Early one morning this past August, Xcel Energy employees Carly Hamilton, Paola Massoli and Samantha Li embarked on a 1,500-mile, four-day road trip to and from Denver, Colorado, the Texas Panhandle and New Mexico.
Navigating busy highways and rural roads, traversing windy switchbacks and steep grades, they put their Chevy Equinox electric vehicle (EV) SUV to the test. Their mission: to demonstrate the capabilities of EVs and accelerate Xcel Energy’s transition from gas-powered vehicles to electric.
“We wanted to prove the real-world viability of EVs in one of Xcel Energy’s most remote territories and spark conversations that could shift the future of transportation for both Xcel Energy’s fleet and our customer fleets,” said Hamilton, a zero emissions vehicle consultant. “In addition to the EV’s impressive performance, the best part of the trip was the enthusiasm we saw from partners to expand EVs in the region. Several drivers said they would trade their gas-powered truck or SUV for an EV when their time comes for replacement."
Putting EVs to the test
Xcel Energy’s 6,200-vehicle fleet provides essential services to our customers, and our footprint spans eight geographically diverse states that encompass densely populated cities and rugged mountain terrain. Our field employees work in challenging climates that range from sub-zero temperatures to triple digits. That’s why it’s critical our fleet vehicles perform well under pressure.
Our fleet drivers require reliable off-road performance, sufficient range and ample charging options when they service remote wind farms, which supply clean energy to our customers. For example, four operations managers from our Energy Supply organization have driven more than 28,000 miles to our wind farms and reported the EVs have exceeded their expectations in range, durability and charging reliability.
Stephen Kennedy, an Xcel Energy gas operations manager, drives an EV truck for his job, using it for customer needs, site visits and emergency response support. He discovered driving an EV isn’t just good for the environment and practical for the company, but it’s also a conversation starter.
“It’s enjoyable to drive, customers like seeing it and I constantly get asked engaging questions,” he said. “It appears positive among our customer base.”
Saving time and money
Our fleet employees’ experiments aren’t limited to the road. They are also testing portable power, like the XoS Hub, a mobile fast-charging trailer that provides field employees with flexible charging options at work sites.
“Expanding our zero-emissions fleet means embracing smarter, faster charging solutions — and with the addition of the mobile and semi-permanent charging units, our drivers can confidently make multiple trips a day without worrying about finding public chargers,” said Ehren Korshus, Xcel Energy’s fleet zero emissions vehicles manager. “This approach is also helping us meet our electrification goals efficiently and cost-effectively, setting the stage for a more sustainable, resilient fleet future.”
Xcel Energy recently completed a pilot that allows fleet drivers to charge EVs at home, so their vehicles are ready to hit the road. Ti Bassett, a fleet operations manager who participated in the pilot, said it’s been easy and affordable. His truck gets 2.3 miles per kilowatt hour and costs $0.10 per kilowatt hour, so driving 300 miles only costs $13.
“The convenience of home charging saves valuable time by simply allowing charging without any extra stops during the routine day,” he said. “And the cost of charging from home is dramatically less expensive than the cheapest gas.”
The Home Charging pilot was so successful that 25% of participants purchased their own EVs. And now the zero emissions vehicles team is developing a program to expand home charging for its fleet operators.
Customer and community benefits
Transitioning our fleet to electric vehicles is also important to many of our customers. Transportation is the largest source of carbon emissions in the U.S., and by switching from gas-powered vehicles to electric, we are reducing emissions in the communities we serve. An EV powered with Xcel Energy electricity has approximately 67.5% lower carbon emissions than a conventional gas-powered vehicle.
“Customers care that Xcel Energy’s service is reliable, timely and professional,” said Jordan Davis, a gas system manager in Boulder, Colorado. “The quality and condition of our vehicles can be correlated to the quality of our work. We want to embody a standard of excellence and EVs can signal innovation, responsibility and forward-thinking. Eco-conscious customers appreciate when we use electric vehicles.”
Our vehicle fleet is central to our sustainability efforts. In 2022, we became the first energy company in the nation to add electric bucket trucks to our fleet. Our RED Truck program, which brings energy solutions directly to our customers, is adding four new vehicles, including an electric Volkswagen so we can expand our customer reach. This is all part of our vision to deliver zero-carbon fuel for all vehicles in the states we serve by 2050.