Fleet Electrification Step 6: Identify EVSE Opportunities

ZPAC is an optional tool that supports detailed analysis of the ZEV suitability for each existing vehicle in an agency's inventory, using current estimates of future ZEV model availability, modeling of battery electric vehicle (BEV) range concerns, and the potential impact on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The tool allows agencies to assign specific fleet locations to your vehicles, and then uses the projected ZEV acquisitions at those location to identify EVSE needs. Using the ZPAC tool also ensures that replacement options will serve the vehicle mission and charging requirements and do not cause undue burden on fleet operations. More detail on using the ZPAC tool is provided in the sections below.

After identifying current and future ZEV candidates at each fleet location, the site location fleet manager, in coordination with the agency headquarters fleet electrification managers and facility infrastructure managers, should next inventory available EVSE to support those vehicles at the fleet locations and determine the additional number, type, and power requirements of EVSE to support electrification. At some fleet locations, planning for installing charging infrastructure may not be feasible. Potential reasons may include the utility service or available infrastructure, design, or ownership of locations where fleet vehicles are parked, or limitations on using charging infrastructure associated with some transportation missions.

Agencies should prioritize deployment of EVSE at locations that will help maximize fleet electrification given the agency's limited resources, including budget and staff. This may include locations with the highest number of current and/or future ZEV candidates or the easiest installation given site design and utility service. After identifying priority EVSE sites, the site location fleet manager, in coordination with the agency headquarters fleet electrifications managers, should then prioritize matching ZEV acquisitions at those locations with existing or planned charging infrastructure.

Agencies should focus on matching budget planning cycles with ZEV and EVSE acquisition, which is typically over the next two fiscal years. Agencies are also recommended to identify longer-term EVSE acquisition plans (approximately five years into the future). Installing enough EVSE to support longer-term EVSE needs helps save costs by minimizing the number of installation projects and avoiding duplicative costs in EVSE installation.

Once vehicle evaluation is complete in the ZPAC tool, the "EVSE Needs & Prioritization" tab is automatically populated with the ZEV candidates grouped by site location, using the information entered on the "ZEV Selection" tab. The agency headquarters fleet electrification managers, in coordination with the site location fleet manager, complete the ZPAC tool by determining EVSE needs, evaluating existing charging infrastructure, and estimating the Level 1 and Level 2 EVSE required to support projected electrification at each site. Note that the tool does not limit the acquisition of EVSE based on budget; agencies should assess budget decisions after evaluating potential ZEV acquisition and EVSE deployment opportunities, as discussed in Step 7: Coordinate Site Financial Planning with Headquarters.

Agencies are strongly encouraged to offer federal employees' privately-owned vehicles (POVs) access to EVSE deployed primarily to serve fleet vehicles. With the increasing adoption of EVs in the U.S. market and limitations that many have on home charging, offering workplace charging for POVs may be important in helping some employees transition to EVs. Consider plans for workplace POV charging using the FEMP Workplace Charging Program Guide. 

More information on providing access to POVs in charging station design is available in Step 10 under Determine Access to EVSE.