VEHICLE LOGISTICS & FLEET MANGEMENT
FROM CONCEPT TO REALITY
The transition to electric fleets is driving up the need for onsite charging infrastructure for many businesses. This is far from a straightforward process, with many stakeholders to keep happy and lots of structural, mechanical and electrical elements to coordinate. Reiss Drewett, Electrical Design Engineer at Mer, explores the advantages of using 3D design and advanced planning technologies to deliver optimal EV fleet charging infrastructure.
As businesses look to accommodate their EV fleet charging needs, they quickly realise that there’s a lot more to EV fleet charging than first meets the eye. It’s more than a case of simply installing a few chargers in a depot. Both the money and time involved are considerable, and nothing should be left to chance when it comes to ensuring the optimal design. Essentially, EV fleet infrastructure calls for careful analysis, planning, and a clear picture of what the set up will look like, and more importantly, how it will work.
Advanced planning technologies, including 3D design and modelling, can play an important role in making sure that the design will work in reality both now and in the future. These technologies deliver significant benefits; from smoother construction and installation, to enhanced safety and sustainability and, ultimately, a more cost- effective charging infrastructure that ca be upgraded as operational needs change.
Accommodating existing structures
and space The first thing to appreciate is that very few fleet EV charging infrastructure designs start with a blank piece of paper. Land is an asset that returns value to the business. So, the chances are that any EV fleet charging works will need to be built on existing infrastructure. Businesses that operate large fleets will have established fuelling stations
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and servicing compounds on-site. Others will have service centres, depots or loading bays where vehicles are kept when not in use.
Most fleet depots and service centres have not been designed with EV charging in mind. Which makes introducing an EV charging infrastructure even more of a challenge. So, the question is: how can 3D design and advanced planning technologies optimise EV charging for fleets?
Visualisation tops the list of benefits The most immediate answer is that it helps to visualise the final installation. Not just how it will fit the space and for its looks, but in terms of how it will operate. This needs to cover where the charging points are located and where the vehicles will be charged, but also how the vehicles access the charging points and how people will be able to navigate around the site – including drivers, maintenance engineers and even those servicing the charging infrastructure.
Better visuals means
greater collaboration A core benefit of 3D design is stronger collaboration between the multiple stakeholders making decisions about the eventual charging infrastructure. With so many moving parts and stakeholders involved, it’s important to give everyone a clear view. Detailed site designs,
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