The Electric Vehicle Infrastructure – Rental Car (EVI-Rental) tool, developed by NREL, is set to transform how rental car companies manage their fleets in the age of electric vehicles. This innovative tool simulates critical aspects of rental car operations, from efficient vehicle dispatch and optimized EV charging strategies to minimizing customer wait times and managing fleet volume effectively. As the automotive industry shifts towards electrification, tools like EVI-Rental become essential for businesses aiming to navigate the complexities of integrating electric vehicles into their services.
Understanding the Power of the EVI-Rental Tool
EVI-Rental works by using rental car demand data as its core input. From this data, the tool projects power demand and calculates the necessary charging infrastructure for various operational scenarios. These scenarios are defined by key assumptions, such as the required state of charge for vehicles at both pickup and return. Furthermore, EVI-Rental assesses the impact of several operational variables, including the composition of the vehicle fleet, site design considerations like the number and type of chargers, and the effectiveness of charging schedules that prioritize slower, more cost-effective charging methods. By meticulously tracking rental car customer and fleet statuses, EVI-Rental provides crucial metrics such as customer wait times, charger utilization rates, and the overall life-cycle cost of operating an electric rental car fleet.
EVI-Rental offers a comprehensive simulation of electric rental car operations, utilizing rental demand as a primary driver to estimate power needs and infrastructure requirements under diverse conditions.
Key components integrated within EVI-Rental include:
- Intelligent Vehicle Dispatcher: This system matches vehicles to customer requests based on vehicle type and real-time availability, ensuring optimal fleet utilization.
- Proactive Charging Scheduler: Anticipating charging needs and strategically assigning charger locations, this feature maximizes charging efficiency and minimizes downtime.
- Operational Impact Analysis: Evaluates the effects of fleet composition and other operational choices, allowing for informed decision-making.
- Real-time Status Tracking: Monitors rental car and customer statuses to accurately measure wait times and charger usage, enhancing customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.
- Life-Cycle Cost Evaluation: This module assesses charging infrastructure investment and utility costs, providing a clear financial outlook for electric fleet operations.
Visual representation of EVI-Rental inputs, processes, and outputs for effective rental car fleet management.
Enhancing Evaluation with EVI-EDGES
The load profiles and infrastructure design outputs from EVI-Rental are compatible with NREL’s EVI-EDGES model. This integration allows for a deeper evaluation of behind-the-meter storage solutions and distributed photovoltaic generation systems. By leveraging EVI-EDGES, rental car operators can explore potential on-site energy generation and storage to meet the increased electricity demands of fleet electrification, further optimizing cost and sustainability.
EVI-Rental, stemming from the Athena ZEV project, is designed to consider the broader ecosystem of connected vehicle activities, including freight, parking, and overall airport electrification. This holistic approach ensures that the modeling framework is robust and applicable across various electrification scenarios within the transportation sector.
Stay Informed About EVI-Rental
EVI-Rental is poised to become publicly accessible in 2025. To discover more about how this Tool Rental Car solution can benefit your operations or for any inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Embrace the future of electric vehicle fleet management with the EVI-Rental tool and gain a competitive edge in the evolving rental car market.
