User Guide

September 2023

Introduction

The Electric Vehicle Suitability Assessment (EVSA) is a Geotab Marketplace Add-In intended to help fleet managers identify a variety of suitable Electric Vehicles (EV) to replace their current non-electric fleet vehicles. To perform the analysis, the EVSA Add-In utilizes your fleet telematics data to get an accurate view of the fleet’s drive cycle.

✱ NOTE: Vehicles should have at least one month of data collected in MyGeotab for a suitable recommendation. Fleets with seasonal drive cycles should run the EV Suitability Assessment using data collected over long periods of time.

The EVSA analyzes the driving data for fleet vehicles and recommends an EV replacement that meets the criteria in the table below.

✱ NOTE: The range analysis considers degraded real-world range of the EVs — defined as the expected EV range in cold weather conditions when battery efficiency is diminished and the heating system remains on.

Supported Vehicle Types

The EV Suitability Assessment Add-In supports the following vehicle types:

1. Passenger Cars;
2. Crossover/SUVs
3. Minivans
4. Pickup Trucks; and
5. Light Duty Vans.

Supported Countries

The EV Suitability Assessment is officially available in the following countries:

1. United States;
2. Canada;
3. United Kingdom;
4. Germany;
5. The Netherlands;
6. Spain;
7. France
8. Italy
9. Ireland
10. Poland
11. Singapore
12. Mexico
13. Brazil
14. Colombia
15. Chile
16. Australia
17. New Zealand.

Support in the countries listed above includes the user interface language, the units of measurement, currency, local vehicle model availability, and default costs.

✱ NOTE: If the user resides in a country that is not supported, the EVSA will not restrict the EV model selection to the user’s local market. The user must also review and update the default costs to match their locale.

Installing the EVSA Add-In

To install the Electric Vehicle Suitability Assessment (EVSA) Add-In, follow the steps below:

1	Log in to MyGeotab as an Administrator.
2	From the main menu, select Marketplace, then click the search icon in the top right and search for EVSA.
3	On the solution page for the EVSA Add-In, click the Install Now button.
4	In the popup window, review the End User License Agreement then click the checkbox, located next to I agree.
5	Click the Install Now button.
6	After installation, the EVSA Add-In is available through the main menu in MyGeotab. To initiate the setup, select EVSA from the main menu.

The EVSA Add-In creates a Service Account to communicate with MyGeotab. The Service Account retrieves trip data required by the Add-In to run the stability analysis. The Service Account name in the database is: GEOTAB-EVSA-ADDIN. To complete the installation, click the Create Service Account button to allow the creation of the service account.

! IMPORTANT: The user installing the Add-In must have the authorization to create user accounts; otherwise, the installation fails. The Service Account has access to the same vehicles and groups as the user who creates the account. To ensure all users have access to the EVSA Add-In, an Administrator with access to all groups and vehicles in the database should install the Add-In.

! IMPORTANT: If the Service Account is deleted, the EV Suitability Assessment stops working for all the MyGeotab users on the database. Before the EVSA Add-In is used again, the user is prompted to re-install the Service Account.

Starting a New Assessment

To start a new assessment, follow the steps below:

1	In MyGeotab, select EVSA from the main menu.
2	On the Electric Vehicle Suitability Assessment page, click the New assessment button.
3	Review the How does this work? page and click the Begin button.
4	Select the desired country from the list to open the Electric Vehicle Suitability Assessment.

The Electric Vehicle Suitability Assessment is divided into five sections: Telematics Data, Vehicle Selection, Procurement Information, EV Cost Estimates, and Non-EV Estimates.

Telematics Data

Under Telematics Data, select the desired number of months from the dropdown menu to provide telematics data for the assessment. To accurately evaluate duty cycle and usage patterns for fleet vehicles, the assessment requires telematics data from the existing fleet vehicles. Click the Continue button to go to the next step.

✱ NOTE: Vehicles should have at least one month of data collected in MyGeotab for a suitable recommendation. Fleets with seasonal drive cycles should run the EV Suitability Assessment using data collected over longer periods of time.

Vehicle Selection

Under Vehicle Selection, select the desired vehicle category — Passenger Vehicles, Crossover/SUVs, MPVs/Minivans, Pickup Trucks, and/or Light-Duty Vans — to include in the assessment. For each selected vehicle category, select the MyGeotab group(s) for the assessment and the EVs or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) to evaluate as suitable replacement vehicles. By default, the EVs available in the chosen country are listed and selected. Click the Continue button to go to the next step.

Use the following filters to narrow down the selection of EVs to evaluate:

1. EV Data Source,
2. EV Type, and
3. Vehicle Size.

To evaluate select EVs that are not available on the market yet, select the Include future EVs option.

Charging Locations

On this screen, you can select the locations where you plan to install chargers. The assessment will then perform a charging viability analysis by checking whether the fleet vehicles stop long enough in the selected locations to fulfill their charging needs.

