Quick Snapshot: What’s the situation we’re stepping into?

• How many EVs are on order for this depot? Options: 20–49, 50–99, 100–249, 250+
• When are those vehicles expected to arrive at the depot (best estimate)? Options: 0–3 months, 3–6 months, 6–9 months, 9–12 months, 12+ months
• Which depot(s) will receive these vehicles? (Name / address / site code)
• Who on your team is the primary contact for this electrification project? Options: Fleet Director, Director of Facilities, Sustainability Officer, Procurement Lead, Operations Manager, Other
• At a glance, what worries you most about the next six months on this project? Options: Utility interconnection delay, Unexpected upgrade costs, Operational disruption, Software not meeting scheduling needs, Hardware reliability/warranty, Other

If the vehicles arrive with nowhere to charge, what breaks first?

• If utility or service upgrades push past vehicle arrival, what immediate operational impacts do you anticipate? Options: Missed deliveries/service, Overtime for drivers, Vehicle storage issues, Temporary fueling solutions, Contractual penalties, Unknown
• How many vehicles can you realistically charge overnight today with existing infrastructure (estimate)? Options: None, 1–4, 5–9, 10–19, 20+
• Tell us a recent example where infrastructure timing caused operational pain—what happened and how long did it take to resolve?
• How would an unexpected month-long delay in charging readiness affect your operations financially or contractually? Options: Minimal impact, Manageable with overtime, Significant cost/penalties, Mission-critical disruption
• What emotional response do you see most often from your operations team when charging gaps appear? Options: Frustration, Stress/anxiety, Calm problem-solving, Blame/avoidance, Other

Who really signs the checks and what would stop them from saying yes?

• If the person who controls the budget isn’t convinced the depot will be ready on time, who holds up the project? Options: Finance/Controller, Procurement, Facilities, Fleet Director, Executive Sponsor, Other
• Which stakeholders must approve technical drawings, budgets, and utility applications? (select all that apply) Options: Fleet, Facilities, Sustainability, Procurement, Finance, Legal, City/School District Officials, Other
• What typical procurement or contracting constraints slow your approvals (e.g., PO lead times, vendor pre-qualification, capital cycle)? Options: Long PO process, Capital budget windows, Vendor vetting, Union/collective bargaining considerations, Grant/incentive coordination, Other
• How far in advance does procurement expect final cost certainty before issuing a purchase order? Options: Immediately / now, 2–4 weeks, 1–2 months, 2–3 months, Unsure
• Describe a past approval that stalled—what was the single biggest reason it stalled?

What if your electrical service is silently insufficient—what would that mean for you?

• Do you have current single-line diagrams, meter details, and transformer specs for this site? Options: Complete and up-to-date, Partial (some documents), No, we don’t have them, Unsure
• What is your site's current utility service level and main breaker size (if known)? Options: <400A, 400–800A, 800–1200A, 1200–2000A, 2000A+, Unknown
• Are there known utility constraints or past experiences (e.g., multimonth service upgrades, feeder limitations, shared transformers)? Options: Yes—service upgrade history, Yes—feeder/transformer limits, No known constraints, Unsure
• How comfortable are you sharing electrical drawings and meter data quickly so we can estimate upgrade scope? Options: Can share immediately, Need internal approval first, Require NDAs, Not comfortable
• If you had to describe the site's biggest unknown in one sentence, what would it be?

If one vehicle isn’t ready every morning, is that a hiccup—or a crisis?

• What percentage of your fleet must be fully charged and dispatch-ready each morning to meet service levels? Options: 100%, 95–99%, 90–95%, 80–90%, <80%
• Which vehicles are highest priority for morning readiness (select up to three reasons)? Options: Route-critical buses/vans, Peak-hour deliveries, Safety/security vehicles, School routes, High-revenue routes, Other
• How do you currently measure whether a vehicle is ‘dispatch-ready’ (state-of-charge threshold, minutes to full, range estimate, other)? Options: % State-of-Charge threshold, Minimum miles range, Minutes to full, Operational checklist, Other
• What’s an acceptable exception rate for vehicles not ready in the morning and how should exceptions be handled operationally? Options: 0–1%, 1–3%, 3–5%, 5–10%, >10%
• Tell us about a morning when readiness failed—what went wrong, who acted, and what were the consequences?

