The electrification of vehicle fleets is a cornerstone of the energy transition. But how can companies make the switch to e-mobility without sacrificing their bottom line?
Hanna Full provides fascinating insights into the challenges and solutions.
Ms Full, what does GP Joule do and what is your role in the company?
“100 percent renewable energy for all” – that is GP Joule’s mission for all sectors, including electricity, heating, transportation and industry. We assist in processes across the entire value chain, from power generation, including wind and solar, to technologies such as cogeneration plants or electrolysis, to consumption. My field is transportation, more specifically the electrification of vehicle fleets.
In general, there are many similarities, but in fleets you can often achieve synergy effects. For example, you can save costs by using centralized charging infrastructures. Certain fixed costs can then be spread across multiple vehicles.
Grid-connected load is a big issue. Companies should thoroughly analyze how much charging power is actually needed. Many vehicles travel shorter distances than you think and sit idle for long periods of time, so the existing infrastructure is often sufficient. Careful planning and charge management systems help avoid peak loads and optimize costs.
In addition to charge management, it is important to integrate renewable sources of energy. Rooftop PV or parking lot PV can cut electricity costs significantly and even generate income. When your charging infrastructure is not used during the day, you can make it available to the public, increasing utilization and generating additional revenue.
We recently assisted in the electrification of a bus fleet with 16 vehicles. By integrating PV systems, charge management and spot market-oriented charging, we were able to significantly reduce overhead. What’s more, the charging infrastructure was made available for public use, generating additional revenue. Over a ten-year period, we achieved savings of eight percent compared to a diesel vehicle fleet.
Absolutely! The investment costs of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure are higher, but in the long run, you can save a lot of money through lower overhead and additional revenue. To this end, it is important to examine the potential of all optimization measures, which vary depending on the location and application.
Funding programs can dramatically reduce initial investments. Although funding programs in Germany are currently limited due to the government’s budget crisis, new opportunities continue to emerge, such as for charging infrastructure. The website foerderdatenbank.de provides a good overview of where companies can find suitable programs.
The electrification of vehicle fleets not only contributes to the energy transition, it can also be financially attractive if well planned and implemented. Companies benefit from long-term savings and additional revenue streams – a win-win for the economy and the environment.