An FMJ reader once described sustainability as “using our resources wisely, efficiently and effectively.” There are a lot of ways to define sustainability, but this one aptly pertains to vehicle fleets. Fleet sustainability efforts can be successful within existing budgets by focusing on gradual replacement to an all-electric, right-sized vehicle. Even more simplified – it’s about using the right tool for the job. A full-size pickup truck is not always practical or necessary just because an open bed or cargo space is needed.

Telematics research conducted on campuses in the U.S. showed that vehicles were idle 17 percent of the time, causing unnecessary CO2 emissions, noise pollution and unnecessary fuel consumption. This same analysis found that six of the seven vehicles traveled less than 25 miles a day. And because the seventh vehicle traveled extra for personal use, each vehicle was a prime candidate to be replaced with an electric vehicle.

Low Speed Vehicles (LSVs) – also known as Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs) – and indoor electric vehicles can reduce spending on vehicle fleets, increase vehicle utilization, reduce danger and liability to vehicle operators, pedestrians and cyclists and coworkers, as well as reduce the CO2 footprint of the fleet in a real, actionable and affordable way. But not all electric vehicles are created equal. How does a facility manager choose the right electric vehicle?

1. Understand electric vehicle classifications

LSVs are a class of vehicle created by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) more than 20 years ago. All LSVs have a top speed of 25 mph, gross vehicle weight rating of less than 3,000 lbs. and are legal to travel on public roads with posted speed limits of 35 mph or less. Safety features are also a major factor for the classification of LSVs because they require seat belts, four-wheel brakes, safety glass windshield. This means they can replace trucks, vans and other over-the-road fleet vehicles.

Some LSVs also follow the higher SAE 2358 standards set by the Society of Automotive Engineers. This ensures the LSV enhances the safety and comfort of the occupants by using as standard three-point seat belts, high seat backs and other additional features. Vehicle application packages are available to meet specific needs for shuttle service, campus transport, maintenance, repair and operations, construction, technician, delivery, housekeeping, grounds crew, safety and security.

Electric vehicles for indoor applications require a different set of options. Some of those options take priority dependent on the vehicle application:

  • Safety features, including lights, horns and backup alarms

  • Operator ergonomics, including stand-up and sit-down operator options

  • Payload capacity and hitch assemblies to pull carts

  • Non-marking tires

  • Tight turning radius

  • Customization and application packages

  • Smaller vehicle sizes for tighter spaces

  • On-board chargers

2. Prioritize purchase criteria

Sustainability is just one of three major purchasing priorities that influences vehicle fleet purchases for facility managers. Safety and budget/resources also factor in and need to be addressed before any vehicle purchase.

Sustainability: How to keep people and the environment healthy and how to reduce green-house gas emissions and pollutants? The first, second and fourth warmest years on record are 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively. Emissions from internal combustion engines are an increasing issue in urban environments and closed campuses.

Safety: How to keep people safe? Distracted pedestrian deaths made up 16 percent of traffic fatalities in 2017 in the U.S. while the combined number of all other traffic deaths declined by 6 percent. Preliminary data indicates 2018 will have the highest pedestrian deaths on record since 1990.

On the road, LSVs are lighter weight and lower speed, which means less likelihood of collisions and less damage when accidents do occur. Operating non-street legal vehicles in traffic or on any roadways is a risk that facility managers should avoid. It puts the operators and pedestrians at a great physical risk while exposing themselves to liability and financial risk.

Indoors, electric vehicles can move materials horizontally safer than forklifts, which have poor visibility. Horizontal material handling can consist of an electric tow tractor with true-tracking tires. Lights, audible alerts and e-stop buttons increase safety even more.

Budget/Resources: How to maximize resources and operational efficiency? Do more with less. For cities, this means maximizing real estate for increased tax revenue (often times leading to less parking facilities) and mitigating litigation costs of pedestrian accidents. Some states in the U.S. faced revenue shortfalls in 2017 despite a growing economy. For U.S. colleges and universities, the average state spent $1,448 less per student in 2017 than in 2008. Also, 18 states cut funding by more than 20 percent.

