September 2008, Work Truck - Feature

Can Neighborhood Electric Vehicles Work for Your Fleet?

By Mike Guardabascio & Chris Brown

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What is important in warranty and service support?

Before you purchase, ask manufacturers about warranty and service support.

• Will service requests be handled through on-site service calls, or will the service center pick up the vehicle from your location?
• Is the service center in your area?
• Will you need to deliver the vehicle for service?
• What are typical repair times?
• What are typical repair costs for out-of-warranty servicing?
• What parts are stocked locally for NEV repair?
• What types of non-manufacturer repairs will void the warranty?

Where do I sell used EVs?

Many sources remarket NEVs: your selling dealer, auctions, Internet sales portals such as eBay and Craigslist, and special interest groups (resort/retirement communities, colleges, etc). Ask your selling dealer for guidance on how to price your used NEV.

Should I wait for the technology to improve before investing in EVs?

The next step for the EV is a highway-capable vehicle with longer range and shorter charge times. Companies such as Phoenix Motorcars, Miles Automotive, and the well-publicized Tesla Motors are on the verge of bringing a utility truck, passenger sedan, and sports car to market.

For fleet use, the Phoenix Motorcars SUT is closest to viability, with stated plans for fleet sales in early 2009. The SUT claims a top speed of 95 mph and a charge range of more than 100 miles.

This brave new world of all-electric transportation hinges on advances in battery technology. The industry is leapfrogging from lead-acid batteries to nickel metal hydride batteries (that power the Prius) to lithium-ion technology, which have four times the energy density of lead-acid batteries.

This technology positions EVs as true competitors to fossil-fueled vehicles. However, the technology is in its infancy and is expensive. Aside from battery considerations, any fleet considering highway-capable vehicles from a new manufacturer must judge crash tests, product quality issues, and the manufacturer’s long-term viability.

The neighborhood electric vehicle market, while still growing itself, has established dealer networks, parts and service support, and is real-world tested. WT

Numerous sources contributed to the article:
-- Ed Kjaer, director of electric transportation, SoCal Edison (Rosemead, Calif.); -- Dean Taylor, technical specialist, electric transportation division, SoCal Edison;
-- Michael Coates, CEO of MightyComm, an environmental automotive communications company (Sacramento, Calif.);
-- Jim Gaw, owner of the NEV rental operation Nautical Wheelers (Port Aransas, Tex.);
-- Belinda Forknell, marketing manager, Global Electric Motorcars; 
-- Tim Yopp, CTO of Eckhaus Fleet, an independent electric vehicle distributor. Also consulted was a U.S. Department of Energy Study, "Guidelines for the Establishment of a Model Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) Fleet," June 2006.

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