Electrifying Corporate Mobility: 3 Trends at EV Roadmap 10
Big thinkers in electric vehicles recently discussed the bright future for e-mobility. Here’s a recap.
The EV Roadmap 10 conference hosted by Forth (formerly Drive Oregon) drew 600+ attendees to the World Trade Center in Portland June 20 – 21, 2017. WeDriveU EVP and CSO Erick VanWagenen shared his thoughts on three trends at the event:
- Accelerating go to market: Erick points out, “There’s a big push from auto manufacturers to get their electric cars into the market to learn about them and how they work. One great way to do that is through car sharing or ride sharing programs either in-house or in partnership with companies such as Uber and Lyft.”
- Redefining shared mobility: The discussion is so much bigger than cars, says Erick. “Shared mobility applies to motorcycles, bicycles, and in our case, electric buses and vans. We need to think about electric in all these forms to increase the efficiency of mobility programs and remove pollution from urban environments.”
- Tackling infrastructure: There was a lot of discussion around how to charge electric vehicles to reach their maximum potential for utilization. He adds, “Electric is only good if you are able to use it efficiently in real world conditions without damaging the capacity of the battery packs.”
On a panel Wed. June 21st with ReachNow, Uber, General Motors and Barcelona City Council, Erick joined a discussion on the challenges of electrifying fleets, deploying infrastructure and addressing the needs of consumers and businesses.
Electrifying shared mobility with @bmw @alinpdx @uber @gm @liveprojectbcn @WeDriveU #EVRM10 pic.twitter.com/ZSc8xKOSAs
— sarah morgan (@smorgasbard) June 21, 2017
After sharing WeDriveU’s insights on EV adoption within private (employer-sponsored) transit systems across the U.S., moderator Linda White from BMW asked Erick about the level of EV interest.
While there has long been an overwhelming desire by clients to utilize electric vehicles for employee shuttle programs, functionality and cost were barriers until recently, he said.
“Range and mechanical reliability have dramatically improved. Rather than a 2-to-1 electric-to-conventional vehicle swap, advancements in consumer cars, like the Chevy Bolt, have made EVs viable for corporate environments and dramatically increased adoption within our client base,” added Erick.
A significant portion of WeDriveU’s fleet in service is now electric.
The positive perception of employees riding in electric vehicles at their workplace also fuels interest, he says.
“They appreciate that their employers not only provide efficient transportation to get them to, from and around campus, but are also concerned with the environment and their well-being at work.”
Erick’s observation aligns with today’s socially-conscious workforce. Reports indicate 76% of Millennials (soon to be 50% of the workforce) consider a company’s social and environmental commitments when deciding where to work.
Erick also notes that operating short distances with such great frequency, as WeDriveU does with intercampus, last mile and on-demand shuttles, leads to emission reductions and efficiency improvements that represent a compelling advantage.
Special thanks to Jeff Allen at Forth for inviting us to participate. Learn more at www.forthmobility.org, find details on the 2018 event and find more #EVRM10 highlights in this great post from EV Galaxy.
Like to know more about how we make the journey to, from and around corporate campuses a breeze? Request an introduction, explore our solutions, or reach out to Erick.