Would you trade charging speed for predictable, lower energy bills?

• Which utility rate elements matter most for you right now? Options: Demand charges, Time-of-use energy rates, Flat energy rate, Peak demand windows, Demand ratchets, Other
• Have you performed or received an analysis of expected demand charge impact from unmanaged overnight charging? Options: Yes—detailed analysis, High-level estimate only, No analysis yet, Unsure
• How willing are you to accept longer charge windows (e.g., charge over 8–12 hours vs. 2–4 hours) to reduce peak demand? Options: Very willing, Somewhat willing, Neutral, Reluctant, Not willing
• Which operational constraints would block extending charge windows (select all that apply)? Options: Shift patterns, Driver schedules, Route timing, Vehicle requirements, Depot access, Other
• What demand-charge savings target would make you feel this project succeeded (percentage or $/month)?

When the utility says ‘we need more time,’ who on your side will act like a bulldog—and who will quietly accept the delay?

• What contingency options would you consider if interconnection slips (select all that apply)? Options: Temporary portable chargers, Staggered vehicle deliveries, On-site temporary generation, Third-party charging nearby, Short-term lease of ICE vehicles, Other
• Do you have internal budget or contingency funds to cover unexpected utility or upgrade costs? Options: Yes—contingency available, Partial funding, No contingency, Unsure
• Who on your team would manage day-to-day coordination with the utility and our engineering team? Options: Facilities Manager, Project Manager, Procurement Lead, Fleet Operations Lead, External contractor, TBD
• If we proposed a phased deployment to align with utility pacing, what would be your minimum acceptable first-phase scope? Options: Critical routes only, 20% of fleet, 50% of fleet, All high-priority vehicles, Other
• Describe one workaround you used in the past for unexpected infrastructure delays and how well it worked.

How will we prove—unequivocally—that the depot is ready and working to your standards?

• Which of the following acceptance tests are non-negotiable for sign-off? Options: All vehicles charge to threshold within window, Peak demand stays within agreed kW/cost target, Load sharing functions under fault, Operator training completed, As-built single-line provided
• Who must sign the final acceptance certificate (select all that apply)? Options: Fleet Director, Facilities Director, Operations Manager, Procurement/Finance, Maintenance Lead, Utility Representative, Other
• What warranty, maintenance, and SLA expectations are mandatory for you (response: tangible terms preferred)?
• How do you want commissioning results presented so they’re actionable for your operations team? Options: Dashboard with alerts, Written report + diagrams, Walkthrough and demo, Training session with test runs, Other
• If post-deployment demand spikes occur, what remediation timeline would be acceptable to you? Options: 24–48 hours, 3–5 business days, 1–2 weeks, Longer—depends on root cause

If you could pick one thing we must guarantee to win your confidence, what would it be?

• Which of these would most increase your confidence in a partner on this project? Options: Proven utility coordination experience, Detailed site electrical engineering, Demonstrated demand-charge reductions, Clear timeline and milestones, Strong warranty/SLA, Other
• How quickly would you want a pilot or proof-of-concept deployed to demonstrate software scheduling on a small subset of vehicles? Options: Immediately / within 2 weeks, 2–6 weeks, 6–12 weeks, Not interested in pilot
• What would you need from us in the next 7–14 days to move from conversation to committed next steps? Options: Site assessment scheduled, High-level cost estimate, Project timeline, Contacts for internal approval, Other
• Who else should be involved in the next meeting to avoid rework and speed approvals? Options: Procurement, Finance, Utility rep, Operations, Maintenance/technician, Executive sponsor, Other
• Any final concerns or hidden constraints we haven't asked about that could change scope or timeline?

