Fleet electrification is rapidly gaining momentum as fleet owners seek ways to cut operating costs, streamline logistics, and achieve sustainability goals. Yet, the path to going electric involves more than simply swapping out vehicles. One key challenge is the interconnection process—linking your EV charging infrastructure to the power grid. If not managed properly, interconnection can derail your electrification timeline. In this blog, we’ll walk you through the fundamentals of interconnection and outline best practices to ensure your charging infrastructure is energized and ready to support your electric fleet.
Understanding the Interconnection Process
Unless your EV fleet is powered by an on-site resource like solar, EV chargers are connected to the utility grid. According to PwC, the average total annual EV load in the United States could soar by 1,850% between 2023 and 2040. While EV charging is a “flexible” load—vehicles can often be charged during off-peak hours—this growth still places added strain on a grid already accommodating new demands like data centers and AI technologies.
Because utilities must ensure demand never exceeds supply, customers are required to obtain approval before plugging in new commercial loads—whether that’s EV charging, solar arrays, or energy storage solutions. Although no universal interconnection standard exists, the following steps give fleet managers a good starting point:
1. Charging Site Selection
Decide where your vehicles will be charged: at a depot or on-route. While on-route charging might skip the depot interconnection process, it tends to be more expensive and less predictable. Depot charging is typically a cost-effective and reliable option.
2. Understand Your Electric Load
Calculate your immediate power needs and consider how they may grow in the future. Key factors include charger types (Level 2 vs. Level 3), number of vehicles charged simultaneously, and typical charging windows (e.g., overnight).
3. Submit the Utility Interconnection Application
The utility interconnection process can vary widely and may take anywhere from a few months to over a year. Utilities will assess their existing infrastructure—transformers, substations, and distribution lines—to see if they can handle your load or if upgrades are needed.
4. Local Regulations and Permits
Beyond utility approval, you’ll need to navigate construction permits, environmental regulations, and any necessary easements. Staying on top of these requirements can avoid costly delays.
How Electric Fuel Simplifies the Interconnection Process
Partnering with an Electric Fuel provider like Electrada can significantly streamline your fleet’s journey to electrification. Electrada designs, installs, and even finances your charging infrastructure while handling the maze of local regulations and permits on your behalf.
Drawing on decades of utility industry experience, Electrada’s team takes the lead on determining and negotiating load requirements with the local utility, helping you minimize costs and expedite approvals.
Electrada also proposes innovative solutions to accelerate your interconnection timeline when needed. This might include a hybrid approach that incorporates solar or battery storage to reduce grid impacts—or a “ramped connection” strategy that gradually increases your fleet’s charging capacity as more grid power becomes available. If your fleet can charge during off-peak hours, agreeing to cap usage at specific times can further simplify the process.
Simplify Fleet Charging with Electrada
Electrada Electric Fuel, and its flagship 360 CaaS solution, optimizes operations, reduces complexity, and provides financial predictability. Rather than juggling capital investments, performance guarantees, and fleet-specific needs on your own, you gain a fully capitalized, performance-guaranteed, and fleet-tailored electric fuel solution that lets you focus on your core business.
Ready to learn more about how Electrada Electric Fuel can meet your fleet’s charging needs? Get in touch to explore a streamlined, cost-effective, and reliable approach to powering your fleet’s electric vehicles.
