Best Practices for Electric Vehicles: Fleet Conversion
Note: LRRB approved two related need statements—this need statement focused on fleet conversion and a separate need statement focused on charging stations.
Need statement 723
Electric Vehicles (EVs) have been available in the U.S. for more than a decade, but there have only been small, incremental changes in electric car sales for most of that time. The tipping point in passenger EV adoption occurred in the second half of 2020, when EV sales and penetration accelerated in major markets despite the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Europe spearheaded this development, where EV adoption reached 8 percent due to policy mandates such as stricter emissions targets for manufacturers and generous subsidies for consumers.
In 2021, the discussions were centered on the end date for internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle sales. New regulatory targets in the European Union and the U.S. now aim for an EV share of at least 50 percent by 2030, and several countries have announced accelerated timelines for ICE sale bans in 2030 or 2035. Some OEMs have stated their intentions to stop investing in new ICE platforms and models and many more have already defined a specific date to end ICE vehicle production. Consumer mindsets have also shifted toward sustainable mobility, with more than 45 percent of car customers considering buying an EV.
EV Fleet Conversion
Many local agencies are evaluating their fleets and beginning the transition to EVs (currently this is only for small vehicles (cars, pick-ups, and multi-function utility vehicles). This transition included evaluating fleet needs, coordinating with other departments (enforcement, emergency response, etc.), developing EV standards, assessing power needs, determining a network of private power stations, developing standards, investigating partnerships and/or joint power agreements with other cities/counties.
The focus of this study would be on EV fleet conversion needs for local agencies:
- Survey Minnesota agencies to determine status of EV within their fleet and/or conversion plan.
- Develop guidance that agencies should consider when changing/updating their fleet:
- Identify the cost effectiveness to switch vehicle fleets.
- Small vehicles vs heavy equipment (market availability, timing, changes to operation).
- Required changes to facilities.
- Communicating benefits to elected officials, etc.
- Also research and identify potential funding sources (IIJA, Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Charging and Funding Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program (CFI), etc.) and partners (aka Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs))
Suggested deliverables
- Synthesis of emerging best practices for local agency EV fleet conversion.
- Summary of MN local agency experience
- Summary of Minnesota Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan
- Best Practice for transitioning fleet to EV for Minnesota local agencies.
Previous research
- None
Possible members for technical advisory panel
- Chris Sagsveen, Hennepin County
- Jay Baldwin, Hennepin County
- Kevin Schlangen, Dakota County
- Members of Fleet Life Cycle TAP
- Beth Kallestad, MnDOT
- Amber Dallman, MnDOT
- Christopher Royston, Fleet Director, Minneapolis