Bergey’s Truck Centers Acquires Cumberland Truck
Bergey’s Truck Centers Acquires Cumberland Truck
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If you’ve done some initial research on the benefits of a commercial electric fleet, you may be ready to learn more about moving toward zero emissions and vehicle sustainability. Bergey’s Truck Centers is right there with you, learning and planning for this exciting new technology. We want to share our own findings on how to “go EV” and help you to navigate these important next steps in the journey to EV:
1. Assess the impact of electric to your business and operations
2. Understand the available funding support for both vehicles and infrastructure
3. Understand how to implement the right energy infrastructure
Transitioning to and electric fleet or adding in electric vehicles to a traditionally internal combustion engine fleet is no small task. But with the support of the right partners, and breaking it down into manageable steps, it can be done seamlessly. We have electric mobility specialists that can guide you through the process.
If you’ve done any reading or explored EVs, then you already know about the potential benefits to your business. You can learn more in our Benefits of EV Blog.
Once you understand the benefits, the first step in adding EV to your fleet is to assess the impact it will have on your business and current operations.
Did you know that your company may be eligible for federal tax credits for new commercial electric vehicles? The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) is a piece of legislation that includes a section (45W) that provides new tax credits until the end of 2032. There is paperwork and documentation required, for IRA electric commercial vehicle tax credit eligibility, but while it sounds cumbersome, it is worth the effort.
Depending on where you register or domicile your EV, you could be eligible for state grants. Our financial team has the knowledge and expertise to ensure you get every possible funding resource available to you. While the initial cost of commercial EVs is higher than traditional fuel-dependent combustion vehicles, these funding options can bring those costs more in line.
There are also government and energy/utility incentives and rebates to offset the costs of charging infrastructure installation and construction. Once running EVs, you can also benefit from Low Carbon Fuel Standards (LCFS) Credits administered by the CA Air Resources Board (CARB). As the below examples show, these can add up!
©Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Unfortunately, you cannot simply plug in your commercial EV the way you might with a Tesla. The energy required for charging these large batteries is multiplied. You need to understand what energy you have coming into your facility and upgrading to the most efficient, yet future-planning levels needed. Partnering with a qualified and experienced firm that specializes in energy supply levels and charging equipment installation is key. From understanding the budget, the current energy available, the equipment you plan to run, how many units you will run, and the mileage each day, they can determine which type of commercial EV charging infrastructure you are going to need. From there, they can manage the energy upgrade and install the charging stations. Many OEMs have existing relationships with firms that can provide a turn-key solution for you. They will bundle the construction and infrastructure investment, the truck, and the charging station all into a single payment plan.
Bergey’s has several customers already using EVs in their fleet, so we have been working on getting our shops and techs certified. Because we only need to charge vehicles for their short time in our shop, we are equipping our shops with the Heliox Mobile 50kW, a rapid DC charging system designed specifically for maintenance shops. This durable, mobile unit is run from a standard 480V AC wall socket. Every location with the Heliox has trained technicians on the safe and pragmatic operation of the charging station. Our technicians have also gone through specific OEM EV training courses for the nuances of their proprietary EV technology. We even have a few that have completed EV Master Certifications.
Our Trenton, NJ shop is now an EV-certified dealership. Mack and Volvo dealerships must meet numerous stringent safety, charging, tooling, specialized Master EV Technician training, infrastructure and facility requirements to be included in this elite rank. We will continue our training and upgrades to add other Bergey’s Truck Center locations to support our EV customer needs. These efforts combined provide you with a support system they can rely on.
When you’re ready to talk EV, contact our electric mobility specialists. Our medium duty and heavy duty commercial truck teams have attended OEM-sponsored events such as the recent Volvo Trucks Electromobility Summit. Here, our team got direct access to learning not just about the vehicles, but about financial support, infrastructure development and more. Hino Trucks is also leading the path for medium duty EVs. As a Mack/Volvo EV-certified dealership, we have the expertise you need, backed by our OEM partner technology you need to get EV into your fleet sooner than you think. We will help determine if EV is the right solution for your fleet, support setting up a site evaluation, charging solution spec’ing, grant applications, end-to-end financing, installation, maintenance, optimization, and support you with certified EV service down the road.
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