Tesla Model X

Electric Vehicle Fleet Profile: Artem Valchkov from Prestige Electric
Operation Locations: St Albert & Calgary

EVAA: What were the primary factors or considerations that led your company to decide to incorporate electric vehicles into your fleet?

PE: To us, EV’s are more than a vehicle – it is a way of life. By going electric with our fleet we are taking conscious action to support, practice and participate in the eco-friendly momentum that is building across the world.

EVAA: How do electric vehicles align with your company’s values and sustainability goals?

PE: We LOVE this question! Do you mean, aside from electrification being the way of the future and aligning with OUR vision? We love that the leaders in the EV industry are forward-thinking; their obsession with improvement and innovation results in not only that these vehicles are powered by more eco-friendly means, but they are also breaking the mold on how things are built/done. So are we!

EVAA: What specific benefits do you anticipate gaining from transitioning to electric vehicles, both in terms of cost savings and environmental impact?

PE: Leading by example is important, and we are proud to be at the forefront of this transition. Aside from the exponential savings on costs of fuel which are reinvested back into our clients and quality of our service, we can also sleep at night knowing that our impact on the environment is dramatically reduced.

EVAA: Were there any challenges or obstacles you faced in the process of integrating electric vehicles into your fleet, and how did you overcome them?

PE: Of course. We are still waiting on a great solution for a van with range. This is a challenge for us with switching our whole fleet over. We are patient, and will undoubtedly do so, in good time. There are also always power constraints within electrical services. They have the capacity, but likely didn’t plan for the electrification and the relevant infrastructure. We are so lucky to have great partners in the energy management field. EV charging – thanks to them – can happen anywhere!

EVAA: How do you plan to manage the infrastructure and charging needs for our electric vehicles to ensure smooth operations and maximize efficiency?

PE: We are Alberta’s leader in EV charging installations. Part of this responsibility is staying on top of products and advancements. Researching, testing, and stocking the best for our clients. Again I would thank our partners. It’s a group effort!

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Electric Vehicle Fleet Profile: Chris Dekker company owner at My Garage Auto & Tire
Operation Location: Airdrie

EVAA: What were the primary factors or considerations that led your company to decide to incorporate electric vehicles into your fleet?

Chevrolet Bolt EV

CD: We are an automotive service centre and operate 6 EVs as courtesy cars (for clients to use while their vehicle is with us) plus one EV as a shuttle vehicle. Our main reason for choosing electric vehicles was to reflect our positioning as an industry leading, future-focused business. We operate a very advanced shop with some amazing hybrid/EV capability and we wanted the cars to reflect that.

EVAA: How do electric vehicles align with your company’s values and sustainability goals?

CD: Our second reason for choosing electric vehicles was exactly this – sustainability. We’re working to stand out as a green example in a dirty industry through initiatives like diverting over 90% of our waste, or donating a portion of every invoice to environmental charities. Electric vehicles align perfectly with that goal.

EVAA: What specific benefits do you anticipate gaining from transitioning to electric vehicles, both in terms of cost savings and environmental impact?

CD: Because we’ve been operating a growing fleet of EVs for 5 years now, we’re already seeing all sorts of benefits. Our cars are all used locally and therefore don’t need to visit DC fast chargers, so the charging costs less than half of what gasoline would. The cars also require less maintenance, though it’s worth mentioning that electric vehicles are not maintenance-free, which seems to be a common misconception. Our clients enjoy the responsive acceleration and low centre of gravity offered by an EV, plus they love not having to stop at a gas station before they return the courtesy car.

EVAA: Were there any challenges or obstacles you faced in the process of integrating electric vehicles into your fleet, and how did you overcome them?

CD: The only challenges that we’ve had to navigate so far surrounded actually purchasing the cars. All cars have been in short supply over the past few years, but electric cars have been especially hard to come by. On top of that – as many others have experienced – dealerships in Alberta don’t seem particularly motivated to sell EVs and salespeoples’ product knowledge is often quite poor. When shopping for our first Chevrolet Bolt in 2020 we were asked, “Are you sure you don’t want a Trax? We have lots of those and it’s kind of the same car, without the hassle of charging it.” If you’re rolling your eyes right now, that makes two of us.

EVAA: How do you plan to manage the infrastructure and charging needs for our electric vehicles to ensure smooth operations and maximize efficiency?

CD: Because our vehicles are in use all day and parked during the night, we charge them in the evenings. We have installed level 2 chargers on site to accomplish this. Even at a low 5-7 kW (20-30 amp) charge rate, the cars are still fully charged well before we arrive in the morning.

Everyone loves leaving the business with a “full tank” every morning and not having to stop throughout the day.

Chevrolet Bolt EV

EVAA: What were the primary factors or considerations that led your company to decide to incorporate electric vehicles into your fleet?

SH: We decided to transition our fleet to electric vehicles primarily due to our commitment to sustainability, cost savings potential, regulatory compliance, brand image enhancement, and advancements in EV technology. These factors align with our mission to reduce carbon emissions and commitment to Net-Zero by 2030, achieve long-term financial benefits, adhere to regulations, enhance our brand reputation, and leverage cutting-edge technologies.

EVAA: How do electric vehicles align with your company’s values and sustainability goals?

SH: As B Corporation, electric vehicles align perfectly with SkyFire Energy’s values and sustainability goals. By incorporating EVs into our fleet, we actively reduce our carbon footprint and promote clean, renewable energy solutions. This commitment to sustainability resonates with our core values of environmental stewardship and innovation, helping us lead by example in the transition to a more sustainable future.

