Date: January 23, 2023
Author: Enterprise Fleet Management
Location: St. Louis, MO
With so much to like about fleet EVs, let's look at some of the most noteworthy EVs that will be released and potentially available for fleet operators in 2023.
For fleet operators, there's a lot to like about electric vehicles (EVs). Aside from the obvious benefits of eliminating carbon emissions and reducing demand for fossil fuels, EVs also cost significantly less to operate than gas- or even diesel-powered vehicles. In fact, according to the US Dept of Energy, light-duty EVs only cost about three cents per mile to operate. Plus, as you can see in the chart below, electricity costs much less than both gasoline and diesel, and the cost of electricity per gasoline gallon equivalent (GGE) remains far more stable than gas or diesel — meaning you'll not only spend less in fuel costs with EVs, you're also much less likely to be shocked by a sudden surge in fuel prices.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy
Of course, there are potential obstacles for fleet operators considering the transition to EVs. First, there's availability. Ongoing supply chain challenges and semiconductor shortages have reduced vehicle inventories across the board, including EVs. Next, there's the challenge of navigating new territory after using internal combustion vehicles for decades. After all, operators know what to expect with gas- or diesel-powered vehicles — but operating and maintaining a fleet of EVs may present unexpected challenges fleet managers may be unprepared for.
However, with so many potential benefits to their bottom lines — and emerging options for outsourcing management and maintenance to professional fleet management organizations experienced with EVs — fleet operators have plenty of reasons to consider making the switch. If you're among them, here are some vehicles expected to become available throughout 2023 that you may want to consider.
Pickup Trucks
The first commercially available EV pickup trucks only arrived in 2021, but automakers were quick to spot consumer demand. While they're still in short supply as of late 2022, by late 2023, more should become available to fleet operators and consumers alike. Here are two that fleet operators may want to consider as they become available.
Chevrolet Silverado EV
Expected to be available in spring of 2023, the new all-electric Chevrolet Silverado EV offers some head-turning features. The truck gets an estimated 400 miles on a single charge, and it can tow up to 8,000 pounds thanks to 615-lb.-ft. of maximum available torque on some models. Plus, it comes with a plethora of advanced safety features and GM's Ultimate Charge 360 charging services. Operators should receive plenty of support from the automaker itself. The pricing for this vehicle is expected to be competitive for commercial fleets, offering a popular and economical entry option.
Ford F-150 Lightning
The electric version of Ford's perennial bestseller, the F-150 Lighting is packed with features that promise power, performance, and rugged dependability. It boasts two motors — one for each axle — which deliver up to 775-lb.-ft. of torque. It also comes with Ford's Co-Pilot 360TM 2.0 suite of driver-assist features, like lane keeping, pre-collision avoidance, and automatic emergency braking, all of which can help your drivers stay safe on the roads. The pricing for this vehicle is expected to be economical for commercial fleets, offering a cost-effective option for adding EVs to your fleet.
Rivian R1T
Automotive start-up Rivian unveiled the R1T electric pickup in 2022, and the 2023 model has some features that are sure to catch a fleet operator’s eye. The R1T can get between 260 to 400 miles on a complete charge, depending on the motor and battery options selected. It can tow up 11,000 pounds — again, depending on options selected — and it can even wade through up to three feet of water, due in part to its almost 15-inch ground clearance. However, two factors may give fleet owners pause: the pricing for this vehicle is expected to be in a higher range and its rather compact size. Only somewhat larger than a contemporary Ford Ranger, the R1T is definitely not the largest EV truck on this list — but in the right scenario, that could be a feature, not a drawback.
Cargo Vans
Cargo vans are beloved by fleets of all kinds, from service and repair to delivery fleets and more. But like pickups, EV cargo vans have only been available — in extremely limited numbers — since late 2021. Even still, some recent entrants into the EV cargo van space boast features that may give fleet operators reason to consider going electric.
Ford E-Transit
The Ford Transit is a mainstay of commercial fleets everywhere, and now there's the E-Transit, a fully electric variant. With three different roof heights and three different lengths to choose from, plus options for cutaway and chassis cabs, the E-Transit offers operators a variety of customizable options to suit their needs. Plus, the van's Pro Power OnBoard system delivers 2.4-kWh of power for charging things like tools, phones, and tablets. However, the E-transit doesn't offer quite the range other entries here do: Users can get just 126 miles per charge in its low-roof model, meaning it might not be right for fleets that operate across a wide geographic range. However, for the right fleets, the pricing for this vehicle is expected to be attractive, offering proven Ford performance at a cost-effective price point.
Rivian EDV
One of few all-electric cargo vans on the market, the Rivian EDV-500/700 is packed with features commercial operators will love. Its interior is configurable for between 500- to 700-cubic feet of cargo capacity, and Rivian's proprietary FleetOS offers comprehensive trip oversight, remote diagnostics, and collision reports to help operators manage their fleets more efficiently and improve overall safety. There's a catch, though: the EDV models are currently only available to Amazon, which ordered 100,000 EDVs. However, once production ramps up — which the company claims will happen in 2023 — EDVs should become more widely available. Pricing is unclear at the moment, but fleet operators may want to keep an eye out for announcements from this innovative automaker in the year to come.
Sedans and SUVs
Sedans and SUVs are easily the most ubiquitous and available EVs on the market, making them great potential choices for everything from sales and service fleets to food delivery and even light paratransit services. These are some of the most compelling models expected to be released in 2023 — although as with all EVs, availability may be limited.
Chevy Equinox
Chevrolet's first all-electric Equinox debuts in model year 2023, and there's a lot of advantages for fleet operators under the hood. It can get 300 miles on a single charge, and it can get about 70 miles on a single 10-minute charge. Inside the cabin, there's a wide, 17.7-inch digital display in the dash, which should make navigating sales territories a breeze. The starting cost for this vehicle is expected to be economical, offering an entry point into the all-electric field for fleet operators at a cost-effective price point.
Chevy Bolt
While not new to the market for 2023, the Chevy Bolt is still a solid choice for sales fleet operators. It can deliver up to 259 miles on a single charge for certain configurations, and its handy Dual Level Charge Cord allows drivers to switch between 120- and 240-volt chargers on the go., The Bolt is an economical option for sales fleets, the Bolt doesn't boast as many upgrade features as some of the other entries on this list, but it's the kind of dependable workhorse sales fleet operators love.
Hyundai Ioniq 6
The Hyundai Ioniq 6 will soon become the South Korean automaker's only fully electric offering. Equipped with the larger 77.4-kWh battery pack, the sedan boasts a range of up to 320 miles, while the standard 53.0-kWh pack probably delivers around 220 miles on a single charge. While its base model may come at a higher price point compared to other sales fleet vehicles, but the initial cost may be offset by fuel costs now that there's no gas (or less gas, depending on the model) involved.
Nissan Leaf
Despite being one of the most economical offerings on this list, there's still a lot to consider about the all-electric Nissan Leaf., With a starting price that's competitive, this compact sedan offers up to 212 miles on a charge for its SV Plus package, and the Leaf can reach 80% charge in just 30 minutes when using a 480-volt charger. When charging at home, the 40-kWh battery can be fully charged in under eight hours, or 11 hours for the 60-kWh option. Just be sure your reps remember to plug it in every night.
Takeaways
For fleets looking to integrate more EVs in the year ahead, there's a lot to be excited for. With many new entrants to come in 2024 and beyond, fleet operators have more options to choose from than ever before. These are by no means the only options available — just a few we've seen gaining interest and popularity.
To learn more about why now is a great time to start integrating EVs into your fleet, check out our blog about recent developments designed to make deploying EVs easier than ever.
