LOS ANGELES — After proving electric vehicles could handle its routes, Door To Door Valet Cleaners went all in, replacing every van in its dry cleaning delivery fleet and putting its new operation to the test.
In Part 1 of this series, we explored the reasons why Door to Door CEO Sajid Veera chose to make the leap, and the testing that went into that decision. Today, we’ll conclude by examining the company’s new fleet, and learning about some of the surprises that decision brought.
Bigger and Better
The company had been running a mix of Mercedes-Benz Sprinters, Nissan NVs, Ford Transits and Chevrolet Express vans. All were replaced. Now its fleet consists of Chevrolet BrightDrop vans and Mercedes-Benz eSprinters in the 172-inch, high-roof version.
The larger eSprinters offered an unexpected benefit. Because they hold significantly more garments than the smaller vans they replaced, Door to Door was able to consolidate routes and reduce its total fleet by about 30%.
“When we had Nissan NVs going out for our shuttle, they wouldn’t fit as many clothes,” Veera says. “Because the eSprinters are much larger, we can fit two shuttle runs into one van.”
Plugging In
On the infrastructure side, the transition was simpler than expected. The company upgraded some electrical breakers to heavier-duty units but didn’t need any large-scale additions to its facilities.
Charging is where the planning went. California’s electricity rates are cheaper after 9 p.m. — 30-40% less — so the chargers are programmed to start at 9:02 p.m. and shut off at 80% charge, which Veera learned is better for long-term battery life. Four to five hours later, the vans are ready.
“By the time the drivers come in at 7 or 8, they’re charged,” he says.
The vans can cover more miles than the routes require, and that’s by design. Door to Door’s longest route on its busiest day is 140 miles, but the vans can do 260 to 300. If a charger goes down or the power’s out, a van can still make its run the next day on what’s left from the day before.
“We have a redundancy of one day in case something doesn’t work out,” Veera says. “If the charger doesn’t work, there’s an outage or what have you, we can still run the route for the second day without being down.”
On the Road
Day to day, not much has changed with Door to Door Valet’s pickup and delivery. Route scheduling is the same. Veera says there were some early concerns about whether the larger eSprinters could handle narrow streets in Beverly Hills, West Hollywood and Malibu, but that proved not to be a problem.
The drivers were skeptical about the electric vehicles, but it didn’t last.
“Once they started driving, they absolutely loved the technology,” Veera says. “They love not having to go to the gas station and wasting their time. They love how smooth they are. They love the features and the technology.”
Customers have taken notice, too.
“When we first put them out, people were taking pictures of them and just random people on the road were giving thumbs up and cheering on the drivers,” Veera says.
Cold-Weather Caveat
For operators considering a similar move, Veera offers one caution: climate matters.
“I’ve spoken to dry cleaners on the East Coast and, because of the cold weather, apparently you don’t get as many miles,” he says. “I think that’s something to consider for people on the East Coast or in colder climates.”
Batteries lose range in the cold, which eats into the cushion between what a route demands and what a van can deliver. For operators who run delivery routes in warm areas, though, Veera doesn’t hesitate to endorse electric vehicles.
“If you’re in a warm climate and you don’t have any drop in range, it’s a no-brainer,” he says. “I would absolutely recommend it.”
For Part 1 of this series, click HERE.
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Dave Davis at [email protected].
