Route planning for EVs and electric fleets: Why it's different and why it matters
Nov 14, 2023 · 9 min read · blog
Electric vehicles have immense potential to reduce emissions and lower operating costs for fleet operators, but effectively managing EV fleets requires overcoming unique challenges. Route planning for EVs involves more than just accounting for recharging needs - it requires optimizing energy efficiency, minimizing impacts to grid infrastructure, and ensuring reliable service. For fleet managers accustomed to the relative simplicity of gas-powered vehicle routing, transitioning to EVs may seem daunting, but new tools and strategies tailored to EVs can help simplify the process. By understanding the key differences in planning routes for EVs versus traditional fleets and how to address them, fleet operators can unlock the many benefits of electrification.
The unique challenges of route planning for electric vehicles
Route planning for electric vehicles requires considering factors beyond those of traditional internal combustion engine vehicles.
- Range anxiety and charging needs: Electric vehicles have a limited range on a single charge compared to gas-powered vehicles. Careful route planning is needed to ensure vehicles can complete their routes and return to a charging station with charge remaining. Planners must account for traffic, weather conditions, and cargo loads that can significantly impact an EV's range. They also need to map out a route with charging stops as needed.
- Charging infrastructure: Public charging stations may be limited in some areas. Route planners have to map out routes that provide charging access, adding time for charging stops. They must know the types and speeds of chargers available on the route to properly estimate charging times. For maximum efficiency, routes should be optimized to use the fastest chargers available.
- Energy consumption: The energy consumption of EVs depends on many factors like speed, acceleration, braking, use of accessories like air conditioning, and ambient temperature. Route planning tools need to calculate estimated energy usage for a given route based on the vehicle's efficiency profile under different conditions. The planner can then determine if charging stops need to be added or if driving behavior needs to be adjusted to complete the route.
Careful consideration of an EV's unique needs can minimize range anxiety and ensure that the vehicle reaches its destination. This is naturally important for every EV owner, but it is especially critical for fleet managers and drivers operating electric vehicles on a daily basis.
Maximizing range and efficiency through optimal route planning
For fleets operating electric vehicles, optimal route planning is essential to maximize range and efficiency. Traditional navigation systems are designed for gas-powered vehicles and do not account for factors unique to EVs, such as charging needs, battery capacity, and regenerative braking. Careful route planning that considers these variables can help EV fleets save time and money while making operations more efficient.
- Maximizing range: The range of EVs depends on variables like speed, acceleration, and usage of accessories that draw power from the battery. Route planning tools for EVs tap into the vehicle's onboard computer to determine the maximum possible range for a given route based on the vehicle's current state of charge and factors that influence energy consumption along the route.
- Optimizing charging stops: For longer trips, planning charging stops is essential. Advanced route planners can locate available chargers along a route and determine optimal places to stop and charge based on the vehicle's state of charge, the charger's power level, anticipated energy usage along the remaining route, and the time required to reach full charge at different chargers. Such planners help ensure vehicles have enough range to complete trips and charge during optimal windows when rates may be lower.
- Increasing fleet efficiency: Careful route planning across an entire EV fleet amplifies the benefits. Mapping routes and aligning addresses can ensure that each vehicle reaches its destinations and coordinating charging stops across the fleet helps avoid congestion at individual chargers. Moreover, data collected from fleet routes can uncover patterns to further improve efficiencies over time.
The role of real-time traffic and weather data for electric fleet navigation
Electric vehicle route planning requires real-time data to optimize efficiency and range. Traffic and weather information allows navigation systems to identify the fastest routes and provide accurate estimated travel times. For electric fleets, this data is crucial to ensure vehicles have enough charge to complete their trips.
- Traffic: Route planning tools for EVs that incorporate real-time traffic data can calculate the energy required for each route based on factors like speed, stops, and idling time. The systems can then compare energy usage for different routes and select the most efficient option. Real-time traffic data also allows the tools to warn drivers if there is an incident that could reduce range, giving them a chance to reroute or charge before continuing the trip.
- Weather: Similarly, weather conditions directly impact an EV’s energy consumption and range. Navigation systems that tap into real-time weather data can factor in elements such as temperature, wind speed, and precipitation to determine how they will influence energy usage on a given route. For example, if extreme cold temperatures are expected, consumption can increase - and the most advanced solutions can adjust range predictions and charging needs accordingly.
Real-time data on traffic and weather provides critical information for optimizing electric fleet operations. By incorporating data on current conditions into their algorithms and predictions, EV navigation tools can help ensure EVs complete their trips efficiently, sustainably, and without interruption.
How charging infrastructure impacts route planning for EVs
Route planning for electric vehicle fleets also requires consideration of charging infrastructure along routes. Unlike traditional vehicles which can refuel quickly at numerous gas stations, EVs require charging at stations providing specific types of chargers and charging rates. This impacts route planning in several key ways:
- Availability of compatible chargers: Planners must map routes passing charging stations with plug types and charging rates compatible with the EVs in the fleet. Some stations only offer Level 2 charging, which may be too slow for some EVs and routes, and only certain stations provide CCS plugs for quick charging. This limits potential stops and may increase route distances to reach compatible stations.
- Charging time required: The time required to fully recharge EVs must be factored into route planning. While fast charging can add 100 miles or more of range in 20-30 minutes, slower Level 2 charging may require 2-5 hours to fully recharge some EVs. Routes and schedules must allow adequate buffer time for recharging to avoid delays. For some longer routes, multiple recharging stops may be required.
- Strategic placement of charging stops: Careful analysis is needed to determine the optimal placement of charging stops along routes. Stops should be spaced such that EVs can complete routes without running out of charge, but also taking into consideration that too-frequent stops reduce effective drive time and efficiency. Planners must find the right balance through simulations and testing various stop scenarios.
For companies operating electric vehicle fleets, acknowledging and accommodating the unique challenges of charging is key to efficient route planning. Mapping compatible charging infrastructure, allotting adequate charging time, and optimizing the placement of charging stops along routes are all important considerations in the transition to EVs. With proper planning, electric fleets can operate just as efficiently as their gas-powered counterparts.
Conclusion
Route planning for electric vehicles requires a specialized approach that accounts for the unique capabilities and limitations of EV technology. For fleet operators transitioning to electric, investing in a specialized EV routing platform is critical. With optimized routing that factors in charging needs, range, battery performance, and live data, companies can maximize the benefits of electrification like lower fuel costs and reduced emissions while avoiding potential downsides like stranded vehicles. As more businesses adopt EVs at scale, advanced EV routing will be essential for efficient, sustainable fleet operations, and with the right tools and strategies, the transition to electric fleets can be seamless.
Volteum: The best route planning and navigation for your electric vehicles
Navigate your electric fleet more efficiently with Volteum by using the most precise EV routing solution in the market. Our algorithms calculate the optimal routes considering factors such as live weather and traffic information, elevation, mapping, and combine them with live vehicle data covering all EV models. This ensures that our solution offers significantly more accurate range estimations than WLTP (Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure).
Volteum also provides the optimal charging scenarios in terms of energy and time - including depot charging schedules, or charging the electric vehicle while the driver is not using it due to meetings or other engagements. We make sure that you charge only when necessary, without spending any extra time or money.
And if you are right ahead of electrification, we still have you covered with our latest product update: the EV Simulation feature has been integrated into the Electric Fleet Planner, which allows you to try out and simulate how EVs would operate in your fleet before purchasing them. Check if they fit all your requirements in a couple of minutes with real EV models and your own route scenarios - and enjoy an unmatched level of insight and control to strategically deploy your electric fleet and gain a competitive advantage.
