The future of car rentals is electric. But managing a fleet of electric vehicles presents unique challenges, particularly around charging infrastructure. NREL’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure – Rental Car (EVI-Rental) tool offers a solution by simulating various aspects of rental car operations to optimize efficiency and minimize customer wait times. This innovative tool helps rental companies navigate the complexities of electrifying their fleets.
Understanding the Need for EVI-Rental
Transitioning to electric rental car fleets requires careful planning and resource allocation. Charging infrastructure needs, customer wait times, and grid load impacts all need to be considered. EVI-Rental provides a comprehensive platform to model these factors and make informed decisions. It allows rental companies to:
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Estimate charging demand: Accurately predict electricity needs based on fleet size, vehicle usage patterns, and charging behavior.
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Design optimal charging infrastructure: Determine the ideal number, type, and placement of chargers to minimize congestion and maximize efficiency.
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Quantify grid impacts: Understand how electric rental fleets affect local electricity grids and identify potential challenges.
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Minimize customer wait times: Optimize charging schedules and vehicle dispatch to ensure a seamless rental experience.
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Analyze life-cycle costs: Evaluate the long-term financial implications of electrifying a rental fleet, including infrastructure investment and energy costs.
EVI-Rental simulates real-world airport rental scenarios by incorporating various operational aspects. Image by Taylor Henry, NREL
How EVI-Rental Works
EVI-Rental utilizes rental car demand data as its primary input. This data, combined with user-defined parameters, allows the tool to simulate different operational scenarios. Key components include:
- Vehicle Dispatcher: Intelligently assigns vehicles to customers based on availability and request type, factoring in charging needs.
- Charging Scheduler: Anticipates charging requirements and allocates chargers strategically to minimize wait times and optimize energy usage.
- Fleet Composition Analysis: Evaluates the impact of different vehicle types and charging profiles on overall fleet efficiency.
- Customer and Fleet Status Tracking: Monitors wait times, charger utilization, and vehicle availability in real-time.
- Life-Cycle Cost Evaluation: Calculates the total cost of ownership for an electric rental fleet, considering infrastructure investment, energy costs, and maintenance.
Integrating with Other Tools
EVI-Rental can be integrated with other modeling tools, such as NREL’s EVI-EDGES, to explore the role of distributed generation and energy storage in supporting electric rental fleets. This comprehensive approach allows for a holistic assessment of the entire energy ecosystem.
EVI-Rental, developed through the Athena ZEV project, will be publicly available in 2025.
Conclusion: EVI-Rental – A Key Tool for Electric Rental Car Success
As the demand for electric rental cars continues to grow, effective fleet management tools are essential. EVI-Rental empowers rental companies to optimize their operations, minimize costs, and provide a seamless customer experience. By leveraging the power of simulation and data analysis, EVI-Rental paves the way for a sustainable and efficient future for the car rental industry. For more information, contact [email protected].