Today’s EV providers can offer a connected electric vehicle platform for access to both technical vehicle and battery management data, encompassing logistics services, maintenance, green areas and waste management to customers.

This new electric vehicle technology enables facility managers to:

Measure real-time electric vehicle and battery specific information with configurable alerts to ensure smart vehicle usage and sustainability objectives are met

Send and receive electric vehicle and battery health maintenance-related alerts and updates to facility managers

Proactively manage any warranty and vehicle usage plus charging patters in order to improve efficiencies and facilitate smart charging

Encourage eco-driving habits to improve safe and environmentally sustainable practices

Increase efficiency through improved fleet management across a mixed fleet environment

3. Identify quick wins for sustainability with current resources

Most facility managers aren’t making sweeping replacements of equipment, but rather a little each year. LSVs enable progress towards sustainability goals while reducing fleet total cost of ownership while allowing operators to achieve their daily tasks.

Case in Point: One U.S. state looked at its sustainability efforts and recently approved legislation so that every time a state-owned vehicle is up for replacement, an electric vehicle needs to be considered instead. This doesn’t mean that it will make sense for every internal combustion engine car, truck or van to be swapped for an LSV, but many will and the impact is immediate and can be significant.

4. Find the right vehicle to reduce fleet costs

The total cost of ownership of an LSV is typically around 60 percent that of a traditional highway vehicle in the same application. On average, conversion to LSVs from highway vehicles lowers TCO by $18,000 more than years per vehicle; such savings are significant with larger fleets.

A total cost of ownership savings projection for the same state’s fleet was based on the assumption of 10 percent conversion of the 12,286 vehicles in service over a seven-year replacement cycle. With direct input and conversion rates, a tailored projection and solution can be calculated. The total cost of ownership analysis considers a comprehensive list of variables like local fuel and electricity cost, acquisition cost, cost of operation, residual/resale value, vehicle replacement cycle, maintenance/repair cost and more. These variables can be adjusted to customize the analysis to specific conditions.

The analysis in this example does not assume that 10 percent of the fleet would be converted at once but rather staggered throughout seven years per the typical replacement cycle. As such, LSVs maximize total cost of ownership savings without additional capital from the status-quo.

5. Picking the right battery

LSV manufacturers often offer a number of battery options to fit all job needs, from standard lead acid batteries to large lithium Ion battery packs. The right battery will meet the range requirements, size restrictions and price point for the application. Field specialists can help choose the right battery for an application, weighing factors such as affordability, maintenance and range. Not all electric vehicles require a special power station – many can be charged by any standard outlet.

Using LSVs as shuttles is revolutionizing urban mobility. The plague on parking and congestion has been alleviated with proprietary apps and free shuttle service – whether driven or operated autonomously. U.S.-based Circuit (formerly The Free Ride) and California-based FRAN (Free Rides Around the Neighborhood) use LSVs as on-demand micro-transit systems helping cities and congested areas bridge the first/last mile of a visitor’s journey using shuttles

The idea for an autonomous shuttle service emerged to tackle areas in the most need of viable transportation options due to high density, congested traffic and over-developed parking lots.

Maximizing urban mobility & microTransit with LSV shuttles

Urban mobility challenges are increasing throughout the U.S., specifically across cities and college campuses.

  • Migration of People to City Centers – By 2030, 84.2 percent of the U.S. Population will live in urban areas

  • Urban Traffic Congestion – can cost 2-4 percent of total national GDP by measures of lost time, wasted fuel, and increased cost of business

  • Eroding Public Transit Ridership – Ridership declined 7 percent in top 50 cities (excluding NYC) since 2008

  • Parking Costs Reduce Urban GDP – A mixed-use building can generate $413K in tax revenue per acre over parking

  • Distracted Pedestrians – In 2017, 16 percent of traffic fatalities were pedestrian deaths

  • Air Pollution – 4.2 million premature deaths were due to outdoor air pollution

  • Unnecessary Pollution – vehicles idle 17 percent of the time of in many urban operations

  • Expensive, Large Vehicles Being Used Inefficiently – in many urban operations, internal combustion vehicles travel less than 25 miles a day