Under Where will your vehicles be charging at?, select the option that matches your planned deployment:

1. Workplace Locations: Charging viability analysis will only consider charging opportunities at workplace locations. You will need to select the zones that define your chosen workplace locations in the next step.
2. Workplace Locations & Drivers’ Homes: Charging viability analysis will consider charging opportunities at workplace locations as well as drivers’ homes. You will need to select the zones that define your chosen workplace locations in the next step. You do not have to create or select zones for drivers’ homes as these locations will be auto detected. The EVSA assumes that a driver’s home is the location where a vehicle stops for the longest time outside any of the selected workplace location zones.
3. Skip Charging Viability Analysis: Select this option if you do not wish to select zones and perform charging viability analysis. The analysis will assume that the EV starts each day with a fully charged battery.

Workplace Locations Zone Selection

If you selected the Workplace Locations option, then the next step is to select the Geotab zones that outline these workplace locations where you plan to install a charging infrastructure.

You may search for a zone by name or use the zone type filter to narrow down the list. Select the desired zones via the checkmark next to the zone name.

Procurement Information

Under Procurement Information, select whether you intend to purchase or lease the EVs. Then, from the dropdown menu, select the number of years to keep the vehicle(s). Click the Continue button to go to the next step.

EV Cost Estimates

Under EV Cost Estimates, review the estimated costs of the selected electric vehicles. First, review the Average Electricity Price and update, as necessary. The EVSA assumes EV charging occurs overnight when the rate is lowest.

Then, review the costs associated with each electric vehicle type selected on the Vehicle Selection page.

To modify any cost elements related to a particular EV, click the Modify Estimates button under the desired vehicle.

Click the Save button to save your changes and return to the vehicle list. Click the Continue button to go to the next step.

Non-EV Cost Estimate

Under Non-EV Cost Estimate, review and modify the estimated costs related to non-electric vehicles included in the assessment. First, review the Average Fuel price and update, as necessary.

Then, compare the costs of generic non-electric vehicles types with the electric vehicle types selected on the Vehicle Selection page.

To modify any cost elements related to a particular vehicle type, click the Modify Estimates button.

Click the Save button to save your changes and return to the vehicle list, then click the Finish button to submit and process the Suitability Assessment.

✱ NOTE: Based on the number of vehicles and the selected time frame, the EVSA may take some time to complete.

The status and results of submitted assessments are available on the Homepage of the EV Suitability Assessment Add-In. You also have the option to delete assessments that are no longer required.

Assessment Results

The assessment recommendation report provides detailed summaries for the recommended electric vehicles.

Assessment Recommendation Summary

The chart under Assessment Recommendation Summary provides a quick overview of the assessment recommendations. The chart displays the number of vehicles assessed and the number of recommended vehicles based on vehicle type: Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV), Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV), and vehicles recommended for replacement by new non-electric vehicles.

✱ NOTE: For each vehicle selected in the input phase, an EV is recommended if the following conditions are true:

1. The EV can fulfill the daily range requirements of the vehicle without the need to charge during the day; and
2. The lifetime cost of an EV is less than an equivalent non-EV.

Lifetime Replacement Cost Summary

The chart under Lifetime Replacement Cost Summary compares the lifetime costs of two scenarios:

1. Assessment Recommendation — The sum of costs of the recommended BEVs, PHEVs, and non-EV replacements.
2. New non-EV Replacement — The sum of costs replacing every selected fleet vehicle with a new non-EV.

The total cost is composed of the following categories: Procurement, Maintenance, Fuel Energy, and Others.

✱ NOTE: The Others category includes the following costs: vehicle registration and taxes, insurance, and low emission zone changes. The term Lifetime is based on the number of years selected on the Procurement Information page.

You have the option to compare the lifetime costs of the two scenarios by any cost category. For example, to compare maintenance costs between the two scenarios, select Maintenance above the chart.

Annual Fuel and Electricity Summary

The chart under Annual Fuel and Electricity Summary compares the annual energy costs or fuel volume of two scenarios: Assessment Recommendation and Selected Fleet Vehicles.

When Annual Fuel and Energy Cost is selected, the costs for each scenario is computed as described below:

1. Assessment Recommendation — The sum of fuel and electricity costs of the recommended BEVs, PHEVs, and non-EV replacement averaged over a period of one year; and
2. New non-EV Replacement — The total fuel costs of replacing every selected fleet vehicle with a new non-EV, averaged over a period of one year.
3. Selected Fleet Vehicles — The total fuel costs of all selected fleet vehicles averaged over a period of one year.

When Annual Fuel Volume is selected, the amounts for each scenario are computed as described below:

1. Assessment Recommendation — The sum of the projected fuel consumption of the PHEVs and non-EV replacements averaged over a period of one year.
2. New non-EV Replacement — The total projected fuel consumption of replacing every selected fleet vehicle with a new non-EV, averaged over a period of one year.
3. Selected Fleet Vehicles — The total projected fuel consumption of all selected fleet vehicles averaged over a period of one year.