Quick Snapshot: Your Depot in a Sentence

• Give us a one-sentence snapshot of this depot—what you expect it to do for your fleet in six months?
• Which best describes this facility? Options: Urban delivery hub, Regional distribution center, Transit garage, School district depot, Municipal service yard, Other
• How many vehicles will require depot charging once the new EVs arrive? Options: 20–49, 50–99, 100–249, 250+
• What is the target go-live window for charging readiness relative to vehicle arrival? Options: Before vehicles arrive, Same week as arrival, Within 1 month after arrival, Uncertain / flexible
• Who should we loop in first on technical questions (name & role)?
• Are there immediate emotional or political worries about this project we should know (e.g., staff fear of downtime, leadership pressure, community concerns)? Options: Yes—staff capacity/downtime, Yes—budget/finance scrutiny, Yes—utility/community pushback, No immediate political worries, Other

Are You Leaving Charging to Chance?

• If nothing changes to your electrical infrastructure, what is the most likely outcome when your 20+ EVs arrive?
• What is your site's primary utility service rating (nameplate) today? Options: <200 kVA, 200–500 kVA, 500–1000 kVA, 1000–2000 kVA, >2000 kVA, Unsure
• Do you have a current electrical single-line diagram (SLD)? Options: Yes—current and accurate, Yes—but outdated (>2 years), Exists in paper only, No, Unsure
• How many meters and service points feed the depot (list count and if they are separate for buildings vs. yard)?
• Estimate the available spare capacity at your main distribution (if known). If unknown, choose 'Unsure'. Options: >40% spare, 20–40% spare, 0–20% spare, No spare capacity, Unsure
• Do you currently collect interval meter data or load profiles we can analyze? Options: Interval (15/30/60 min) data available, Monthly demand & energy only, No interval data, Unsure
• If we asked for your latest SLD and meter CSV, how quickly could you share them? Options: Within 48 hours, Within 1 week, Within 2–4 weeks, Longer than 4 weeks, Cannot share

Whose Problem Is This Really?

• When decisions need to be moved fast—who gets called and who signs the check? Options: Fleet Director, Director of Facilities, Sustainability Officer, Procurement, CFO/Finance, Operations Manager, Other
• Who will be the day-to-day liaison for field access, permitting, and construction logistics (name & role)?
• What approval threshold would require escalation to executive leadership (select dollar bands)? Options: <$25k, $25k–$100k, $100k–$500k, >$500k, Depends on type of expense
• How does your organization prefer to procure capital projects like this? Options: Capital expenditure (CapEx), Operating lease or OPEX, Hybrid/approved vendor list, State or grant-funded, Undecided
• Who is the utility account owner (the person we should contact about service & interconnection)?
• Thinking about internal dynamics—who is most likely to resist a service upgrade that could temporarily disrupt operations, and why?

When the Fleet Shows Up at Dawn...

• If 10% of your fleet starts a shift below the required state-of-charge, how disruptive is that for your morning operations? Options: Critical—operations stop, Major disruption—rearrange routes, Manageable with manual changes, Minor impact, Not sure
• List the vehicle classes and approximate counts that will charge at this depot (e.g., light-duty vans 40, medium-duty 10, school buses 5).
• When do vehicles typically arrive and depart (one or more windows)? Options: Arrive evenings / depart mornings, Arrive mornings / depart afternoons, Staggered multi-shift, Return midday for charging, Varies by route
• What target state-of-charge or range must each vehicle meet before first dispatch (choose common targets and add specifics)? Options: 80% SOC, 90% SOC, Full charge required, Range-based requirement (miles), Varies by route/priority
• Do your vehicles provide telematics/SoC and usage data that we can use to model duty cycles? Options: Full telematics with SOC data, Telematics without SOC, Manual logs only, No telematics, Unsure
• How do you prioritize vehicles when charging capacity is constrained (examples: first-out routes, longest-range, critical services)?

