In 2020 we opened a new facility, expanded our product line, met with new customers and body builders, renewed partnerships with additional orders, and deployed more trucks and buses. Thank you for joining us on our journey to free fleets from fossil fuels!

 

As fleets evaluate electrification, charging stations are a new concept for many managers. Understanding electric vehicle (EV) fleet charging technology is a crucial step in implementing a successful program. 

While EV infrastructure may sound daunting at first, fleet electrification presents many benefits to your operations, namely, reduced fuel costs and maintenance over a fleet’s lifecycle. Below you’ll find essential information to help you get started on EV charging stations, electricity requirements, and how Motiv Power Systems can offer advice and support.

 

Charging Station/Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE)

Used interchangeably, charging stations or EVSE (see images below) refers to all of the equipment needed to deliver electrical power from a facility’s electrical service to an EV. A charge station includes a charging interface, charging cable, and connector to your vehicle’s charge port. 

 

         

Examples of Level 2 charging stations

 

An EVSE connector interface has multiple options depending on charging levels, most commonly Level 2 or 3. A Level 2 charging station will have a J1772 connector interface (also known as the J-plug), while a Level 3 charging station can have either a CHadEMO or CCS connector (see below). The J1772 safety standard defines how an EVSE connects to, communicates with, and ultimately charges an EV. All EVSE connectors, including the Level 3 Fast Charging DC connectors, have been standardized by global automotive organizations across many countries.

For Level 2 charging, Motiv’s onboard charger accepts up to 19.2 kW of input power from a charge station. For a Level 3 (DC Fast) charging station, Motiv-powered vehicles use a CCS1 combo connector and can accept up to 80 kW.  

Both options provide “electric fuel” to your vehicles. However, Level 3 charging stations deliver Direct Current (DC) straight to the vehicle’s battery pack and bypass the onboard charger. While Level 2 charging stations transfer AC power to an onboard charger, which then converts AC current to DC for the battery pack. 

Kilowatt (kW) ratings are shown for charging stations and furnishes a measurement of power associated with the equipment. For charging stations, a higher kW rating means lower charging times for your fleet vehicles (see the guide below). For class 4 – 6 vehicles, Level 1 charging isn’t considered a viable option because of the small amount of current and slower charging times. 

As a trusted fleet partner, Motiv assesses power needs and charging station requirements for fleet depots. This analysis starts by evaluating available power against expected demand, while also providing a design, review and necessary construction plans. Additionally, Motiv finds and procures commercial electricians, utility rebates, pull permits to help evaluate the right charging station for your application. This ensures right-sizing for current needs with a scalable approach towards the future. 

For example, a fleet that runs their route once a day and returns to depot to charge overnight, Level 2 charging (see below) would be an ideal fit — example: linen and parcel delivery, service providers, school buses and university campus shuttles. If your fleet operates 24/7, Level 3 charging would be a better option — example: airport shuttles.

 

EVSE Safety

While EV fleet applications are relatively new, electrical safety has been demonstrated for over 100 years on factory floors. Charging stations and their installation are regulated by the National Electrical Code and the stations themselves meet safety standards from Underwriters Laboratory (UL) and have Ingress Protection (IP) ratings. The charging connector interface communicates between a vehicle and a charge station to ensure the correct electrical current flow based on what the charge station can deliver and what the onboard charger can receive. The charging station also prevents the charging cord from being energized when the vehicle is not plugged in or other faults exist.

 

Reduced Fuel Costs

Advanced EV fleet charging technology presents opportunities to decrease fuel costs while also meeting sustainability goals or state emission regulations. Smart charging stations or network stations have wireless access and provide fleets with real-time charging data and reporting. These smart stations allow fleet operators to make decisions based on low-electricity pricing (time-of-use rates) and allows companies to schedule charging sessions. Plus, large-fleet operators can take advantage of power sharing options to avoid excessive peak demand pricing from power utilities. A simple way to look at smart charging is knowing the state of charge (SOC) for each vehicle plugged in at each location, the feeder capacity, and then distributing the total feeder power across all the vehicles to ensure they all reach SOC at the same or desired time (if they are staggered). 

 

Incentives 

Besides lower electric fuel costs compared to gas- and diesel-powered vehicles, many states, municipalities, and utilities are providing purchase incentives for charging stations, along with some discounts on installation. For example, the city of Pasadena in California offered a $3,000 rebate for the installation of a smart, Level 2 (240V) charging station for commercial, workplace, multi-unit dwelling (MUD), and fleet customers in 2018.

