Before the first charging points are installed, the grid capacity determines whether the e-fleet can be operated as planned at all. If it is calculated incorrectly, electrification quickly becomes an expensive risk.

An Underestimated Risk in Fleet Electrification

You are planning your electric fleet – but have you checked your grid capacity yet?

Many companies focus on vehicle models, charging infrastructure, and operating costs. But they often forget the most critical foundation: the grid capacity at the depot. If miscalculated, electrification can quickly become a costly risk.

We call this the “Grid Capacity Trap” – and it’s more common than many fleet operators think.

What’s Behind the Grid Capacity Trap?

Even with careful fleet planning – vehicles, charging times, costs – problems arise when multiple EVs charge at the same time. The result: the grid connection at your site can be overloaded.

Typical Consequences:

• Unplanned grid upgrades: six-figure costs and long delays
• Reduced fleet availability: only part of the fleet is operational for weeks
• Delivery delays: revenue losses and dissatisfied customers

Especially, load peaks from simultaneous charging push the grid to its limits.

Why Does This Happen So Often?

Decades of experience with diesel fleets shape how companies think – but EV fleets follow new rules.

Common Causes Include:

• Lack of knowledge about grid infrastructure
• Underestimating peak loads from simultaneous charging
• Focusing only on vehicle costs instead of the entire charging system
• No early check of the site’s grid connection capacity

Typically, companies assume their depot’s grid can easily handle the entire fleet – without checking the actual available grid capacity.

How to Avoid Costly Grid Bottlenecks

The good news: with the right preparation, you can avoid costly upgrades and delays. By assessing your grid capacity realistically from the start, you often discover that a smaller grid connection is sufficient – saving significant costs.

Which planning steps are critical – and how successful companies have already avoided the Grid Capacity Trap – is explained in detail in our free email course “Your Roadmap to Successful Fleet Electrification”.