Transitioning your fleet from diesel to electric means one giant step toward sustainability and efficiency that will be a boon to your bottom line, too. You’ll likely have a small learning curve to navigate, but it’s nothing to fear; from managing range expectations and driver adaptation to handling maintenance and payload adjustments, these are the key factors to keep in mind when making the switch.
Range
You want as much range as you can get, and you want it to be predictable. To extend range, think about upgrades you might already be using for fuel-saving: aerodynamic enhancements, fairings, eco-flaps, and eco-tabs. Another factor is tire pressure—always an important safety item, but for rolling resistance it’s also key. Keeping up on your tire inflation will make it easier to accurately estimate range.
A tire monitor, either mechanical or electric, will keep an eye on it, especially during seasonal changes; you may mistake a drop in range as a temperature issue, when it’s actually a tire pressure issue.
Expect to spend a few trips calibrating your understanding of range. If you’re running a vehicle with a separate body (freight trucks, bucket trucks, etc.) you’ll need to determine its efficiency. This is critical to establishing an accurate baseline for judging battery health, diagnosing range issues, and for predicting range in different temperatures. Start with a route that is about 75% of the expected maximum distance, preferably an out-and-back trip with minimal elevation change. Start at a full charge and track mileage using both the odometer and GPS to calculate miles per percentage of battery used, giving you a realistic estimate of maximum range. Additionally, monitor how many kWh are consumed at different states of charge (SOC) to determine your actual energy efficiency (kWh/mile). Once you have this baseline data, you can use it to predict range under varying conditions—such as temperature shifts, highway versus urban driving, and payload differences.
Drivers
Drivers may occasionally forget to plug in overnight, so you’ll want to have a backup plan. While DC fast charging can help, it’s not as quick as refueling diesel. Treat it like any operational contingency: prepare for it, and over time, routines will improve. Planning for mitigation can never hurt.
You should also expect a learning curve when it comes to the driving itself. Electric trucks handle differently—regenerative braking, instant torque, and varied drive modes take getting used to. Some mimic traditional automatics (with “creep” mode), while others behave more like forklifts or manuals.
Different drivers with different backgrounds will find different arrangements more natural. If you have a driver in-house with varied experience, especially with a CDL, enlist them to take the lead on explaining those nuances to the other drivers. Not every driver will embrace electric trucks immediately. Start with your willing participants, and they’ll win over the skeptics in time.
Make some signage for the truck to hang near the charger, and inside the cab. Remind workers to charge the truck. Include the directions for “jump starting” the low-voltage system if they run the lift-gate (or lights, etc.) too long and kill the small battery. Include the manufacturer’s instructions on how to safely shut the truck down.
New truck, same as the old truck
Electric trucks are exciting, but they’re still trucks at the end of the day. They don’t need oil changes, but they still need grease and safety checks at the recommended intervals—basically, periodic maintenance is still a thing, just on a different schedule and with a shorter list. Plus, it still needs a very good pre-trip when you receive it. Check the rarely checked stuff (ex. Are the u-bolts holding the truck body on tight?) Don’t let the shiny new technology distract you from the basics.
Also, you should get a weight ticket for the truck. You’ll need to know its weight and payload, but you’ll also want to know the weight distribution between the axles. The truck may be weighted differently than its equivalent diesel at the same wheelbase due to battery and motor placement. Adjust your loading when necessary to match.
Have fun
Congratulations on making the switch! If you want to be remembered as the person who drove into the future with confidence when others were scared, you’re well on your way.
Understanding the essentials above will help smooth the transition and set your business up for success in the electric era. A little bit of extra consideration now will ensure your fleet remains reliable, cost-effective, and ready for the road ahead.
