Kevin Kushman, CEO of Electrada, joined The New Warehouse Podcast to shed light on the intricacies of fleet electrification—a key issue for warehouse operations stepping into the future of energy. If you’re grappling with how to steer your warehousing operations into the future of electrification, this a conversation you should listen to.
Kevin emphasizes that energy planning is the cornerstone of the electrification process and must be undertaken alongside vehicle acquisition, not as an afterthought. He points out the lengthy 8 to 12-month timeframe often required to implement charging infrastructure, a delay that can significantly impact operational costs. This underlines his core message: energy infrastructure planning is not an additional feature but rather the backbone of a successful transition to an electric fleet.
The transition to electric fleets has its challenges. Among these are complexities in dealing with utility services across multiple sites, the difficulty of scaling operations, understanding the new landscape of energy risks and costs, bandwidth constraints and identifying the lowest operational cost per mile. One major hurdle highlighted by Kevin is the DIY approach, which can create bottlenecks and slow progress. Here, Electrada steps in with its expert services, providing a “surgical look” at energy requirements, which Kevin terms “load shape,” ensuring that the power needs of fleets of any size are met effectively.
Electrada’s solution to these challenges is its 360 Charging as a Service (CaaS) which offers a holistic electric vehicle charging solution for fleets, spanning design, operation and maintenance under a multi-year agreement, aimed at delivering reliable and sustainable electric fuel at a competitive cost when compared to conventional fuel. Moreover, it promises enhanced operational efficiency by reducing extra fuel stops. Electrada remains technology-agnostic, and offers performance guarantees like 99% uptime and compliance with standards such as the One Charge Point Protocol (OCCP).
The podcast leaves the audience with several takeaways:
- Careful and concurrent energy planning with vehicle acquisition is vital to prevent costly delays.
- How Electrada’s 360 CaaS alleviates technological and energy risks, offering fleet customers a predictable cost for fuel.
- Early consultation with specialists like Electrada can help circumvent common mistakes and effectively manage the complex warehouse fleet electrification journey.
The full episode is available to listeners who wish to gain further insights into the evolving field of fleet electrification.