Where the Utilities Will Push Back

• If the utility says a transformer upgrade will take 12 months, how would that affect your vehicle rollout plans?
• What kind of tariff structure are you on today (select all that apply)? Options: Flat energy rate, Time-of-use (TOU), Distribution demand charges, System peak demand charges, Critical peak pricing, Demand ratchet
• Do you currently receive demand charge bills, and if so, what percentage of your monthly bill do they represent (approx)? Options: <10%, 10–25%, 25–50%, >50%, No demand charges, Unsure
• Has the utility previously required main-service upgrades, dedicated transformers, or relocation of lines at this site? Options: Yes—major upgrades, Yes—minor upgrades, No, Unsure
• Are there known site constraints the utility or municipality has flagged (e.g., right-of-way, easement, limited transformer space, underground service)? Options: Transformer capacity, Pole/ROW restrictions, Underground conduit limits, Metering location constraints, None known, Other
• Have you explored or applied for utility incentives or grant funding for EV infrastructure at this site? Options: Yes—applied/approved, Yes—applied/pending, Explored but not applied, No

What Have You Already Tried (or Hoped) That Might Fail?

• Which assumptions are you counting on to keep this project on track (examples: utility will expedite, vendor will deliver hardware on time, budget cover upgrades)?
• Have you previously commissioned any electrical upgrades or EV pilots here? If yes, what worked and what broke? Options: Yes—pilot worked well, Yes—pilot had issues, No prior pilots/upgrades, Unsure
• What contingency budget (if any) has been allocated for unforeseen electrical work or timeline slips? Options: None identified, <10% of project, 10–25% of project, >25% of project, Undecided
• Are there internal or external deadlines (grants, vehicle vendor penalties, route contracts) that will force a hard cutover date? Options: Yes—hard deadline exists, Soft deadline with flexibility, No external deadlines, Unsure
• When past projects encountered delays, what was the single biggest root cause (e.g., permitting, utility, procurement, weather)?
• Which risk-reduction tactics have you considered or tried (phased deployment, temporary charging, mobile chargers, leased power)? Options: Phased deployment, Temporary/mobile chargers, Leased transformer/service, Reduce vehicle numbers, No mitigation planned, Other

If We Could Snap Our Fingers and Mornings Were Perfect

• Describe one morning where every vehicle is charged and dispatch-ready—what measurable things are different?
• Which of these would be your priority success signals for acceptance testing? Options: % vehicles at required SOC by dispatch, No peak demand spikes above baseline, Cost per mile targets met, Charging uptime/SLA met, Operator satisfaction
• What reduction in demand charges would justify the project to you (select a band or enter a target)? Options: <10%, 10–20%, 20–40%, >40%, Not sure / need analysis
• What uptime/service-level expectations would make the operations team comfortable (e.g., 99% nightly readiness, 95% charge completion)? Options: 99% readiness, 97% readiness, 95% readiness, Other / custom SLA
• What reporting or dashboards will you need to feel confident day-to-day (examples: per-vehicle SOC, site load, cost forecasting)? Options: Per-vehicle SOC & priority, Real-time site load, Demand charge forecasting, Charge session history & diagnostics, Automated alerts
• What would make you hesitate to call the project a success even if technical metrics are met (e.g., operator burden, maintenance headaches, hidden costs)?

Next Moves We Can Own Together

• If we agree to move forward, which of these do you want us to run first to de-risk timeline: detailed load study, utility pre-application, provisional design, or a small proof-of-concept? Options: Detailed load study, Utility pre-application / scoping, Provisional site electrical design, Small proof-of-concept (temporary chargers), All of the above
• Which documents can you commit to sharing in the next two weeks to accelerate scoping (select all that apply)? Options: Single-line diagram(s), Interval meter data CSV, Site plan with conduit routes, Vehicle rosters and duty cycles, Utility account & contact info, None immediately available
• How soon can you grant a site walk with our engineer and an on-site facilities contact? Options: Within 48 hours, Within 1–2 weeks, Within 2–4 weeks, Longer than 4 weeks, Not sure / needs coordination
• What decision cadence works for you over the next 90 days (weekly check-ins, biweekly steering, monthly milestone reviews)? Options: Weekly, Biweekly, Monthly, Ad-hoc as needed
• What would you like us to prepare for your next internal review (high-level site risk memo, cost-band estimate, timeline with critical-path items)? Options: Site risk memo, High/medium/low cost bands, Utility timeline with critical path, Draft acceptance criteria & SLA, Full provisional single-line
• Is there anything else that, if we knew it now, would change how we prioritize our first 30 days together?

