September 2008, Work Truck - Feature
Can Neighborhood Electric Vehicles Work for Your Fleet?
By Mike Guardabascio & Chris Brown
How do I spec an NEV?
Spec’ing an NEV is similar in many ways to spec’ing a gasoline-powered vehicle with a few unique parameters to consider:
What’s the range of miles you’ll need to drive each day?
Battery packs can be configured for a certain range. Range can be extended if your routes have stops with outlets for an "opportunity charge." Recharge times can be shortened with an off-board fast charger.
Can you perform functions off road, such as shuttling people and cargo around an office park or campus, on sidewalks, and in large buildings? Can you legally drive the NEV on your routes?
Remember, NEVs are only allowed on streets with 35 mph speed limits. NEVs that travel on public streets must be licensed and insured.
What are your passenger and payload requirements? What is the driving terrain?
Payload and terrain have a significant impact on the range of NEVs. Typical payloads for NEV cargo haulers are up to 1,000 lbs. Some models, such as the Columbia BC5 Burden Carrier, can carry up to 5,200 lbs. of cargo.
Range can vary by as much as 50 percent for a hilly terrain or if an NEV is heavily loaded with passengers or cargo. For these heavy burdens, look for batteries with a higher power density.
In what climate will the vehicle be operated?
Cold climates negatively impact driving range. Businesses located in cold climates should plan to garage the vehicle in a heated area for charging. Many NEVs have options such as heaters, defrosters, and doors (both hard and soft canvas).
What are fleet operating costs for a typical NEV?
New NEVs run $6,000-$18,000 and cost less than 3 cents per mile to run on electricity.
As an example, a two-seat GEM e2 base model costs $7,500. To operate this one vehicle for three years and 3,600 miles (assuming $900 for insurance costs, $90 in electricity, $50 to license the vehicle for public roads and $300 for a maintenance service contract) would cost a total of $4,840.
Battery pack warranty terms are for two to three years in most cases. After three years of operation, add the cost of a new battery pack, which runs $600-$1,000.