According to ACT Research’s recently released edition of Charging Forward, a multi-client decarbonization study of the U.S. commercial vehicle market, electric conversion of the commercial vehicle sector will require a very coordinated effort between vehicle acquisition and supporting charging infrastructure to ensure adequate charging infrastructure is in place to support fleet needs.

Typically, utilities have implemented programs to assist fleets in their infrastructure development, serving as project managers to assist the project from “pole to pad” or even “pole to plug” for participating fleets.

“Early adopters of battery-electric commercial vehicles experienced rather lengthy timelines to install EV charging infrastructure,” Ann Rundle, vice president of electrification and autonomy at ACT Research, said. “Utilities have now been able to support timelines of nine to 13 months from initial preliminary design to final design and construction, but those lead times reflect adequate, existing transformer capabilities. A more conservative rule of thumb indicates fleets should begin planning and coordinating behind-the-fence EV charging infrastructure to allow for an 18- to 24-month lead time.

“If an area requires more extensive grid upgrades, increased lead times are needed, especially if they require additional levels of approval. Feeder upgrades could take more than a year. Substation upgrades could take one to two years. New substations could take three years or more, as this would encompass planning, load interconnection studies and complexities in the permitting process.”