Quick Snapshot: Who are we supporting?

• Tell us the basics: how many EVs are on order and when are they scheduled to arrive? Options: 20–49 (arrive in next 6 months), 50–99 (arrive in next 6 months), 100–199, 200+, Exact arrival date (enter below)
• What vehicle classes are in this purchase order? Options: Light‑duty delivery vans, Class 4–6 medium‑duty trucks, Transit buses, School buses, Shuttles/Paratransit, Other (specify)
• Where will these vehicles be berthed/garaged (depot name, address, or short description)?
• What charging or electrical capacity exists at the depot today? Options: None, A few Level 2 chargers (managed/unmanaged), Some DC fast chargers, Unmanaged wall plugs only, Shore power for buses, Other (describe)
• Who will be our primary day‑to‑day contact for scheduling, site access, and technical clarifications?

If They Arrive and Can't Charge — What's the Fallout?

• Imagine the fleet arrives on schedule but the depot can’t support charging — who or what bears the biggest hit?
• Do you already have a contingency plan (temporary chargers, rerouting to other depots, delaying deliveries)? Options: Temporary chargers onsite, Use third‑party depots, Stagger vehicle deliveries, Delay vehicle acceptance, No contingency, Other (explain)
• How long could your operations absorb reduced fleet availability before customer service or routes are materially impacted? Options: Less than 1 week, 1–4 weeks, 1–3 months, More than 3 months, Not sure
• If you had to quantify it, what would a day or week of reduced vehicle availability cost you (service slippage, overtime, rentals, lost revenue) — ballpark or example story is fine?
• How does the prospect of vehicles arriving without charging make you and your team feel right now? Options: Very anxious/stressed, Concerned but manageable, Confident we can adapt, Unsure / mixed feelings

Are Your Electrical Facts Ready to Build On?

• Do the electrical drawings, meter data, and capacity numbers you have truly reflect what's in the field — or are we guessing?
• Do you have an up‑to‑date electrical single‑line drawing for the depot? Options: Yes — updated within 6 months, Yes — older than 6 months, Available but unverified, No / not available
• What is the site's main service size or breaker capacity (select closest if exact unknown)? Options: Under 400 A, 400–800 A, 800–1200 A, 1200–3000 A, Over 3000 A, Unknown — need help
• Can you provide interval meter data (15/30‑minute) or grant access for a short metering/logging effort to model demand and rates? Options: Yes — we can provide immediately, Yes — needs utility permission, No, but we can request, No / not available
• Are there known utility constraints, prior upgrade estimates, or conversations with the utility we should know about? Options: Yes — long lead (>6 months), Yes — moderate lead (2–6 months), No constraints identified, Unsure / need to investigate
• If drawings or meter data are missing, would you be comfortable with a short validation step (meter install or field verification) to de‑risk the design? Options: Very comfortable, Somewhat comfortable, Unsure, Prefer to avoid additional steps

Who Holds the Pen on Hard Decisions?

• If we propose a trade—spend more upfront to avoid persistent demand charges—who signs off, and will they accept that rationale?
• Which stakeholders must approve the project (select all that apply)? Options: Fleet Director, Facilities Director, CFO/Finance, Sustainability Officer, Procurement, Operations/Dispatch, Board/City Council, Other (specify)
• Who has final budget approval and what’s the typical timeline for that approval? Options: Fleet/Operations (days–weeks), Facilities/Capital (weeks–months), Finance/CFO (months), Procurement cycle (weeks), Unsure
• What evaluation criteria will carry the most weight (choose up to three)? Options: Site assessment rigor / engineering accuracy, Smart‑charging software capability, Hardware reliability & warranty, Utility interconnection experience, Total cost of ownership, Speed to deploy / timeline, In‑house maintenance capability
• Has your team validated vendors' claims around individual vehicle SOC modeling and priority‑based scheduling, or would you like a live demo and case study walkthrough? Options: We have tested demos, We reviewed claims but not tested, No — we want a demo and case study, Unsure
• Does procurement prefer CapEx outright purchases, OpEx/managed services, or are both acceptable? Options: Prefer CapEx, Prefer OpEx / managed service, Both acceptable, Procurement restricts one option, Unsure

What Would 'Morning‑Ready' Actually Feel Like?

