With tons of EV makers already in the market and because OEMs are expected to embrace electric mobility more widely in this next decade, selecting the correct electric vehicle and technology provider for your fleet can be a herculean task. As the biggest automotive names, including Toyota, Mercedes, BMW, Nissan, Volvo and others, continue to tout new EV plans, how can one business sift through the hundreds of vehicle options – especially when new models pop up each day? Even just initially getting a representative from one of the long list of OEMs on the phone takes time, let alone the rest of the research and comparison that needs to happen. And in order to keep up with the technology advancements, businesses have to move fast.
Following the market curve
As a technology-agnostic provider, Revolv is already working with nearly 30 OEMs. With extensive research and diligence completed for 21 OEMs and 8 more in progress, we’ve already thoroughly vetted over a hundred of EV models for our customers.
Our team of EV experts closely tracks the market – analyzing the models, technology, warranty, battery chemistry, and more – to help commercial fleets transition to EVs more seamlessly. When we’re not communicating with OEMs or capturing data and other pertinent details to learn new models inside and out, we’re sifting through white papers and sales sheets so our customers don’t have to – saving them time, resources and money.
After many years of conducting research and establishing long-lasting relationships with OEMs and EV technology providers, here’s what we’re seeing:
Knowing the right vehicle
Because of the hands-on approach that the entire Revolv team takes, we understand vehicle classes and their EV applications, so that we can best inform our customers based on their business goals. Contrary to common belief, it’s not just about the size of the vehicle; it’s about how operations can be maximized with specific EVs.
- Class 2 & 3: For a business focused on last-mile and local deliveries, Class 2 & 3 vehicles will be the best match. From transit vans, delivery vans and trucks, this classification is ideal for businesses with lighter payload requirements. Whether a fleet is delivering bread locally or has a business with maintenance crews, they can move as quickly as possible with adequate range.
- Class 4-5: Class 4-5 is also for last-mile delivery services, but for deliveries that are bulkier and require larger box or walk-in vans. Municipal services, such as street sweeping, are a great use case since they don’t require a high top speed and constant stopping allows for substantial regenerative recapture. Shuttle services can also benefit from Class 4-5 vehicles, taking advantage of opportunity charging (if routes are properly planned and optimized.)
- Class 6: For delivery businesses with refrigerated goods, heftier Class 6 vehicles – often step vans or cab chassis – will likely make the most sense due to battery capacity. On these vehicles, frame rails are a lot longer and wider than in the aforementioned, so businesses can stack more batteries to be able to power refrigeration and not over-consume kilowatt hours from the battery pack – which can dramatically impact range.
- Class 7 and 8: Class 7-8 still have a way to go but they are emerging as the best solution for heavy-duty operations. Since range will be impacted by size, local hauling for utility services or waste management – which do not require high speed and typically have fixed daily routes so mileage and charging can be better predicted – can benefit from Class 7 and 8 vehicles. We typically recommend Class 7 or 8 for yard operations, terminal tractors, retail-to-retail, local dock-to-dock and port drayage. Private transit, including city and school buses, could also benefit from going electric.
In summary, determining the right vehicle is a multifaceted process that requires factoring in heft, speed, how often braking is required, distance traveled, and the predictability of the routes. There are certainly a lot more useful applications than the typical consumer can imagine, and at Revolv, we’re committed to finding the best match – whether a company is hauling lumber or fresh food products that need to stay cold.
Watching the ever-changing technology landscape
Technology will continue to improve across the board, which will translate into more ubiquity as it pertains to business cases. In the near term, our team is keeping a close eye out for:
- Class 3-5 Design: Since the medium-duty class is not encumbered by size, we see an opportunity for continued innovation from OEMs. We expect to continue seeing more electrification on localized routes and have our eyes on design improvements taking over the market. Take, for example, Mullen’s new Class 3 Cab and Chassis vehicle, which touts superior maneuverability on narrow city streets.
- Battery technology: OEMs today know that powering up the next generation of EV trucks – across all classes – comes down to better batteries. Not all EV batteries are created equally and we’re closely watching OEMs using lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, which have a myriad of benefits over Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) and Nickel Cobalt Aluminium (NCA) counterparts, from lower costs to longer life cycle and improved efficiency over a wider temperature range. These batteries are also increasingly able to perform in more extreme environments (in hot or cold weather) without posing threats to driver safety or a vehicle’s operations. Other innovations down the line – including solid-state and sodium batteries – are closing the energy density disparity due to LFP cells with materials that are even more abundant and cost-effective.
- Voltage: For quite some time, the industry was stuck in the 400 voltage range, but by the end of the decade, most OEMs will have adopted an 600+ voltage. This is significant because voltage pertains to efficiency, range, reliability and longer-lasting cars in the future. And since high-voltage packs can cost up to 40% of a vehicle’s MSRP – yes that means for a $100,000 vehicle, $40,000 can just be the pack – innovation to the high-voltage battery pack will be critical to bringing prices down.
What’s most exciting is how quickly these elements are progressing. While there are plenty of opportunities to improve the existing technology and to optimize it in a way that might be better for the larger class segments, battery manufacturers are advancing technologies at such a breakneck pace that in some applications, they’re willing to warranty the batteries for 15 years. Take for example, CATL, the premier and leading battery manufacturer, which recently announced a 15-year, 1-million-kilometer battery warranty on specific high voltage battery models high voltage batteries – a true game changer and a testament to their confidence in their technology as it currently stands.
Revolv continues to closely watch how OEMs adopt these technological advancements to improve efficiency, safety, affordability, and more. These fast-moving changes signal that adoption will continue to skyrocket. However, this can be a lot for businesses to keep track of – that is where Revolv can step in and do the legwork.
Revolv can help
With new electric vehicle developments bombarding headlines every day, it can be a lot for businesses to track and understand. Even for a business that does its research, how can they know what’s best for their particular business?
As a single-service partner, Revolv conducts thorough due diligence for all of the latest vehicle models and technologies across the classes. We also undergo a comprehensive audit of our customer’s needs and operations to make tailored recommendations for our customers.
Every Revolv team member is a technical expert and a walking guide on these elements.
With 24/7 support available, we can answer any questions about OEMs, products or technology at any point in the process and are committed to helping our customers navigate the many decisions they have to make to select the best vehicles and technologies for their use case.
The OEM landscape is ever-changing but we’re constantly on the sidelines adapting to help businesses thrive in the EV era.