Motiv has staff dedicated to helping you find and apply for funding, for both vehicle and charging infrastructure. We have helped our customers receive over $18M dollars in funding. 

For more information on Motiv Powers Systems fleet applications, visit our success stories page. Interested to learn more, schedule a demo today. 

 

Great news for California transit agencies, non-profits, and CalACT members!

Our Motiv-powered electric shuttle bus has been awarded a contract by Morongo Basin Transit Authority (MBTA), and the California Association for Coordinated Transportation (CALACT).

The CalACT purchasing cooperative provides a federal and California State compliant purchasing option that allows you to select the vehicle that best meets your transit needs, avoiding lengthy and expensive RFBs and bid processes.

Electric shuttle buses are used for many transportation applications, including public transit, airports, hotels, universities, corporate campuses, parking services, and more.

Motiv has been at the forefront of the transportation electrification movement. In operation since 2015, the City of Mountain View Community Shuttle, Motiv’s electric shuttles are running daily, well past the designed project lifetime, and have almost 500,000 real world miles to date.

Motiv works with several industry leading shuttle bus builders including Turtle Top, to bring electric versions of popular bus brands to market. Based on the Ford eQVM approved EPIC E-450 chassis featuring BMW batteries, Motiv combines our EV expertise with bus manufacturing experience to deliver best-in-class electric buses to fleets nationwide.

To learn more, please get in touch with us today!

We partnered with Collins Bus and A-Z Bus Sales to bring our Motiv-powered Type A bus directly to school districts around California.  Getting behind-the-wheel or under-the-hood of a Motiv-powered vehicle is an interactive and fun experience for fleet managers, technicians, and operators. Motiv sales and support team members attend each training and demo, providing both technical and operational information. Customers can expect complimentary driver and maintenance training with each deployment.

We also offer training to our dealer-partners, ensuring their teams feel comfortable and knowledgeable as they begin to upgrade their customers to all-electric.

Our team is sensitive of current conditions which can provide travel challenges and we are here to accommodate. Motiv staff practices safety protocols including wearing and providing masks, frequent sanitation of our demo vehicles, and physical distancing.

Interested to see how your gas-powered vehicle compares on costs and maintenance? Take our total cost of ownership (TCO) calculator for a test drive. Fleets can expect to save up to 85% on operation and maintenance by switching from internal combustion engine (ICE) to electric vehicles (EVs).

Contact us to schedule a demo!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our first electric trolley is on the road in the beautiful Town of Estes Park in Colorado! We celebrated a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by Mayor Wendy Koenig, Vanessa Solesbee, Parking and Transit Manager, and other Town staff. The electric trolley will provide free zero-emission shuttle service while saving the Town over 1,700 gallons of fuel over one season. Read more about Estes Park's Motiv-powered trolley here.

Estes Park's new trolley is built on our EPIC F-53 chassis with body built by Hometown Trolley, the nation's leading trackless trolley builder.

Photo courtesy of Estes Park News

 

Would you like to get behind-the-wheel of a Motiv-powered vehicle? Schedule a demo!

Aramark, a leading expert in safety, food, facilities, and uniforms, operates 31 Motiv-powered vehicles in California. Aramark is also a well known environmental advocate, as reflected by their ambitious corporate responsibility goals. Their Be Well. Do Well. sustainability plan focuses on making a positive impact on people and planet. In addition to electric vehicles, other initiatives include building healthier communities, sourcing responsibly, reducing packaging, and more.

Based on our EPIC F-59 chassis, Aramark's Motiv-powered step vans have covered over 275,000 emission-free miles, have saved over $100,000 in fuel and maintenance costs, and are currently operating at a 99% uptime.  These trucks are on the road in some of California's most polluted areas and help eliminate toxic tailpipe emissions while serving their communities.

Aramark has ordered an additional several dozen Motiv-powered step vans to be deployed next year.

Join Motiv Power Systems, Denver Metro Clean Cities Coalition, and the Town of Estes Park Tuesday, May 19 at 2pm MDT for a free webinar on how to procure EVs for your fleet and charging considerations.

Our Sales Application Engineer, Isaac Stratfold, will be talking about charging infrastructure planning and best practices while Vanessa Solesbee, Parking & Transit Manager, Public Works Department with the Town of Estes Park will discuss their new all-electric trolley, electrified by Motiv.

RSVP today!