The electrification of fleet vehicles will be critical in the fight against climate change–and will also reduce local pollution and fleet owners' operating costs. However, the electric grid needs to be ready to support the large needs that fully electric fleets will have.

National Grid and Hitachi Energy partnered on a study to understand what the grid impacts of electric fleets might be. The study considers a specific portion of National Grid’s distribution system, and evaluates the potential charging needs of over 50 fleets in the area, mapping each fleet to a specific circuit on the grid.

The analysis highlights that the grid will likely need to serve significant new loads to support electric medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. The study also includes recommendations for how utilities, policymakers, fleet operators, and communities can work together to make fleet electrification a reality.

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For those unable to read the full study, a summary document and infographic is linked below.

• Summary–Grid Impacts of Electric Fleets

For over 100 years, our electric grid has delivered safe and reliable power to customers for lighting, comfort, manufacturing, and industry. It has accommodated economic growth and the introduction of new, advanced technologies. Today, we are on the cusp of asking even more from it.

Surface transportation will soon be powered by the grid. We have already begun plugging in our personal cars; now the vehicles that underpin our economy, medium and heavy-duty vehicles (MHDVs) – trucks, buses, and vans – are starting to rely on the electric grid too. State and federal policies, economics, and market developments are supporting this transition to electric vehicle models.

Even in the current, very initial stage of fleet electrification, some customers are experiencing delays and unforeseen costs to add charging capacity at fleet depots. Without changes to utility planning processes, regulatory structures, and fleet-utility collaboration, these early setbacks will significantly slow the deployment of cleaner, more efficient vehicles, and undermine transportation decarbonization. Without proactive planning by utilities, the pace of electric MHDV adoption is primed to outstrip the electric infrastructure it will depend upon.

Download the full study