Cooperative procurement is a competitive selection process enabled by aggregating the demand various government organizations face. This process can leverage the aggregated buying power of organizations spread across many jurisdictions, retains the competitive selection process, and reduces the personnel burdens on issuing one’s own RFP. When using cooperative procurement, one governmental agency would use a contract issued by another to have access to the same vehicles and pricing. In this program, Sourcewell Cooperative functions as the central organization and has facilitated competitive solicitations, reviewed bids, and awarded contracts. This mechanism has the added benefit of providing fleets with multiple vendors to choose from to ensure each fleet gets a product and an experience that fits their needs.

Traditionally, most municipal fleets purchase vehicles outright through a variety of mechanisms. This typically includes issuance of their own Request for Proposal (RFP) and then awards direct contracts with particular vendors. This program offers a purchasing option through Sourcewell via National Auto Fleet Group.

Fleet leasing with management services are available from a variety of companies offering numerous lease structures/lengths. These leases may or may not also include things like maintenance, fuel, and other services. Leasing can also include the opportunity to take advantage of additional savings on EVs available through monetizing tax credits and passing those savings onto the lessee. Leasing options will be available through Sourcewell via Enterprise and D&M Leasing.

Fleets can finance fleet vehicles more like they would a personal vehicle. This would constitute a leasing option that would provide vehicles without the additional fleet management services. Leasing can also include the opportunity to take advantage of additional savings on EVs available through monetizing tax credits and passing those savings onto the lessee. Financing options are available through Sourcewell via NCL Government Capital.

• To achieve the full benefit and potential of EVs, it is critical to ensure that they are placed into successful use cases. The best-case scenario for EVs is one that maximizes economic benefits, minimizes GHG emissions, and eliminates operational impact. Understanding the precise scenarios to enable this within your fleet will help ensure a successful integration of EV technology.
• Analytics resources available to participating cities center around the use of telematics data to make data-driven recommendations for EV adoption and the installation of charging infrastructure to power those vehicles. Telematics data enables a granular picture of each vehicle’s individual operational profile such that recommendations are tailored to each vehicle and then aggregated across a fleet.
• Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC) Vehicle Cost Calculator
• The Dashboard for Rapid Vehicle Electrification – DRVE Tool – developed by the Electrification Coalition, provides quick and easy analysis for light-, medium-, and heavy-duty fleet electrification. The Microsoft Excel-based tool can evaluate a variety of procurement ownership structures, vehicle types, electric vehicle charging configurations, and many more scenarios.

Fleets considering purchasing EVs should have a basic understanding of charging stations, also known as EVSE (electric vehicle supply equipment). There are three types of charging including Level One charging, Level Two Charging, and DC Fast Charging. Charging time depends on the size of the vehicle’s battery and the level of charging.

To facilitate the adoption of EVs, both consumers and fleets need a broad network of charging stations. When preparing to procure EVs for your fleet, ensure an understanding of the planning, finances, and operations of charging infrastructure.

The United States has the third-largest electric vehicle market in the world, and more than $125 billion in new EV investments in the U.S market were announced in 2020.

The EV market, like much of the vehicle industry, was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic throughout much of 2020. However, the EV industry fared relatively well compared to the internal combustion market. EV sales through Q3 of 2020 were approximately 6.1% lower than during the first three quarters of 2019. The biggest hits came during the first two quarters of 2020, down nearly 26% from the first two quarters of 2019, but EV sales bounced back in Q3 2020, down only 1.6% from Q3 2019.

Charging infrastructure continues to expand with the demand for EVs. Its average compounded annual growth rate across 50 metropolitan areas is 30% and charging infrastructure deployment is now in line to meet the expected charging gap through 2025.

By 2025, automakers plan to release 200 new electric car models, many of which are in the popular sport utility vehicle market segment. The EV market in the United States is likely to reach 6.9 million units by 2025. As improvements in technical performance and pricing continue, consumers and public fleets alike will have more decision-making power when purchasing EVs.