• Is 100% charged by first dispatch a firm requirement, or would a prioritized readiness model be acceptable? Options: 100% firm requirement, Prioritized readiness acceptable, Hybrid — depends on route criticality, Undecided — need guidance
• What minimum SOC should vehicles have at dispatch to be considered 'ready' (by route or as a fleet standard)? Options: 100%, 95–99%, 90–94%, 80–89%, Custom per vehicle/route (specify)
• How are vehicles prioritized today (or how would you like them prioritized)—by route criticality, SOC, driver, or other rules? Options: By route criticality, By current SOC, By driver/route assignment, First‑come first‑served, Other (describe)
• What are your depot's typical return and required ready‑by windows for the shifts we must support? Options: Midnight–2:00 AM, 2:00–4:00 AM, 4:00–6:00 AM, 6:00–8:00 AM, Variable / multiple shift windows
• How would you prefer acceptance to be demonstrated during commissioning (select all that apply)? Options: Percent charged per vehicle at target time, Time‑to‑target SOC, Successful route simulation with charged vehicles, Proof of peak demand reduction per agreed metric, Other
• What level of monitoring and alerting during the first 90 days would give you confidence? Options: Live dashboards + real‑time alerts, Daily operational reports, Weekly executive summaries, On‑demand access only, Other (specify)

Money Talks: How Much Uncertainty Can You Handle?

• If the utility upgrade or electrical work comes in higher or later than estimated, who absorbs the overruns and would you still proceed?
• What is your target capital budget range for chargers and site upgrades? Options: $0–$250k, $250k–$1M, $1M–$3M, $3M+, Undetermined / need estimate
• Over what payback period are you evaluating total cost of ownership or ROI for this electrification? Options: 1–3 years, 3–5 years, 5–10 years, Longer than 10 years, Not evaluating payback
• Would you consider interim or stop‑gap measures (temporary chargers, staged deployment, partner depots) if utility timelines slip? Options: Yes — temporary chargers, Yes — use partner depots, Yes — staged deployment, No — prefer full build only, Maybe / need to discuss
• What level of demand‑charge reduction would you deem a successful outcome? Options: 20% reduction, 30% reduction, 40%+ reduction, Any measurable reduction is acceptable, Demand charge reduction not a priority
• Who will manage utility incentive applications, rebates, and tracking for this project? Options: We handle in‑house, Utility handles directly, Third‑party consultant, Vendor/installer handles, Not pursuing incentives, Unsure

If Charging 'Just Worked' — What Changes?

• If every shift started with a fully charged fleet and no surprise demand spikes, what would that free up for your team?
• Which operational tasks would you want automated versus retained as manual controls? Options: Charging schedule automation, Driver‑initiated charging, Manual override only, Automated maintenance alerts, Manual reporting only
• What training format will most effectively bring drivers and operators up to speed? Options: On‑site hands‑on training, Remote live training, Pre‑recorded modules, Quick reference guides, Train‑the‑trainer model
• Which software features are non‑negotiable for you (select all that apply)? Options: Individual vehicle SOC modeling, Shift‑based scheduling, Peak‑shaving and demand response, Utility rate optimization, Driver mobile app, Fleet‑level reporting & exports, Open APIs for integration
• What service levels and maintenance expectations do you need (uptime %, response time, spare parts)? Options: 99.9% uptime preferred, 99.5% acceptable, SLA with 24‑hour response, SLA with 48‑hour response, Flexible / negotiable
• How would you prefer ongoing communication and escalation to be structured? Options: Dedicated account manager, Ticketing portal + SLA, Phone hotline for emergencies, Regular quarterly reviews, Combination of the above

Ready to Move — What's the Smallest Step?

