to rise in the United States, making it less cost-effective for ICE vehicles. According to this article from AAA, driving an internal combustion engine vehicle is 130% more expensive than driving an electric vehicle.
How Do I Electrify My Fleet?
Getting the most out of electrifying a fleet involves a lot of planning, coordination, budgeting, and learning. One of the most important parts of fleet electrification is charging infrastructure. The more efficient your EV charging infrastructure is, the more efficient your electric fleet will be. A variety of different charging stations are available that you need to consider before purchasing a charging station.
The first thing your business will need to do is assess its charging needs. When you pick a charging station, consider the number of cars, how often you drive them, and the routes you take. Most businesses require DC fast charging (Level 3) or Level 2 EV charging if you use the vehicles daily. It is important to under the different levels of EV charging to ensure your business has what it needs.
What is Charging as a Service?
Charging as a Service (CaaS) is an EV charging delivery service that lets businesses use EV charging without installing infrastructure. Businesses can get electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) without paying upfront, long lead times, or needing construction.
SparkCharge is leading the charge in charging as a service (CaaS) programs. They have created specialized DC fast charging programs for fleets to help them electrify their business. SparkCharge CaaS provides affordable energy, maintains 99.9% uptime, and enables setup in just 14 days in the US. This service removes the burdens of EV fleet ownership and makes managing fleet vehicles easy.
Their charge management system (CMS) helps fleet managers monitor vehicle charge levels to ensure they are always ready to go. You can request EV charges in three ways using this CMS: regularly, on demand, or when the battery is low.
SparkCharge makes EV fleet vehicle ownership and maintenance easy by managing everything associated with the EV charge.
Our Roadie V3 technology powers the SparkCharge Fleet EV charging network. The Roadie V3 charges electric fleet vehicles quickly, up to 120 kW. This allows them to be ready to go promptly when needed.
With SparkCharge's Roadie V3 technology, fleet managers can say goodbye to long charging times and hello to efficient and speedy charging. Having SparkCharge Fleet's specialized program delivers your EV charge means you can save time and money.
SparkCharge understands that fleet managers require flexibility and scalability in charging their vehicles. Their charging solutions function independently from the grid, enabling them to charge without ties to it. This allows SparkCharge Fleet to scale with your business as your electric fleet grows.
What are the Benefits of Charging as a Service?
Cost Savings
Charging as a Service programs aim to lower the costs of the adoption of electric vehicles. These programs combine CapEx, OpEx, and energy costs into a monthly fee. This fee allows businesses to access EV charging with no upfront costs.
Turnkey EV charging
Services that utilize portable EV charging solutions, like SparkCharge's Roadie, to deliver the charge are turnkey solutions. This means there is no construction or installation needed for use. This allows fleet managers to gain access to EV charging quickly and efficiently.
Maintenance
EV Charging as a Service (CaaS) programs include the maintenance of EV charging stations and EV chargers to keep operations running smoothly. It ensures that EV drivers have their vehicles ready to hit the road when needed.
Electrifying your business fleets can be complicated. Choosing the right partners and service offerings can set your business up for efficient and convenient electric vehicle operations.
Talk to a SparkCharge expert to learn more about how charging as a service programs can help accelerate your business' electrification plans.