Ford Pro and Xcel Energy plan to build 30,000 private EV charging ports for fleets by the decade's end, the companies recently announced. The project, part of Xcel Energy's Electric Vehicle Supply Infrastructure plan, will start in Colorado and Wisconsin and would offset the upfront costs of participating fleets.
This "30x30 initiative" (for 30,000 chargers by 2030) seeks to address concerns fleets have about electrification, according to Ford Pro leaders.
"For most of the fleets that we service today and the commercial fleet managers that we work with, their biggest concern [with EVs] isn't range anxiety," said Dave Prusinski, GM of integrated services at Ford Pro. "It's the lack of convenient charging options. Fleet operators who are in the market for EVs expect to charge at private charging stations about 80% of the time. But the cost of installing an EV charger can sometimes cost more than the charges itself, including laying wiring and infrastructure."
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With this program, electrification could become more accessible for fleets and reduce some of the ROI concerns Fleet Advantage reported were some of the largest barriers to adopting alternative fuel vehicles.
The 30x30 Initiative
With the 30x30 Initiative, Xcel Energy would install charging infrastructure at fleet locations if they qualify and enroll in an approved EVSI program. The initiative covers EV charging equipment and installation for the number of ports needed, depending on the fleet.
"On average, our fleet size needs are about five or six ports per customer," said Amanda Rome, executive vice president, group president, utilities & chief customer officer at Xcel Energy. "But it's always a customizable solution."
Ford Pro will provide the charging equipment and post-installation customer service and support. Fleets can also access Ford Pro Intelligence, the company's smart charging software, and Ford Pro Telematics.
Xcel Energy and Ford Pro expect to begin rolling out their program in Q1 2024, mainly within Colorado, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, where Xcel's Commercial EVSI program is already established. This is where the two companies expect most of the anticipated 30,000 chargers will go, though they plan on expanding the program over the next six years into other Xcel territories. If regulation approves, these states would include Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Texas.
The chargers, once installed, will be for private use only, though the parameters for qualifying businesses have not yet been defined.
"This is really focused on our depots, which means that typically those businesses all have either a secure depot area where the charging is all in one area, and the software itself is meant to support and ensure uptime of those vehicles," Prusinski confirmed.
However, this does not rule out the possibility that fleets within the program could partner and share their charging sites, which could relieve fleet concerns about EV range limitations. Ford Pro is currently examining a 'Shared Charging' program where fleets can sign in to access various chargers beyond their home base, Prusinski stated, though the 30x30 Initiative does not currently offer that feature.
With the 30x30 Initiative adding more chargers to the landscape and potentially creating private but shared charging spaces, Ford Pro and Xcel Energy could lower the entry barrier to electrification for future fleets and offer a stronger ROI.
