Shifting gears: How new management tools will be as important as new engines in transforming heavy-vehicle fleets
Transportation is Canada’s second-highest emitting sector, after oil and gas, and most vehicle emissions come from passenger cars.
Read time3 minutes
Transportation is Canada’s second-highest emitting sector, after oil and gas, and most vehicle emissions come from passenger cars. But for all the buzz and investment around electric vehicles, a significant opportunity for decarbonization can be found in medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (MHDVs). They account for only five per cent of Canada’s vehicle stock, and yet produce 37 per cent of the sector’s GHG emissions1.
The opportunity to cut MHDV emissions was the central theme at a recent workshop hosted by the Pembina Institute, a Calgary-based think tank, as part of EV & Charging Expo 2024 in Toronto. Unlike other energy transition conferences, which often dwell on technology and capital needs, the focus here was on implementation and management challenges. That’s because the transition to electrification, even of heavier vehicles, is underway. The technology exists, although still evolving, with clear costs and benefits. The heavy vehicle industry is also taking action. Even drivers are leaning into the transition. One insight shared on the floor captured the mindset shift: once vehicle operators taste the EV experience, free from the noise of loud diesel engines, they prefer the switch.
To accelerate the change, industry experts stressed three major themes:
Collaboration: The transition cannot happen in a vacuum.
Data-driven decisions: Data and insights are in the driver’s seat.
Change management: Holistic planning is a necessity.
A synergy between the fleet managers and utilities is becoming crucial as they find themselves intertwined in the quest for decarbonization. Talking kilowatts is uncommon for fleet managers, who traditionally think in kilometers. They face a steep learning curve to choose the right charger and vehicle types. Utilities face a different challenge: they need to expand their infrastructure but are uncertain of the scale and challenged to adjust timelines. Utilities also find themselves trying to understand intricate details of fleet energy needs as they attempt to devise suitable electricity rate options. Effective collaboration will streamline infrastructure development, avoiding unnecessary redundancies while accommodating growing demand.
Before even breaking the ground, fleet managers must confront a complex web of decisions. A switch to electric fleets requires precise planning, to avoid cost overruns and supply disruptions. Here, data becomes indispensable, which is a powerful aspect of the transition as electrification entails digitalization. Tools like telematics–vehicle tracking devices–are crucial in harvesting and analyzing data from each trip. Fleet decarbonization often happens one vehicle at a time, and success lies in knowing precisely which vehicle and trip are most suitable for a switch. Layers of considerations are added about when, where and how to charge the vehicles. While some fleet managers are pioneers, having already transitioned their fleets or commissioning pilot projects, others are still assembling a business case. Establishing data-sharing practices can accelerate industry-wide progress and also help utilities to plan ahead.
Fleet electrification also blurs the traditional departmental boundaries and necessitates a holistic approach within organizations. It involves everyone from drivers, who must adapt driving habits, to engineers and IT specialists, who need to ensure day-to-day operational continuity, to logistics managers, who will have to rethink entire management systems. Effective change management is pivotal for orchestrating this grand play and ensuring engagement of internal and external stakeholders continues along the way.
As shipping, trucking and transportation companies drive deeper into the energy transition, new management thinking may be as important as the engines and energy systems powering a lower-emissions future.
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