• What's the minimum commitment you need to move from discovery to an on‑site assessment or pilot?
• Which of these next steps is most realistic right now? Options: Schedule site walkthrough with electrical engineer, Install temporary meter/data logger, Begin utility pre‑application, Approve initial budget for design work, Other (specify)
• Who must sign or approve that next step, and when could they realistically be available?
• What documentation can you provide immediately to accelerate assessment (select all that apply)? Options: Existing single‑line drawings, Meter interval data, Site photos and photos of switchgear, Vehicle duty cycles / shift schedules, Purchase order for EVs, None of the above
• How soon would you like a formal proposal after the walkthrough? Options: Within 1 week, 1–2 weeks, 2–4 weeks, More than 4 weeks, Unsure
• Is there anything else right now that would change scope, timing, or approach (political windows, upcoming audits, grant deadlines, weather seasons)?

How This Depot Really Runs (Quick Snapshot)

• How many vehicles will need depot charging once your new EVs arrive? Options: 20–29, 30–49, 50–99, 100–199, 200+
• Which vehicle classes and duty profiles make up that count (pick all that apply)? Options: Light‑duty delivery vans, Medium‑duty trucks, Cutaway transit/shuttle buses, School buses, Paratransit/ADA vehicles, Other
• When do the new EVs arrive on site (approximate month), and do you have staged deliveries?
• Who on your team owns final approval for depot electrification projects? Options: Fleet Director/Manager, Director of Facilities, CFO/Procurement, Sustainability Officer, Operations Manager, Other
• Right now, how do vehicles typically get refueled or recharged at the depot? Options: Onsite fuel island (diesel/gas), Unmanaged plug‑in overnight, Third‑party charging elsewhere, No formal fueling—drivers offsite, Hybrid approach
• Who else should be involved in early discovery conversations (names/titles)?

If Your Depot Could Miss a Day, What Would Break First?

• Imagine tomorrow morning 10% of your fleet isn't fully charged—what immediate operational impact would you expect?
• How often in the last 12 months have vehicle readiness or fueling issues disrupted scheduled routes? Options: Weekly or more, Monthly, A few times a year, Rarely/Never
• Tell us about a specific recent day when preparedness failed—what happened, who scrambled, and what was the downstream cost?
• Which part of that failure felt worst—operational delay, customer reputation, overtime costs, or something else? Options: Operational delay, Customer complaints, Overtime/crew costs, Regulatory exposure, Other
• How does the idea of recurring readiness risk make you feel about your current timeline for electrification? Options: Very concerned, Somewhat concerned, Neutral, Confident

Are You Comfortable Betting the Delivery Day on the Utility?

• What is your expectation today for how long a utility service upgrade will take for your site? Options: <3 months, 3–6 months, 6–9 months, 9–12 months, 12+ months, Unsure
• Have you previously experienced a utility interconnection delay on a capital project? If so, what caused it and how long did it push your timeline?
• If the utility schedule slips beyond vehicle arrival, what contingency do you already have or could you realistically implement? Options: Temporary mobile chargers, Staggered vehicle deliveries, Offsite charging contracts, Delay vehicle acceptance, Other
• How many months beyond vehicle delivery would be acceptable before the lack of charging becomes a critical failure? Options: 0 months (must be ready), 1 month, 2 months, 3+ months
• Who internally would escalate and what budget authority exists to fund emergency work or temporary charging solutions?

What Peaks Are Secretly Eating Your Budget?

• Do your monthly bills currently show large demand charge spikes that surprise you? Options: Yes, regularly, Occasionally, Rarely, Don't know / no visibility
• Which best describes your utility rate structure (pick the closest)? Options: Time‑of‑use + demand charges, Flat kWh only, Demand ratcheting, Wholesale/TOU with critical peaks, Unsure—need help
• When you think back to a high bill month, what was the suspected cause—simultaneous vehicle charging, HVAC loads, contractor equipment, or other? Options: Simultaneous EV charging, HVAC/industrial loads, Construction/contractors, Metering/aggregation errors, Other
• How important is reducing demand charges compared to lowering total energy consumption or cutting greenhouse gas emissions? Options: Most important, Important but secondary, Equally important, Lower priority
• Do you currently have any load management or energy management software in use? If yes, what are its limitations?

