Abstract Manager

It comes as no surprise that Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs), especially for Medium and Heavy Duty (MHD) fleets face a completely different set of operational challenges compared to diesel vehicles. With the energy transition becoming an inevitable reality, transportation agencies, service suppliers, OEMs, and energy providers must adapt to these changes and navigate their distinct realities.

In this presentation, we will review how existing operational processes and procurement methods are potentially becoming obsolete with the introduction of ZEVs and provide an opportunity to rethink holistically how services, vehicles, and infrastructures are planned and delivered, essentially all aspects of the asset lifecycle management. We will examine examples of how transit agencies and other fleet operators are transforming by trying new policies and methods of organization, including breaking silos that traditionally guided scheduling and bus procurement, fleet management, and capital planning. This presentation will cover some initial steps that transportation agencies can adopt to manage new waves of training, onboarding, keep up with technology updates, review existing operational and hierarchical procedures, and ensure the right stakeholders are involved in a comprehensive values- based decision-making process. This discussion relies on both technical and strategic approaches as follows: technical because one has to understand the particular implications of the technology, including new rules around battery temperature monitoring, charging events, equipment reallocation, charger maintenance, etc., and strategic because an organization will have much more success if it acts in unison with a common thread and a strong willingness to reduce emissions.

Leveraging global change management best practices extends far beyond simply training mechanics, and drivers for new technology. This presents an opportunity to thoroughly rethink current operating models that have been in use for many decades.