Mikal Ann Byrd, Special Programs Manager
The future is now…or at least it is coming to a dealership near you soon!
The world relies upon the trucking industry to efficiently move goods from one place to another. Think about how rapidly the navigational tools we rely upon to travel have progressed in the past couple of decades. We started at losing exit numbers in the fold of the atlas then advanced to forgetting the last page of the Yahoo Maps directions on the printer and now we listen to a calming voice tell us that we are in the parking lot of our destination. When we consider how rapidly GPS technology became an essential part of operations, it should not be a surprise that other aspects of trucking are changing, too. Maybe not at the same pace but still moving forward.
Owners and managers need a road map, so to speak, for including battery electric trucks in their fleets. Getting and staying on track for fleet electrification will result in a successful integration. A track is the best way to illustrate navigating this process because it is a cycle that needs to be repeated. Your business model will change, technology will advance, and your customers’ needs will fluctuate all of which require you to reassess how to effectively and efficiently use BEVs. I’ll give details in the next few posts for the following stages along the track:
Assess
Design
Finance
Build
Train
Operate
Maintain
Assess
What is your motivation for buying an electric truck?
What are your infrastructure needs?
What funding sources are available?
What contractor will you use?
What do your employees need to know?
What operational changes need to be made?
What is the new routine for your fleet?
Is the system you have in place still effective?
Send your questions to mbyrd@kwsco.com. Put “EV Question” in the subject line. I am excited to bring you along on this road trip to the future!