E ttf fleet meeting 1 june 30 2011

E-Truck Task ForceFleet Meeting #1

Bill Van AmburgSenior Vice President

Whitney PitkanenProject Manager

June 30, 2011

Advanced Transportation Technologies and Solutions

Copyright CALSTART 2011

Goal of Task Force

• The overall goal of this effort is to speed and support effective E-Truck production and use. In the short term, it will specifically: – Identify key issues/barriers that need targeting; – Develop an action plan for addressing those issues; and

then – Work to implement those recommendations with industry

and public partners.


UPDATE

• Clearly cost is biggest barrier to e-truck purchase• One that point, as we have noted, Calif HVIP program now has

essentially doubled the e-Truck voucher (in some cases >$40k)• NY will hopefully launch a voucher like Calif’s in the fall• But what is there for other regions? Senators Kohl and Blunt

have just re-introduced a Hybrid and Electric Truck tax credit bill in the US Senate (CALSTART supports this measure)

• Up to $24k tax credit for vehicle purchase. Need strong industry and fleet support to have a chance of passage– Info:

http://www.calstart.org/projects/hybrid-truck-users-forum/htuf-blog.aspx

http://www.calstart.org/projects/hybrid-truck-users-forum/htuf-blog.aspx


Today’s Agenda

1. Service, support and quality needs – 20 min• What are the key issues that fleets are encountering with

regard to service and support from manufacturers?• What more do fleets require? (eg., extended warranties,

battery life guarantees, etc.)

2. Infrastructure needs – 20 min• Discussion regarding state-of-the-art high-powered charging

systems. • What are the challenges that fleets are encountering re

recharging?• What solutions would a set of ‘best practices for fleet

recharging’ contain?


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Service, Support and Quality Needs


Service, Support and Quality Needs (detail)


What Would Cause Increased Purchases?

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Key Barriers to ExpansionBy Respondent

Critical Critical

Unimportant

Slightly Important

Important

Very Important


Discussion

• Prioritize service/support issues• Local dealer or support staff• Localized part storage• Factory testing before sending vehicle out (some high

failure rates, but decent support)• Extended warranties – especially battery warranties (5-8

or up to 10 years)• Lease batteries and pay

• Wiring harnesses/wiring integrity• Need better battery management systems with better

than pack level management• Worry: warranties add to price increase


• What are the messages to send to manufacturers?

• What solutions would encourage greater purchases from fleets?


Infrastructure Needs

• SAE J1772: North American standard for 120V and 240V electrical connectors for EV’s maintained by the Society of Automotive Engineers

• As of February 2010, the SAE J1772 committee is continuing the standardization process with designing a higher-voltage DC Fast Charging connector.• According to report by CARB (May 2011), U.S. quick-charge

standard will be based on the SAE recommendation for a single-port, multi-function connector, rather than both the CHAdeMO and J1772 connectors.

• SAE decision not expected until late 2012

Status of U.S Charging Protocols



• Size of electrical connections is important• Level 2 charger now extended to 100A line (“Tesla rule”)

- 208 VAC, 80 Amps 16.6 kW- 240 VAC, 80 Amps 19.2 kW

• Good for larger truck batteries• Smith Electric has gone up to 19.2kW and Clipper Creek allows for

80 amps

• Compliance with National Electrical Code safety requirements is necessary (Article 625) • Level 2 charging requires EVSE that is permanently mounted and

hardwired to a dedicated 240V circuit.• EVSE must have UL-listed personnel protection system and UL

listed cable and connector assembly.• UL-listing is essential or local inspector won’t sign off



UL-listed EVSE

Level 2

Pluginamerica.org


Discussion

• Prioritize infrastructure issues• Have found there are limits where can park trucks (due to

infrastructure costs and location) – takes planning• Manageable with one or two trucks – but concerned about adding

more• Cost is big to install; one fleet reported $6-8k per EVSE installation, not

counting costs to break concrete and install conduit – focusing on where they already have infrastructure/power

• Truck makers early on had set up issues – integrating with EVSE• Vendors need to be more “up front” when selling trucks what the

options and costs are for the recharging part of owning the trucks• Infrastructure needs to be explained better with cost estimates• “Feels like we have to pry information out of truck sellers”• Big issue to total cost of ownership – need to know costs at time of

purchase so can link to cost of vehicle and include this in the capital cost; otherwise hits fleet expenses


• What are the barriers or issues where you need more info, help?• Like to have a “clearinghouse” of information around e-

trucks and be able to learn from best practices of peers; learn problems to avoid, issues with vendors/systems

• Would a description of a “standard hook-up” for e-trucks, with checklist of options, be helpful?• Yes – Whitney will call fleets to get there experiences

and start to frame the cost, process, and options

Discussion


Proposed Agenda Topics for Fleet Meeting #2

• Any updates/new info from June 30 issues• Business case validation• Performance validation data• Feedback from Industry Meeting #1

Suggested dates:

– Thursday, July 21st

www.calstart.org

Clean Transportation Technologies and Solutions SM

E ttf fleet meeting 1 june 30 2011

Automotive

infrastructure issues

fleet support

trucks infrastructure

etruck purchase

important level

infrastructure costs

etruck voucher

quality needs critica