What is a fleet EV suitability calculator?
This fleet EV suitability calculator checks which of your vehicles could be replaced by an electric model without changing how they work. For each vehicle, it compares normal-day and longest-day distance with the usable range of the electric model after a safety buffer, and checks whether the daily charge fits in the hours the vehicle is parked at base.
Vehicles are sorted into three groups: good candidates, conditional ones that work most days but need a plan for long days, and not yet. A second tab compares the yearly energy cost with today's fuel cost and, if you enter a price premium, a simple payback.
Why start an EV fleet transition with duty cycles?
- Range decides first. If a vehicle cannot complete its day on one charge, cost savings do not matter.
- Charging time decides second. A vehicle parked for six hours on an 11 kW charger can only take back so much energy each night.
- Mixed fleets are normal. Most fleets switch the easiest duty cycles first and keep fuel vehicles where range or payload is tight.
- A list of candidates makes a pilot possible. It tells you which vehicles to trial and what to measure.
What data do you need to assess fleet EV suitability?
| Input | Where to find it | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Daily and longest-day distance | Trip reports, odometer records | Use the longest day in a normal month, not a one-off trip. |
| Hours parked at base | Shift patterns, trip start and end times | Count only time at a place where you could charge. |
| Range and energy use | Manufacturer data, trials, other fleets using the model | Expect lower range in heat, with air conditioning and with heavy loads. |
| Charger power | Charger specification and the vehicle's on-board charger | The lower of the two limits charging speed. |
| Fuel and electricity prices | Fuel cards, utility bills, tariff | Include demand charges if your tariff has them. |
How to calculate fleet EV suitability
Usable range
Charging time
Suitability
- Good candidate: the normal and longest day fit within usable range, and the charge fits the hours parked.
- Conditional: the normal day fits, but the longest day is beyond usable range, or recharging after it takes longer than the hours parked.
- Not yet: the normal day is beyond usable range, or the normal daily charge does not fit the hours parked.
Energy versus fuel cost
Worked example: an electric van with 250 km range
An electric van has a real-world range of 250 km. With a 20% buffer, the usable range is 200 km. It uses 22 kWh per 100 km and charges at 11 kW with 90% efficiency.
- A van driving 120 km on a normal day and 160 km on its longest needs 26.4 kWh, about 2.7 hours of charging. It is parked 12 hours: good candidate.
- A van driving 180 km normally but 240 km on its longest day is conditional: long days need a top-up or a different vehicle.
- A van driving 150 km normally and 190 km on long days is parked only 4 hours. The normal charge takes 3.3 hours, but after a long day it needs 4.2 hours: conditional.
- A truck driving 320 km a day is not yet a candidate for this model.
- At 30,000 km a year, a van using 11 L/100 km at 1.10 a liter costs 3,630 in fuel. The electric van uses 7,333 kWh including charging losses, which costs 1,320 at 0.18 per kWh. With maintenance of 0.06 and 0.04 per km, the yearly difference is about 2,910 per vehicle. A price premium of 15,000 would pay back in about 5.2 years.
How to read your results and pick a pilot
- Good candidates are where to pilot. Track real range and energy use for a few months before ordering more.
- Conditional vehicles may still switch if long days can be planned around, with a mid-day top-up, a faster charger or swapping duties with another vehicle.
- Not yet does not mean never. A model with more range or a change of route can move a vehicle up.
- The break-even electricity price shows how much tariffs could rise before the running cost advantage disappears.
Common mistakes in EV fleet planning
- Using brochure range. Heat, air conditioning, payload, speed and battery aging all reduce it.
- Planning for the average day. The longest regular day decides whether a vehicle can switch without changing operations.
- Forgetting the charger limit. A fast charger does not help if the vehicle's on-board charger accepts less.
- Leaving out site power. Several vehicles charging at once may need a grid upgrade or smart charging.
- Comparing fuel with energy only. The full comparison also covers purchase price, residual value, maintenance, insurance and downtime.
Assumptions and limits
Results are estimates based on the values entered. The calculator treats range as fixed after the buffer and charging as constant power. It does not check payload, towing, body weight, public charging availability or site electrical capacity. Energy cost uses one electricity price and does not include demand charges or charger maintenance unless you add them. The cost tab compares running costs only; use the payback as a first test, not as a business case.