• Xcel Energy will collaborate with your team and a fleet data analytics provider (Sawatch Labs) to gather and analyze performance data on your existing fleet vehicles. The goal is to determine if vehicles in the fleet can be replaced with an electric vehicle (EV) to meet your objectives. The result is a highly customized, data driven analysis portal tool that provides electric vehicle procurement recommendations and data for decision-making.

• The assessment will provide an analysis and evaluation of the financial payback of switching to EVs, as well as vehicle duty performance and environmental benefits. Recommendations for electrification options are provided using real-time data through a dynamic dashboard. You will be able to change criteria and EV options through the tool to suit your needs.

• The analytics software identifies class to class model comparisons for vehicle class 1-8.

• We are also able to offer pre- and post-COVID analytics to customers who have telematics software installed on existing vehicles.

• Analytics can also be gathered on existing electric fleet vehicles to optimize charging behavior.

• Program participants are involved in identifying all potential vehicles and sites for the evaluation. We’ll provide recommendations following the analysis, and it’s your choice on whether to act on them.

• Xcel Energy will collaborate with your team and an electrical engineering and infrastructure construction provider to help determine feasibility and costs involved in potential EV charging sites. They will evaluate site conditions, utility infrastructure requirements and site needs.
• In addition to known potential infrastructure sites, GPS data will be gathered for vehicles, route maps and job requirements to provide data to inform location options.
• Xcel Energy will review the anticipated charging needs and charging behaviors to make the best recommendations on a charging rate based on the location and potential charging schedules, to maximize fleet performance and reduce charging costs.

• Your fleet location must be a non-residential electric customer within Xcel Energy’s service territory.
• Your fleet must consist of five or more light duty vehicles that are anticipated to be potential candidates for EV replacements.
• You agree to allow a collection of data from your fleet vehicles, budget details, procurement and maintenance schedules, building and site data and other information required for analysis.
• You’re receptive to the fleet electrification recommendations based on the assessment (but are not required to make the switch to EVs).

Please submit the intake form and submit a signed Terms & Conditions document by emailing Tyler.D.Petersen@xcelenergy.com. We will contact you within approximately 10 business days to discuss your fleet, level of interest and next steps.

Why is Xcel Energy offering this program?

Xcel Energy has a vision to provide 100% carbon free electricity to customers by 2050, with a goal of reducing carbon 80% by 2030, compared to 2005. Bringing cleaner, electric fuel to transportation will allow the further expansion of a clean energy economy and a more efficient use of investments in our electric systems.
There is a strong interest in the commercial sector to benefit from electrifying fleets to save money, time, maintenance and carbon emissions for communities.

Does Xcel Energy fund these services?

Xcel Energy will be funding costs for the vehicle assessment hardware, software, data collection and analysis.
Customers are not required to adopt recommendations in the first year of the program, but program rules may change that would affect incentive adoption through rebates and further grants.

How much will the Assessment Cost?

The cost of the project will have several considerations mainly 1) do you currently have telematics or will they need to be provided 2) how long do you wish to collect data and 3) how many vehicles do you wish to have included in the study.
For Xcel Energy customers, there are currently no cost requirements, but this could change based on availability of funding. 
Xcel Energy, Sawatch Labs and the customer will review costs and discuss budget prior to executing any financial agreements.

Who owns the data for telematics assessments?

Xcel Energy will not own the data from the analysis at a vehicle level, but rather, at an aggregate level to better inform future programs for fleet electrification, and to provide accurate and actionable recommendations. The fleet client will own the data from the analysis.

What kind of vehicles qualify for the electrification analysis?

The analysis is focused on EVs available for purchase by fleets and includes vehicles in class 1-8.

How many vehicles can we consider for replacement?

The minimum is five, and there is no maximum.

Will Xcel Energy provide support in choosing a rate option?

Through bill analysis, charging behavior modeling and diving into fleet performance requirements, Xcel Energy will provide a review of the rate plans available, and make recommendations accordingly.

Does the fleet client contract with Xcel Energy?

The customer agrees to the Terms and Conditions of the program but does not sign a financial agreement with Xcel Energy. The fleet will contract directly with Sawatch Labs to conduct the analysis. Sawatch Labs will bill the fleet client directly. Xcel Energy will send a reimbursement check for the contracted amount to the client after Sawatch Labs receives payment.

Is telematics data necessary or can you conduct this analysis with other fleet data?

Yes, telematics data is a key component of this analysis because it determines if an EV would fit each vehicle’s operational needs as well as provides a Total Cost of Ownership comparison. The Assessment will provide clear information on how many days during the period of observation that the vehicle would have needed midday charging had it been driven in the recommended EV. If the customer does not have telematics you can still qualify by applying the hardware that will be included in your project.

I have telematics on my fleet, can you use this data?

Yes, the program can use telematics data from any major provider to conduct this analysis. If the fleet does not have telematics, Sawatch Labs can provide Geotab telematics devices to the fleet through this program. Sawatch Labs can also run an analysis on pre-COVID telematics data to show the difference in fleet operations compared to current operations.

How much data do you need for the analysis?

A minimum of 90 days of data is recommended. If more data is available, the analysis can use up to 12 months of data.

Will this analysis reflect my vehicle and operational costs?

Yes. The Assessment will be customized to the fleet and will include vehicle costs, vehicle lifetime, maintenance costs, fuel and electricity costs, and other custom inputs.

Can you run telematics on existing fleet EVs?

Yes, we can offer telematics data on existing fleet EVs and even collect charging data to help optimize charging behavior and avoid unnecessarily high electricity costs during peak hours.