The market for MDHD electric vehicles is growing rapidly, with more and more vehicle and model options available that meet a range of needs. The Zero Emission Technology Inventory (ZETI) is a database of all the available zero emission vehicle models currently on the market. The tool provides detailed specs on each model and allows you to do side-by-side comparisons of up to three vehicles at a time.
In addition to their Alternative Fuel and Advanced Vehicle Search tool, The U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC) provides information on the four most common applications for electric fleet vehicles, including vehicle availability, operational data, and case study examples.
While exploring vehicle and model options, the cost is an important consideration and can sometimes be a barrier for fleets wanting to electrify. Zero-emission MDHD vehicles can be more expensive than their gas and diesel counterparts, making the up-front costs a primary factor in identifying the right vehicle. Electric MDHD vehicles are significantly cheaper to operate than traditional internal combustion vehicles, due to lower fueling and maintenance costs. There are many vehicle cost calculator tools, such as AFDC’s Vehicle Cost Calculator, that will help to identify the costs of a vehicle beyond the initial price tag – and the lifetime savings of electric vehicle ownership are often significant.
Currently the most common MDHD electric applications are for delivery services, public and school transportation, and refuse hauling. There are also many “specialty” vehicles available, as well as electric equipment for carrying out certain construction, agricultural, emergency response, and other tasks. Some examples are below.