Benefits of Electric Vehicles

Discover the advantages of electricity as a transportation

For communities, businesses and other organizations seeking to meet strategic clean energy goals, electrifying your fleet and offering electric vehicle (EV) charging is a critical step. The good news is, adopting EVs for business and municipal use is becoming easier and more cost-effective. Here are some benefits of electric vehicles:

• Charge for the equivalent of less than $1 per gallon of gas while avoiding unpredictable swings in fuel costs
• Reduce maintenance costs by 30% or more
• Reduce emissions
• Improve public and employee health
• Build your organization's sustainability credibility and image
• Special rebates and programs to lower the costs of EVs and charging equipment

Benefits of Fleet Electrification

Businesses and municipalities have different types of fleet needs—from daily work operations to retail delivery functions. By replacing fossil-fuel vehicles with plug-in electric hybrid or all-electric options, you can see financial benefits and meet environmental objectives.

Telematics shows you the electric potential of your current fleet

We work with the nation’s leading  fleet analysis providers to fund assessments of fleets using telematics data.  This program provides information, data and technical assistance to help inform fleet electrification decisions and to help customers build a robust and actionable electrification plan. The electrification plan will consist of a procurement plan for EVs, strategies for charging infrastructure buildout and guidelines for optimizing vehicle usage and charging ROIs, all using real-world data from the fleet’s own operations.

Benefits of providing public charging

Offering public charging for your visitors, employees, tenants and customers is a great amenity for any facility. As a perk or for customer and employee retention, growing public charging corridors help more drivers make the transition to driving electric.

Public chargers are usually Level 3 DC Fast Chargers, so EV drivers can confidently charge and be on the road within 30 minutes. And fast chargers do more, such as:

• Sparks interest in your retail or parking business
• Establishes your organization or community as a leader in sustainability
• Boosts employee satisfaction, and can attract high-quality employees
• Increases adoption by growing charging availability

Types of Electric Vehicles

Before providing charging for fleets or the public, explore the best vehicle and charging solutions for your operations.

Plug-In EVs
Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV)	Plug-In Hybrid
A BEV is a pure EV that is powered solely by electricity. When the battery depletes, it is recharged using electricity from a Level 1, 2, or 3 charger.	A plug-in hybrid can operate on electric battery power and gas. When the battery depletes, the gas-powered engine turns on.

Charging Equipment Options

Fast facts about charging equipment:

Level 1 Charger

•  Included with EV purchase
• 120-volt cord plugs into the wall
• Dedicated circuit recommended
• Can provide around 40 miles of range after charging overnight*

Level 2 Charger

• Purchased separately from most EVs
• Requires 208/240-volt service
•  Can provide 30-80 miles of range for every hour of charging*
• An electrician is required to set up electrical wiring for a new outlet or breaker - and service panel upgrade if necessary

Level 3 DC Fast Charger

•  Commonly used for public charging
•  Not for plug-in hybrids or certain battery-electric vehicles
•  Typically requires 480-volt service
•  Can provide up to 40 miles of range for every 10 minutes of charging*
•  An electrician is required to set up electrical wiring for a new outlet or breaker - and service panel upgrade if necessary

*Range depends on vehicle, speed, cargo weight and other factors.

Additional Information

Look to us as your energy advisor to help make the electric transition easy, seamless and hassle-free.

For additional information about getting set up, contact your dedicated Xcel Energy community relations/area manageror account manager, or email at us at electricvehicles@xcelenergy.com early in the process.