General Motors is making a stronger push to help commercial customers electrify their work vehicles, and it’s doing so with a data-driven strategy rather than sweeping promises.
Through General Motors’ new Fleet Electrification Analysis program, GM Fleet aims to help companies determine whether switching from internal combustion vehicles to electric vehicles makes financial and operational sense. The tool combines Fleet Driver Surveys and Telematics Analytics to evaluate how employees use company vehicles, whether home charging is possible, and which electric vehicles best match real-world driving patterns.
The program then produces a dedicated electric vehicle roadmap designed to help fleet operators get into electric vehicles without disrupting daily operations.
The approach appears to apply to companies that rely on trucks to carry out heavy workloads. Seattle-based construction company McKinstry set a goal of electrifying its fleet of more than 860 vehicles by 2030 and asked GM Fleet for guidance. After reviewing vehicle usage data and charging requirements, the company deployed 114 EVs, including 100 Chevy Silverado EV pickups.
According to GM, McKinstry has cut overall fuel costs by about 50 percent while reducing maintenance costs. The company says the electric pickup still meets job site demand and can be configured for plumbers, electricians, sheet metal technicians and other specialty trades.
GM is also testing its electric vehicles in harsher environments to prove they can handle tough conditions. Alaska-based Delta Leasing tested seven Chevy Silverado electric vehicles on the state’s North Slope, where winter temperatures can drop to minus 40 degrees.
“The Silverado EV exceeded our expectations in terms of capability and range,” said Delta Leasing Fleet Manager Mike Forsythe. “It’s a joy to be able to drive the truck on rough industrial road conditions. We see a future for this truck in the Arctic.”
As automakers compete for commercial electric vehicle business, GM appears focused on reducing uncertainty. For fleet operators considering electrification, practical calculations may prove more persuasive than marketing.
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