! IMPORTANT: The EVSA attempts to use the actual fuel consumption from the vehicle when possible. If a vehicle does not report fuel consumption through the GO device, then a default fuel efficiency value is used for that vehicle.

Annual CO2 Emission Summary

The chart under Annual CO₂ Emission Summary compares the annual carbon dioxide tailpipe emissions between two scenarios:

1. Assessment Recommendation — The total projected CO₂ emissions of the recommended PHEVs and non-EV replacements averaged over a period of one year; and
2. New non-EV Replacement — The total of CO₂ emissions of replacing every selected fleet vehicle with a new non-EV averaged, over a period of one year.
3. Selected Fleet Vehicles — The total of CO₂ emissions of all selected fleet vehicles averaged over a period of one year.

✱ NOTE: Battery Electric Vehicles are not considered because they do not emit carbon dioxide.

Vehicles with Suitable EV Recommendations

The table under Vehicles with Suitable EV Recommendations lists all vehicles that have a suitable EV recommendation, either a BEV or PHEV. For each vehicle, the table displays the following data:

1. Vehicle Name — Name of existing non-EV.
2. Model — Vehicle model of existing non-EV (from MyGeotab).
3. Groups — MyGeotab group to which vehicle belongs.
4. Recommended EV — EV recommended as a replacement for existing non-EV.
5. Type — EV type recommended for replacement, either a BEV or PHEV.
6. Daytime Charging Count — The number of days when the BEV fails to fulfill the range requirements without having to charge during the day.
7. Lifetime Savings — Projected savings of recommended EV compared to new non-EV replacement.

Click the vehicle name to open a side panel with more information about Range Assurance and Lifetime Cost.

Monthly Range Assurance

The Monthly Range Assurance chart gives Fleet Managers the ability to understand, based on the current Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicle’s driving activity, the range capability of the recommended Electric Vehicle throughout the year.

The chart shows, for every calendar month, the following data points:

1. The longest daily distance driven by the selected ICE vehicle.
2. The range of the recommended EV, factoring in the average monthly temperature of where the vehicle is driven.
3. The monthly average temperature of the region where the vehicle is driven the most.

If the assessed fleet vehicle does not report trip data for 12 calendar months, then the EVSA will replay trips from other months to cover the entire year. The months that have trip data filled from trips occurring in other months are labeled as Assumed Data on the chart.

The accompanying Monthly on-route charging events chart tracks the number of times the recommended EV would need to charge on-route before being able to return to a charge-capable location.

✱ NOTE: By default, an EV is considered the best fit when the no on-route charging events are required in any calendar month. The user may change this behavior by specifying the number of acceptable on-route charging events per month using the Allow On-route Charging setting under Best Fit Preferences.

Vehicles without Suitable EV Recommendations

The table under Vehicles without Suitable EV Recommendations lists all the vehicles that do not have a suitable EV recommendation, if the following conditions are true:

1. The EV cannot fulfill the daily driving range requirements — compared with the EV range in extreme conditions.
2. The EV does not have lifetime savings that are greater than an equivalent non-EV.

Customize Best Fit Preferences

You have the option to modify the Best Fit recommendation using the Best Fit Preferences, located in the left sidebar of the assessment report.

Prefer BEV

With the Prefer BEV option, the EV Suitability Assessment recommends a BEV over a PHEV. This occurs when both options result in positive lifetime cost saving, even if the BEV option has lower lifetime cost savings compared to the PHEV.

EV Premium

EV Premium refers to the additional lifetime amount that you are willing to spend for an EV compared to a new equivalent non-EV. If lifetime savings are not a primary factor in your decision, you have the option to instruct the EVSA to recommend EVs, even when the EV lifetime cost savings is negative when compared to a new equivalent non-EV.

For example, if the lifetime cost of an EV is $4000 more than a new equivalent non-EV, the EV is not recommended by default. If an EV Premium value of $4000 or more is entered, then the EV is recommended for that vehicle.

Allow Daytime Charging

By default, the EVSA does not recommend vehicles that cannot perform their longest driven daily route on a single charge of a full battery. The Allow Daytime Charging option allows you to specify the number of days per month when it is acceptable for a vehicle to have to stop and recharge during operational hours.

For example, if a vehicle listed in the Vehicles without Suitable EV Recommendations table has positive EV lifetime savings, but the Daytime Charging Count is 3, it means that an EV was not recommended for that vehicle because the EV requires a daytime charge for three days within the selected report date range.

If the report date range is one month, then using an Allow Daytime Charging value of 3 removes the vehicle from the Vehicles without Suitable EV Recommendations table, and recommends an EV to replace it.

Warnings and Exceptions

The table below provides more information about the warnings and exceptions that the EV Suitability Assessment may encounter while processing fleet data. The warnings and exceptions can be reviewed in the detailed recommendation table — if raised for any fleet vehicle.

FAQ

For more information about the Electric Vehicle Suitability Assessment Add-In, please see the EVSA FAQ.