In our previous post, we discussed how electric vehicles (EVs) are finally making serious inroads into popular culture, and more importantly, into being economically feasible – in terms of affordability, range, and payloads.
But we also shared one of the big challenges – power.
Not in the sense of an EV’s ability to merge with traffic. Tesla has proven, once and for all, that just because a vehicle is battery driven doesn’t mean it has to be slow.
No, in this case, we’re talking about how you use the stored power of an EV to run electrical equipment on the job, how all those battery packs affect payload, and what distinctions might need to be made when it comes to upfitting an EV so you can put it to work.
To put it simply, if you can run it off the battery in your gas or Diesel truck, you can run it off the battery in an EV. That’s the basic summary, but as always, with EVs representing so much new technology, there are all kinds of outliers.
In short, the answer is simply, “Yes.”
An EV charging station recently installed at our Expertec Edmonton location.
Different manufacturers are taking electrical power availability in different directions, especially in terms of whether you can tap into AC or DC, if you’ll only have access to 12 volts, 120, or even 240, and how much you can actually use before you have to begin to worry about the ride home.
All of these concerns are easily solvable, and many manufacturers are already coming up with solutions.
Here’s the deal, though: EVs are still cutting edge technology, and every day, it seems, new products that support them are arriving on the market.
With that said, we field calls every week from EV owners (or potential owners) who are looking for information about the best – and likeliest – ways to upfit and support their purchases, and the answer we’ve learned to give the most is, “yes, we can do that!”
The aftermarket – and our team of suppliers – is heartily embracing EV designs, and since many are based on standard chassis components – at least in terms of the interiors, we’re not seeing tremendous challenges in meeting the needs to transition an EV into a “work” truck or van.
In many ways, it’s the same conversation we’d have with a gasoline or Diesel-powered rig:
- What do you need to do with it?
- How many people will be riding, on average?
- Where will you store it when it’s not being used?
- What are your long-term plans for your fleet?
- What’s an “average” work day look like?
And so on.
In the next few years, we expect to see more than half a dozen new van designs, in addition to the various truck designs either launched or poised to launch.
In other words, EVs are going mainstream, and with fewer moving parts, more predictable fueling costs, and ranges that fall well within the standard daily drive of nearly every tradesman, now is the time to begin educating yourself about EVs and how upfitting the right one can positively impact your business.
The thing to remember is this: An electric vehicle is an amazing piece of technology, and many of the traits it possesses – from a technology point of view – might be hard to understand. Once you decide to invest in one, though, the technology that keeps it on the road is no better or worse than the computers and systems that keep modern gas and Diesel engines running today.
You have to “fuel” it up, you have to maintain it, and you have to have clear expectations on what you plan on it doing for your business.
At Expertec, we’ve spent decades building and upfitting trucks and vans, and while we’re embracing EVs and the technology that makes them possible, we also understand they can play an important role in business and the jobsite. If you’ve already begun to invest in EVs in your business, we’d love to hear some of your likes, dislikes, and observations … or even needs – simply reach out to our team at 1-888-435-6466 or click here.
