Charging Procedures & Protocols

Driver plugging a CCS charging connector into an electric fleet van at a commercial charging station, showing proper connector alignment

Fleet Vehicle Charging

Efficient charging management is critical for fleet operations. This lesson covers charging procedures, scheduling, and best practices.

Charging Types for Fleet Vehicles

Depot charging (Level 2): Overnight charging at fleet base — most cost-effective. AMPS fleet vehicles should charge overnight at the depot using Level 2 EVSE on scheduled off-peak rates.
Opportunity charging (DCFC): Fast charging during route breaks for range extension on longer days. Use DCFC at AMPS public stations or along route corridors.
En-route charging: Planning charging stops on routes that exceed depot range. Use AFDC Station Locator to identify public DCFC along I-40 and US-95 corridors near Fort Mojave.

Block diagram of electric vehicle battery management system showing BMS controller connected to cell modules, temperature sensors, and communication interface — Battery Management System (BMS) — monitors cell voltage, temperature, and state of charge to protect battery health.

The 20–80% SoC Rule

Maintain battery state of charge between 20% and 80% for daily operations. Charging above 80% or dropping below 20% repeatedly accelerates battery degradation. Set the vehicle charge limit to 80% by default — most AMPS routes will not require more.

The 20–80% SoC Rule

Maintain battery state of charge between 20% and 80% for daily operations. Charging lithium-ion batteries above 80% or allowing them to drop below 20% repeatedly accelerates degradation. Most AMPS fleet vehicles will not need above 80% for typical daily routes.

Battery Management System (BMS): Modern EVs have a built-in BMS that protects the battery automatically. On most fleet vehicles, you can set a "charge limit" in the vehicle's app or touchscreen to stop charging at 80% by default. Enable this feature on all AMPS fleet vehicles. The BMS also monitors cell temperature and will slow charging if the battery overheats — common during Mojave summer DCFC sessions.

Exploded view of an EV battery pack showing protective cover, cooling system, battery management circuit board, module clusters, individual cells, and crash structure — Activity: Identify the major components of an EV battery pack — cooling system, BMS board, cell modules, and crash structure.

Off-Peak Charging Saves 30–50%

AHA-MACAV Power Service offers time-of-use (TOU) rates. Scheduling fleet vehicles to charge overnight during off-peak hours (typically 9 PM–6 AM) reduces charging costs by 30–50% compared to daytime charging. Configure the AMPS fleet management system for off-peak scheduling.

Time-of-Use Rate Optimization

AHA-MACAV Power Service (AMPS's utility) offers time-of-use (TOU) rates. Off-peak hours (typically 9 PM–6 AM) have significantly lower electricity rates than peak hours. Scheduling fleet vehicles to charge overnight during off-peak hours can reduce charging costs by 30–50% compared to daytime charging. Configure the AMPS fleet management system to schedule all depot charging for off-peak windows.

Emergency Procedures

Critically low range (below 20%)

Do not complete your route. Contact AMPS fleet dispatch immediately. Navigate to the nearest AMPS EVSE station or DCFC on AFDC locator.

Charging station malfunction

If an EVSE fails to initiate charging: (1) unplug and re-plug; (2) try the other connector/port if available; (3) power cycle the station using the network app if permitted. Report fault to AMPS operations.

All-else-fails protocol

Emergency tow to nearest charging location. EVs cannot charge while being towed — they must be flatbed transported if completely discharged. Contact AMPS dispatch for tow service coordination.

No Tow Charging

Unlike ICE vehicles that can be refueled anywhere, a fully discharged EV must be flatbed-transported to a charging location. It cannot regenerate meaningful charge while being towed. Always maintain at least 20% SoC reserve.