EVAA: What specific benefits do you anticipate gaining from transitioning to electric vehicles, both in terms of cost savings and environmental impact?

SH: Transitioning to electric vehicles offers many benefits for SkyFire Energy. Firstly, we anticipate significant cost savings due to lower operating and maintenance expenses associated with EVs compared to traditional vehicles. Additionally, by reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, we’ll contribute to a cleaner environment, lower carbon emissions, and align our operations with our commitment to sustainability. This transition enhances our bottom line and reinforces our role as environmental leaders in the renewable energy industry.

EVAA: Were there any challenges or obstacles you faced in the process of integrating electric vehicles into your fleet, and how did you overcome them?

SH: While integrating electric vehicles into our fleet, we encountered several challenges, including initial infrastructure investments, range anxiety, and ensuring adequate charging infrastructure. However, we overcame these obstacles through careful planning, investing in charging infrastructure for our fleet and employee training. Our commitment to overcoming these challenges underscores our dedication to embracing sustainable transportation solutions and driving positive change in our industry.

EVAA: How do you plan to manage the infrastructure and charging needs for our electric vehicles to ensure smooth operations and maximize efficiency?

SH: SkyFire has invested in charging stations at our facilities, implementing smart charging technology to optimize charging schedules and reduce demand peaks and providing training and resources to our staff for efficient use of EVs. We aim to ensure smooth operations and maximize efficiency across our electric vehicle fleet by prioritizing infrastructure development and proactive management.

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Electric Vehicle Fleet Profile: Mayland Appliances, Silvanus McKinley, Office Manager
Operation Location: Calgary

EVAA: What were the primary factors or considerations that led your company to decide to incorporate electric vehicles into your fleet?

SM: The main thing that drove us to have all our company vehicles be electric, is the cost comparison for gas vs electricity to power our vehicles. At the moment we have 3 electric vehicles on the road. Two Chevrolet Bolts that have been converted into fully functioning service vans, and we just recently purchased a Ford F-150 Lightning Which has greatly increased the amount of work; and types of work we can do. When we first started our business in 2020 we were spending at least 1000$/month on gas alone to power a Ford F-150. The owner of the business had owned a Chevrolet Volt back when they were first introduced and this inspired him to make the swap back to electric vehicles for Mayland Appliance Repair.

SM: We recognise how much emissions are produced by mobile repair companies and contractors on a day to day basis. Not only this, but also the sheer amount of waste that the trade produces as well. We strive to be as sustainable as possible in our business practices and our electric vehicle fleet is the main way we can continue doing this.

SM: We’ve been operating for 3 years with our electric vehicle fleet and we see the impact and benefits every day. We’ve significantly cut down on our operating costs, and vehicle upkeep since we no longer need to worry about things like oil changes and fueling vehicles; among other common problems with putting hundreds of Kilometers on a vehicle with a typical engine. In turn our greenhouse gas emissions have been greatly reduced. I believe once larger corporations that rely on company vehicles see how much electric vehicles save on cost and emissions in the long run. We will see a much more positive outlook by the greater population towards electric vehicles.

SM: I’d say the only Challenge we really have is installing charging stations at our employees residences since we’re a small business that is currently operating out of a residential building. We are able to charge all 3 vehicles at once. There is the occasional issue with having to travel out of town. Depending on where a client is located outside the city, finding charging stations can sometimes be a struggle. But so far we have been able to manage. The farthest we’ve traveled with our Chevorlet Bolts is Regina in Saskatchewan. Due to needing to stop to charge it was definitely a longer trip. But absolutely doable. Once more charging stations are built across Alberta and Canada as a whole, specifically in more rural areas; This will become less of a concern for all electric vehicle owners. Current and future.

SM: We pay to have all our technicians have their own charging stations at their homes so this way we are able to ensure our fleet is ready to operate every day at maximum efficiency. All our vehicles have a minimum of 400km range on one charge, and that will have us covered for an entire day of service calls. We have experienced 0 downsides to this and we and our employees have been happy with this decision.

EVAA: Why did your company decide to incorporate electric vehicles into your fleet?
The City of Calgary has been adding electric vehicles to our fleet to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, modernize our fleet, and contribute to a sustainable future. It’s all part of our goal to create a climate-resilient, net-zero Calgary by 2050.

EVAA: How do electric vehicles align with your company’s values and sustainability goals?
PW: EVs fit perfectly with The City’s values of sustainability, innovation, and responsibility. By cutting emissions and leading by example, we’re making real strides toward our 2030 goal of reducing fleet emissions by 60 per cent and reaching net-zero by 2050.

EVAA: What benefits do you expect from transitioning to electric vehicles?                                              
PW: Switching to electric vehicles will save money on fuel and maintenance while cutting emissions, leading to cleaner air and a healthier city. Plus, it strengthens our role as a sustainability leader in North America.

EVAA: Did you face any challenges integrating electric vehicles, and how did you overcome them?
PW: We did face a few bumps like supply chain delays and higher infrastructure costs, but we tackled these by planning ahead and focusing on projects where EVs were more suited for the application and readily available. It’s been a learning experience that’s set us up for smoother transitions in the future.

EVAA: How will you manage the charging needs for your electric vehicles?
PW: We’re rolling out a 10-year plan to build up our EV charging infrastructure, supported by partnerships with utility companies and smart charging technology to keep things running efficiently. We’re also using a capital funding program and participating in the Corporate Carbon Offset Program to support our sustainability goals.