Gasoline prices are already over $4 in California, an alarming fact for consumers and fleet managers in all walks of business, industry, and government organizations. With US dependency on foreign oil, where fifty-six percent comes from the Middle East, what can fleet managers do today?
The Green Team in Silicon Valley, California, has been promoting EV utilization in fleets for the past few years. The team includes the Electronic Transportation Development Center (ETDC), Silicon Valley Clean Cities Coalition (SVCCC - sponsored by the Department Of Energy), and Breathe California.
The Green Team has developed and conducts several educational workshops on Electric Vehicles for Fleetsfor decision makers in businesses, government, industry, NGOs (non-government organizations), and other organization with transit needs. Workshops include The Fleet Management Seminar, Solar Fueling of Electric Vehiclesand EV Workforce Training.
Click to read more about The benefits of electrical vehicles and Electric-powered transportation for fleets with information about the Silicon Valley Green Team.
I attended the “EV for Fleets” seminar in March at the DeAnza College Automotive Engineering Center in Cupertino, CA and met with Mr. Bob Garzee, the founder and manager of ETDC.
The comprehensive ½ day seminar was a part of the Green Team Workforce Development Serieson Green Transportation, informing fleet managers, school district administrators, and financial supporters about the value, advantages and opportunities of electric vehicles.
The Green Transportation Team interest is focused on several goals:
- Reduce the dependency on foreign oil,
- Improved environmental impact – reduce carbon emissions,
- Create green transportation-related jobs in Silicon Valley and in other domestic geographical areas,
- Reduce fleet fuel costs., a major concern for fleet managers.
With over forty alternative fuel vehicle experts on board, ETDC has developed and conducted management fleet seminars on cost savings, financing, alternative fuels, propane, compressed natural gas ( CNG), and solar fueling. ETDC’s experts cover the complete realm of EVs from program management, technical operation, engineering, financing, testing, implementation, vehicle maintenance, alternatives fuels, batteries, and more.
At the DeAnza workshop, Rod Diridon, Sr., Executive Director of the Mineta Transportation Institute, talked about shifting from a carbon-based economy to an electric-based power existence. Global warming is not going to discriminate any country or certain populations. “Therefore, we must curb our carbon consumption,” he said.
Mr. Diridon has been called the “father” of modern transit service in Silicon Valley and has been an advisor to California Governors Davis and Schwarzenegger in regards to the California High Speed Rail Authority Board, serving as a board member for the past ten years and a past chair. Mr. Diridon has chaired numerous international, national, state and local programs related to transit and the environment. In 1996 he founded and chaired the Transportation Research Board's study panel on “Combating Global Warming Through Sustainable Transportation Policy.” Mr. Diridon is also a board member of Breathe California.
Concluding his presentation, Mr. Diridon noted that electric transportation would change the current automotive business models, as EVs maintenance requirements are very different from the gasoline-based vehicles we have today.
Don Beams, ETDC Fleet Advisor and a Green Transportation Team Faculty member is a retired Fleet Manager of the City of San Jose, where he was responsible for a fleet of 2,400 vehicles. Recognizing our need to reduce dependency on gasoline and diesel, Mr. Beams got involved with Alternative Fuel Vehicles (AFV) over twenty five years ago and has been promoting alternative fuel fleet programs, such as CNG, propane, electric and biodiesel.
In his presentation, Mr. Beams focused on “What can you do with the resources you have?” an ongoing challenge for fleet managers. Mr. Beam gave an overview of the benefits for utilizing electronic motors, the fuel costs and critical issues fleet mangers deal with on a daily basis, such as regular vehicle maintenance and staff training. He noted that EVs do not require oil changes or extensive mechanical maintenance. The electronic motor has less wear on the engine components than traditional gasoline-operated vehicles, which allow for fewer maintenance needs.
Today, there are several charging solutions for EVs. Although the battery-packs can potentially increase average maintenance costs over a conventional vehicle, recent developments in energy storage technology (such as Nickel Metal Hydride - NiMH - and Lithium-ion) and improved reliability, have lead manufacturers to warrant their battery-packs at the range of 80,000 to 100,000 miles. On the road, experience has shown that few failures occur and batteries may last up to 150,000.
Mr. Beams spoke about the advantages electric transportation offers. While reducing fuel costs or even eliminating them, fleet managers will be able to use freed-up budget for managing their electricity-based powered fleets, a win-win for all.
Workforce training is another challenge for fleet managers, which includes drivers, mechanics, shop and staff, and others, including the decision makers.
Mike Brown and Shari Prange of Electro Automotive, both with approximately three decades of EV field experience each, discussed training options for fleet-based groups. They talked about the benefits to ‘Going Electric’, energy efficiency, cost benefits, and environmental impact. Electro Automotive offers several EV classes from a ½ day workshop for drivers to three-day technical, in-depth, mechanical courses. In addition to a full scale of EV classes, they also offer conversion seminars as well as retrofit classes.
Ted Thurston addressed the most expensive component of EVs: batteries. Mr. Thurston, a chemical engineer and a Lithiun-ion expert, is the Battery Manager at ETDC.
Battery development came a long way and made a difference in numerous applications, including vehicles. He said that we currently have batteries for 100 miles range, eliminating past concerns for frequent recharging and logistical issues. The marketplace offers several types of batteries for EVs: lead acid, Lithium, Lithum-ion. Fleet managers’ considerations for battery selection are cost versus performance. Lead-acid, the oldest and least expensive type of rechargeablebatteries,are less expensive, however lithium batteries perform better. For example, fitting an electric bus with lead acid batteries can weigh over 2500 lbs. (this number is an average of several lead acid types of batteries). Lithium is significantly more expensive, however the required battery pack for the bus will weigh much less: about 1100 lbs. on average.
The workshop included an overview session on solar fueling for EVs and the utilization of SunPods – solar panels for generating energy for EVs. Other expert presenters were from the California Energy Commission and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.
The event concluded with an informative session on funding opportunities, government programs, and available rebates. Today, there are two hundred million dollars available in financial support. Furthermore, ETDC and the Green Team offer to fleets a wide range of turnkey services, research information, prototyping, program management, engineering, training, consulting, and support.
Electric vehicles and the utilization of alternative fuels for fleets offer an appealing business case for consideration, affecting the bottom line and helping us breath cleaner air!
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Green Team contacts – for additional information contact Patricia Tind at patricia@lungsrus.org
or Bob Garzee at admin@siliconvalleyedition.com
Check this website for future future Workforce Development Transportation sessions.
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