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Internal processes and procedures

Your fleet can prepare for an outage at little or no cost. Establishing resiliency procedures is often one of the most cost-effective ways to improve fleet preparedness. Use these four steps to plan what to do before, during and after an outage.

1. Preparation

Assign staff roles and responsibilities for outage monitoring, incident communication and fleet coordination.

 

Evaluate charging infrastructure against emergency capacity needs (e.g., current charging site locations, power capacities and available EV charging ports).

 

Explore backup charging alternatives including nearby public charging stations and private charging options and verify that off-site locations can support your fleet's vehicle types and charging needs.

2. Stay informed and test your plan

Sign up for utility alerts. Plan how your team will share Public Safety Power Shutoff alerts and other urgent updates by phone, text or email.

 

Monitor utility outage notifications and site-level infrastructure alarms to identify potential disruptions early.

 

Test backup systems during practice outages to make sure they work as planned.

3. Act during an outage

Categorize disruptions by how long they may last and how much power is available. For example, identify whether part of the depot has failed or the full depot has lost power and then choose the appropriate response.

 

Charge vehicles that provide critical services first. Delay charging for vehicles that support less urgent work.

 

Reroute vehicles to another fleet site, a public station or a contracted charging site that has power.

4. Return to normal operations

Check charging equipment often. Confirm that charging is stable before normal use resumes.

 

Use charging management software or vehicle controls by vehicle IDs to send limited power to critical vehicles first.

 

Verify staff knowledge and coordination with external partners, then incorporate lessons learned.

Charging management and alternatives

Managing when and how vehicles charge can improve fleet resilience. The goal is not to prevent every brief outage. The goal is to make sure critical vehicles have enough charge before they are needed.

Charging software and related tools can control which chargers receive power first during an outage and how much power goes to each charger. Other chargers can stay off or use less power. Limited backup power is used where it is most needed. Vehicle data can show battery level, location and status. Your team can use this data to decide which vehicles to charge first. You can also use vehicle IDs to give critical vehicles priority at any charger.

Choose charging software and vehicle data tools that support both daily work and outage needs. Ask providers whether their tools offer the features below.

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An Energy Management System (EMS) can apply a configured site power limit and monitor available backup power. With compatible controls, it may adjust charger power, so total demand remains within equipment ratings and approved operating settings. Some systems can automatically adjust the power going to each charger so that total power draw stays within the range of what the backup source can safely provide, helping prioritize charging for the most critical vehicles during an outage.

Automated Load Management (ALM), also called Dynamic Load Management (DLM), shares available power among chargers. It may start chargers at different times or charge vehicles in a set order. With compatible vehicle or telematics integration, some systems can sequence charging using state of charge targets. Other systems sequence charging using schedules, charger status or fixed priorities. Some ALM software can also prioritize certain vehicles or drivers using identifiers (e.g., vehicle IDs, key cards or PIN codes), so higher-priority vehicles receive power first.

A microgrid combines local power sources, such as solar panels, batteries and generators. An energy management system can control these sources. During normal use, the microgrid stays connected to the utility grid. If designed and approved for islanded operation, a microgrid can disconnect from the utility grid and supply selected loads while adequate generation, storage or fuel is available.

Vehicle data tools can track each vehicle's battery level, location and status in real time. They can show whether a vehicle is charging, driving or parked. Charging software can use this data to charge vehicles based on battery level or route needs. Some tools let you group critical vehicles, such as emergency response vehicles. If your systems connect, this group can receive power first. The data can also show which sites have the most low-battery vehicles. For fleets with a mobile backup strategy, telematics data can also help identify which sites have the most vehicles running low on battery and where backup equipment may be needed first.

Backup charging options

Public

Off-site charging is a low-cost way to add resiliency by identifying nearby public charging stations that can support your fleet during outages. Confirm vehicle fit, connector compatibility, payment, travel time, available capacity and likely demand during the outage.

 

When researching options, choose stations that are on a different part of the power grid than your depot. If a station is on the same part of the grid, it will likely lose power during the same outage.

 

Fleets should verify that stations are accessible for their vehicle types and plan for the possibility that public chargers may be occupied during widespread outages. Identifying several backup stations in advance is recommended. When possible, use high-power stations to recharge vehicles quickly.

 

 

View the EV Charging Station Map | PlugShare

 

View a map of Charging Stations | PG&E

Private

Fleets without on-site backup power may use a Charging-as-a-Service site or arrange to charge at another local organization, such as a fleet yard, school district or business.

 

Charging-as-a-Service providers operate charging sites under contract. Review each agreement for reserved capacity, response obligations, outage limitations, backup-power capability and remedies that apply if service is unavailable. This is a well-established and growing service model, especially in California, and can be a lower-cost option compared to purchasing and installing on-site backup power.

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