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Delivery fleet electrification: Factors to consider
The European push toward decarbonisation has driven companies to reconsider how they deploy fleets. While electric battery vehicles (EBV) offer significant environmental benefits, transitioning to an all-electric delivery fleet presents both technical and organisational challenges. This article examines these hurdles and discusses strategies to overcome them, drawing on recent academic studies and industry reports.
Technical Challenges of Battery Degradation
Electrification of the fleet relies heavily on battery performance which is sensitive to ambient temperature and duty cycles. For example, low temperatures can accelerate degradation and reduce range—a key concern highlighted in recent analyses of electric fleet economics. Similar challenges have been noted in CRA’s whitepaper on fleet electrification, which points out that battery-related issues can significantly affect vehicle uptime and operating costs. This is a significant factor considering that delivery vehicle availability should be as high as possible to meet the demand throughout the day.
Impact of Vehicle Mass and Volume
Electric vehicles typically carry quite heavy battery packs which, compared to their internal combustion counterparts without such batteries, adds extra weight to the vehicle. This added weight affects energy consumption and cargo capacity. Literature on freight vehicle operations emphasizes that even a small increase in vehicle mass can lead to a proportional rise in energy use. These findings underline the need to reexamine vehicle design and load management when transitioning to electric fleets. Companies should carefully consider which type of EBV works the best for the purpose they are after (high-capacity vs high-range, etc.)
Charging Infrastructure and Operational Scheduling
One of the most significant technical hurdles is establishing a robust charging infrastructure. Charging must be carefully integrated into operational schedules to avoid downtime. Recent work on the joint optimization of charging infrastructure placement and operational scheduling provides a modelling framework that helps fleet operators balance charging station investments with daily fleet operation needs. Moreover, a study on transit fleet electrification barriers also highlights that infrastructure limitations—such as insufficient fast‐charging networks—are a primary concern for operators. Most of the operators will choose to rely on their own infrastructure for charging which means significant initial costs are to be expected.
Shift Scheduling and Route Optimization
The limited range and longer charging times of many EBVs necessitate a major overhaul of traditional scheduling practices. Fleet operations must adapt to accommodate more frequent charging stops and potential delays. Insights from a Resources for the Future report on medium and heavy-duty vehicle electrification illustrate that modifying shift patterns and reconfiguring routes is essential for ensuring operational efficiency.
When discussing the optimisation of a hybrid fleet (combination ICEV + EBV), one of the ways of optimising such a fleet is deploying EBV vehicles in more urban areas where the range of the vehicle is of less importance considering the higher density of charging stations and where the battery life can be somewhat extended via frequent braking that is typically more frequent in densely populated areas.
Data-Driven Decision Making and Technology Integration
The integration of advanced data analytics is important for a smooth transition. Multi-criteria analysis techniques enable operators to identify optimal deployment zones based on environmental and operational factors. By leveraging these tools, fleet managers can strategically decide where electric vehicles will perform best and how to schedule charging sessions to maximize uptime. Multiple factors such as outside temperature, terrain topography and population density, among others, play a role in how successful the transformation will be. Fleet electrification does not have to be implemented all at once. A gradual approach, in which some areas are given more EBV and others less will probably be the best approach for most companies since some areas are naturally better suited for electric delivery vehicles (lower temperature variations, less hilly areas, etc).
Workforce Training and Economic Benefit
A comprehensive organizational shift is required to manage new technologies. Employees accustomed to conventional vehicles must be retrained on EBV-specific maintenance and operation protocols. For instance, the transition to electric fleets calls for specialized training in battery safety and charging system troubleshooting. This organizational change is further complicated by the need for integrated telematics systems to monitor real-time performance, as detailed in various transit electrification studies.
As aforementioned McKinsey’s analysis suggests, that advancements in battery performance and cost reductions are already reshaping the total cost of ownership (TCO) dynamics. In today’s volatile world moving to electricity is a move towards economic stability. As fuel prices have proven to be volatile electricity prices remain quite stable. Moreover, electricity prices are reported to be 2 to 5 times cheaper than diesel which is commonly used now.
In conclusion, fleet electrification is not simply a technical upgrade—it is a comprehensive transformation that touches on acquiring the right EBV’s, operational logistics, and workforce management and thus cannot be done in a very short period of time.
Technical hurdles such as battery degradation, vehicle mass, and charging infrastructure must be addressed alongside organizational challenges like scheduling, data integration, and employee training. Companies can adopt targeted strategies to overcome these barriers.
Although the journey is complex, the combined benefits of reduced emissions, improved operational efficiency, and long-term cost savings make fleet electrification a clear step toward a sustainable future.
If you are thinking about decarbonising your delivery fleet, apply to the RIS ECOMOVE courses!
