Preparing Warehouses for Electric Vehicle (EV) Logistics

Ninety percent of fleet owners with electric vehicles plan to add more — and a whopping 87 percent that don’t are actively preparing to introduce them within a few years. Electric fleets aren’t just here to stay, but they’re about to explode. That means your infrastructure has to catch up if you run a logistics warehouse. Sounds simple. It isn’t. How do you prepare your warehouse for electric vehicle (EV) logistsics?

Plan to Accommodate EV Charging Stations

The average warehouse can integrate a few passenger EV charging stations without upgrading its whole power setup, but heavy-duty electric trucks powered by 50 to 350 kW charging stations almost certainly go far past your current spare capacity. You’ll need a new electrical panel, upgraded switchgear, and utility coordination. Think solar, too — it’ll save you. You don’t have to do it all at once. You do need a detailed plan, because haphazard upgrades as you grow will come back to bite you later.

Design a New Parking and Vehicle Flow

EV truck fleets seriously increase dwell time (a truck can take between 30 minutes to a couple of hours to charge), so you’ll need to optimize for that. Plan for reserved charging zones, buffer zones, and safe traffic flow — all of which need to make sense while complying with state and local codes and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Think logically about future expansions as you design your parking and charging setup, because that EV fleet is only going to grow.

EV Logistics That Work

EV charging stations for an entire fleet will almost certainly eat more power than your entire warehouse does right now, even with smart load distribution. That doesn’t mean you can’t still optimize your electricity usage. Time charging to coincide with low power windows — and bring in AI systems to manage vehicle scheduling around charging needs. Your entire downtime management and maintenance system will need an upgrade as you get ready for new charging cycles and hardware, too.

Keep an Eye on Incentives

Scared of the cost? Tax incentives and grants are out there. Make sure you know what’s available to you as you prepare for electric vehicle logistics. Those things can really soften the blow for small and mid-sized operators.

But We’re Not Ready Yet

That’s OK. Prep now anyway if you know you’ll be making the upgrade (and you almost certainly should). There’s a version of preparing for EV logistics that doesn’t involve overhauling your entire operation, with onsite battery storage and solar. That version can more or less maintain the status quo (your beautifully efficient fleet flow) while allowing you to avoid a full-blown utility upgrade for now. It might only be a stop-gap, but it works. And if you’re making other changes, keep electric truck capacity in mind. Get your spaces (including indoor if your forklifts are going electric) prepped and run conduit to prepare your warehouse for EV logistics. Electric vehicle fleets are complex. It’s not just a matter of adding charging stations and calling it a day (although even if it was, that’d be plenty already). Your future plans touch every aspect of your operation, from fleet operation and logistics planning to shift timing. Get everyone relevant involved before you do anything. Take your time. Consider everything. By the time you’re done, you’ll be ready to ride into the sunset with a fully future-proof EV fleet.

Nebraska Warehouse One-Stop-Shop | TechnologyEnabled 3PL Value-Added Services Warehouse | Freight Broker | Logistics

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Nebraska Warehouse One-Stop-Shop | TechnologyEnabled 3PL Value-Added Services Warehouse | Freight Broker | Logistics

Nebraska Warehouse doesn’t just help to facilitate your shipments, but we are truly a one-stop-shop solutions provider. Our services include:

• 3pl Warehouse Omaha Specifications
• Commercial Real Estate Development
• Dedicated Contract Warehousing
• E-Technology
• Mission Statement
• Omaha 3PL Public Warehouse Company
• Transportation Freight