Transitioning to EV Fleets: Best Practices and a Decision Tool

Details

• Creators:
  Tork, Nastaran ; Baek, Kwangho ; Khani, Alireza ; Bhandari, Sushmita ; Ryan, Alyssa
• Corporate Creators:
  University of Minnesota. Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo-Engineering. Minnesota Traffic Observatory ; University of Arizona. Dept. of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics ; Michigan State University. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Corporate Contributors:
  Minnesota. Department of Transportation. Office of Research & Innovation
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Best Practices Decision Making Electric Vehicle Charging Electric Vehicles Fleet Management Human Factors Infrastructure Life Cycle Costing Optimization Transportation Departments
• Publication/ Report Number:
  MN 2026-15
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States ; Minnesota
• Edition:
  Final Report
• Corporate Publisher:
  Minnesota. Department of Transportation. Office of Research & Innovation
• Abstract:
  New U.S. regulatory targets aim for an electric vehicle (EV) market share of at least 50% by 2030, a shift mirrored by manufacturers phasing out internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. While public organizations are increasingly eager to transition, the pathway is complicated by cold-climate range uncertainties, infrastructure gaps in rural areas, and the technical hurdles of transitioning medium- and heavy-duty fleets for large agencies like MnDOT. This study presents a comprehensive framework to help agencies navigate fleet transition and secure available funding. The research began by assessing human factors and organizational readiness through survey of agencies and in-depth interviews with fleet managers to identify operational barriers and perceptions. Subsequent stages involved a detailed analysis of fleet composition and infrastructure capacity, gathering data on vehicle types, usage patterns, and parking facilities across various Minnesota agencies. These foundational data informed a 10-year life-cycle cost analysis, comparing EVs against traditional ICE vehicles across multiple classes. Finally, the project developed an optimization model, applied to Minneapolis trip data, to demonstrate a strategic plan for EV acquisition and charging infrastructure deployment that minimizes total cost while ensuring uninterrupted operation. The study’s findings and strategic roadmap was disseminated via a statewide webinar to support Minnesota agencies in achieving a cost-effective transition.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  (c)1036342 (wo) 121
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:96d747f9df9329d3fee521dfaaaa337ad5c1db58bb37f68d59758d402a86234d13fdb669b6579b5613ce010f041ab6d5c6f742c97be480cf5bf2b8ee0b2a075a
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/92363/dot_92363_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 4.24 MB ]