Location: Shreveport, LA
Fleet Type: Light-duty Fleet
Narrative
In a significant leap towards sustainability, Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) incorporated a fleet of Nissan Leaf electric vehicles (EVs) into its operations in 2019 that are still in operation. This move was a testament to SWEPCO’s dedication to reducing its carbon footprint and promoting clean energy alternatives. Highlighting this commitment, Jeff Thigpen, SWEPCO’s Alternative Energy Resource Manager, completed an inspiring cross-state road trip in a Nissan Leaf in 2019, showcasing the practicality and efficiency of electric vehicles.
Jeff Thigpen’s journey, which took him across state lines, from Fayetteville, AR, to Shreveport, LA, and back, was not just a demonstration of the Nissan Leaf’s capabilities but also a powerful statement about the future of transportation. Covering hundreds of miles, Thigpen navigated a variety of terrains and weather conditions, proving that electric vehicles are more than capable of handling long-distance travel. His road trip underscored the reliability, range, and convenience of the Nissan Leaf, dispelling common myths about EV limitations.
Reflecting on his experience, Thigpen remarked, “Range anxiety is a real thing, but it diminishes quickly. My confidence in this car continues to grow and the very real range anxiety I felt when I first sat down has all but gone away. That anxiety has been replaced with enough knowledge to plan a cross-country trip, knowing there can and likely will be delays along the route due to charging availability and speed. This is simply because the infrastructure is not in place yet.”
Outputs and Outcomes
From this experience Swepco noted the need for more chargers across the state and have continued to be a leader and make it easier for EV owners to utilize, the company has since then implemented a Level 2 Home EV Charging Station Rebate Program. Swepco customers can receive $250 for installing an ENERGY STAR-certified Level 2 Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station at your home. Limit two (2) per service address.
Swepco has three Nissan LEAFs. Two in Shreveport, LA and one in Fayetteville, AR.
The three LEAFs are used as pool vehicles (i.e. cars can be reserved by Customer Services Employees to do company related driving), and combined are driven approximately 2,250-2,500 miles per month, and around 27,000-30,000 miles a year. SWEPCO Customer Services doesn’t have any ICE pool cars. No SWEPCO employees outside of Distribution have company owned vehicles, so everyone drives their personal vehicle and submits company driven mileage on expense reports. The company savings with the EV pool cars is having less reimbursable mileage that is paid by the company to the employee. These LEAFs are saving some money, but they could save more. We encourage their use by employees but don’t mandate it. Some employees utilize the pool cars more than others. Some would rather just drive their own vehicle and be reimbursed for mileage. The more they are driven, the more money saved.
They also have a plug-in hybrid Mitsubishi Outlander as a pool car. Most prefer it over the LEAFs, primarily because it has nicer interior and is a more comfortable car to drive. It is also taken on more cross-country trips due to the range issues with the LEAFs.
Best Practices & Lessons Learned
Jeff Thigpen noted the importance of chargers in 2019, “We need more Level 3 fast-charging stations. As I write this, it isn’t impossible to travel a long distance in an EV, but it can be challenging. The true need is for more fast-charge locations, both inside cities and especially along major travel routes. For SWEPCO’s service territory, we need at least one Level 3 charging station in Shreveport, one in Natchitoches and one in Longview. Arkansas currently has three Level 3 charging stations- one in Hope, one in Little Rock and one in the Fayetteville area. So it is possible to traverse Arkansas with some planning, but an additional Level 3 charging station in the Fort Smith area would open up the western edge of the state to more EV travel. When these stations are available, and they will be, the barriers to quick, cross-country travel will begin to fall and more people will actively embrace the change.”
He highlights the importance of continuing to build EV infrastructure which is an ongoing program across the USA with programs like the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) and a majority of utilities offering rebate programs.
Swepco received great feedback and support from their community for showcasing the ins and outs of using an EV in their territory. They led by example and learned the best and worst parts of using an EV in the North Louisiana Region.
The cars discussed are all leased. When the leases are up, they think they will get another EV model as replacements, most likely not the LEAF. This is because Swepco uses the LEAFs mostly for miles in and around Shreveport. They have taken long trips, but the LEAF is not a great long-distance EV due to range, battery heat stacking, etc.
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