Charging Ahead: A Conversation with Clinton Bench on UCLA’s EV Fleet Strategy
This article is based on a recent episode of The Fleet Success Show podcast. Watch the full episode here:
Q: Clinton, UCLA is pushing the boundaries on EV adoption. How did your electrification journey begin?
A: It started with low-speed electric vehicles that were easy to deploy. But as we gained confidence, we moved into more complex battery electric vans and buses. Now, around 40% of our fleet is electric. We’ve made a point to be early adopters, knowing we’d make mistakes but learn quickly.
Q: Speaking of mistakes, what lessons have you learned?
A: One of our biggest challenges has been around EVSE infrastructure. We underestimated the number of high-speed chargers needed, especially for time-sensitive operations like hospital transport. We also didn’t include strong service level agreements in our vendor contracts initially. We're fixing that now with better policies and oversight.
Q: What’s unique about your charging strategy going forward?
A: We’re piloting a microgrid at our light-duty fleet yard. It will combine grid power, a hydrogen fuel cell, and a large battery bank. This setup should help us mitigate demand charges and ensure we can charge vehicles during peak campus load times without stressing the power grid.
Q: Are you testing any emerging technologies?
A: Yes! We received a $32 million grant to electrify our entire bus fleet and build a transit hub. Part of that includes a pilot with Electreon to test wireless charging, both stationary and dynamic. We’ll be charging buses while they drive along designated campus roads.
Q: That’s groundbreaking. How do you manage utilization across all these vehicles?
A: We emphasize shared use. Our FMIS and telematics tools help track vehicle usage, and we use automated dispatching for motor pools. Departments don’t need to own underutilized vehicles—they can reserve what they need, when they need it.
Q: Any advice for other fleet managers starting their EV transition?
A: Get buy-in from your leadership and internal stakeholders early. And bring in help when needed (e.g., with things like modeling power loads, selecting the right equipment, or even writing policies). This isn’t a solo mission. Also, invest in the right software; fleet maintenance management systems and telematics are critical.
Q: Final thoughts?
A: Electrification isn’t just about plugging in cars. It’s a full operational transformation. But if you do it right, you not only reduce emissions, you increase service reliability and lower costs long term. It’s worth the effort.