What’s Already Known About Your Electrical Reality?

• Do you have a current single‑line electrical drawing for the depot available? Options: Yes — up to date, Yes — but outdated, No, Unsure
• What is the service size at the main meter(s) today (select known values)? Options: <200A, 200–600A, 601–1200A, 1201–3000A, 3000A+
• Are there known site constraints we should know about (pick all that apply)? Options: Underground utilities/conflicts, Limited transformer capacity, Limited meter space, Parking layout constraints, Zoning or permitting limits, No constraints identified
• Have you already requested capacity studies or quotes from the utility? If yes, what stage are they in? Options: Not requested, Requested—awaiting response, Study completed, Estimate received, Approved work order
• Can you share any recent meter data, peak load days, or photos of electrical rooms to help prioritize risks? Options: Yes—meter data available, Yes—photos available, No, but can collect, No

How Would Morning Readiness Actually Feel?

• What are the non‑negotiable success signals you would use to sign off that vehicles are 'dispatch‑ready'? Options: All vehicles fully charged, X% at required SOC, No crew overtime, No route cancellations, Other
• For typical first‑shift dispatch, what minimum state‑of‑charge by departure do you require for each vehicle class? Options: 100%, 90%, 80%, Varies by vehicle—see notes
• What acceptable frequency of 'missed readiness' would still feel operationally safe (e.g., 0%, <1%, <5%, other)? Options: 0% (no misses), <1%, 1–5%, 5–10%, Unsure
• How will you measure success during the first 90 days—billing reduction, percent ready by 0500, reduced complaints, or other metrics? Options: Demand charge reduction, Percent fleet ready by dispatch, Reduced fuel costs, Driver/operator satisfaction, Other
• Tell us about the one outcome from electrification that would make your leadership feel this was unquestionably a success.

Who Needs to Be Worried — Who Needs to Be Reassured?

• Which stakeholders will push back hardest on cost, timeline, or operational risk (select all that apply)? Options: Procurement/CFO, Operations/Fleet, Facilities/Engineering, Union/Drivers, Regulators/School Board, Other
• What are the core concerns each of those stakeholders has voiced (cost, downtime, reliability, warranty, other)?
• Which stakeholder needs quantitative proof (ROI, bill modeling) vs qualitative reassurance (testimonials, site visits)? Options: Quantitative proof, Qualitative reassurance, Both, Unsure
• How do drivers and daily operators typically respond to new charging procedures—are they eager, skeptical, or neutral? Options: Eager, Somewhat skeptical, Neutral, Resistant
• What would meaningfully reassure each group—warranted uptime guarantees, trial period, training, or financial incentives? Options: Uptime guarantees, Pilot/proof of concept, Hands‑on training, Financial incentives/guarantees, Other

If We Took the Risk Off Your Plate, What's the Smallest Win That Proves It?

• Would you be open to a limited pilot or staged rollout to prove readiness and demand charge reduction before full deployment? Options: Yes—pilot, Yes—staged rollout, No, must go full, Unsure
• Which pilot scope would most convince you: a single parking bay with one vehicle class, a single shift across the depot, or a subset of high‑priority routes? Options: Single bay/class, Single shift depot‑wide, Subset of routes, Other
• What timeline would you consider acceptable to validate a pilot: 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, or longer? Options: 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, 120+ days
• What specific acceptance criteria must the pilot meet for you to greenlight expansion (select up to three)? Options: % vehicles ready by dispatch, Demand charge reduction %, No unplanned downtime, Operator satisfaction score, ROI threshold
• What's the quickest next step you’re willing to commit to after discovery—share single‑line drawings, schedule site walk, or authorize a pilot budget? Options: Share single‑line drawings, Schedule site walk, Authorize pilot budget, Introduce to utility contact, Other