Electric vehicle fleets: How Denver Water used smart data to adopt EVs

Denver Water is a long-time leader in sustainability. They provide high-quality water to 1.5 million people while prioritizing conservation and environmental stewardship. But when it came to reducing emissions from its fleet, the challenge was clear to them. With 490 on-road vehicles spread across 335 square miles, they needed to determine which vehicles were best suited for electrification.

Like many organizations looking to transition to a mixed-energy fleet, Denver Water needed a data-driven approach. They wanted to ensure that electric vehicles (EVs) they adopted could meet daily operational demands without disrupting critical services. By partnering with Sawatch Labs, a WEX company, through Xcel Energy’s Fleet Electrification Advisory Program (FEAP), they found success. Denver Water analyzed real-world vehicle usage, identified the best EV candidates, and developed a long-term strategy for infrastructure deployment.

Learn how Denver Water planned for a mixed-energy fleet with the help of Sawatch Labs

Read the case study to hear how Sawatch Labs helped Denver Water electrify their fleet.

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The challenge: Finding the right vehicles for electrification

Fleet electrification isn’t just about swapping gas-powered trucks for electric ones. It’s about understanding how each vehicle is used. It’s also about ensuring that an EV replacement can meet daily driving needs. You also need to account for total cost of ownership (TCO) over time.

Denver Water operates 750 fleet assets. That includes 490 on-road vehicles used in everything from maintenance to inspections. Knowing that transportation accounted for a significant portion of its emissions, the organization wanted to identify which vehicles could be replaced with EVs. And they wanted to do this without compromising service.

That’s where Sawatch Labs came in. Using advanced telematics-based analytics, Sawatch Labs helped Denver Water determine:

• Which vehicles could be transitioned to EVs without impacting operational efficiency.
• How much emissions could be reduced through electrification.
• Where to install charging infrastructure to optimize fleet charging.
• The financial impact of fleet electrification, including cost savings and funding opportunities.

With Xcel Energy funding the analysis, Denver Water accessed deep operational insights that would help guide its electrification strategy.

The solution: Leveraging data to make smart EV decisions

Rather than relying on assumptions, Sawatch Labs used real-world telematics data to evaluate the daily operations of each vehicle in Denver Water’s fleet. They tracked minute-by-minute driving behavior. The analysis determined where EVs would be a seamless replacement—and where they wouldn’t.

The study was powered by Sawatch Labs’ EV software suite, including:

• ezEV – Identifies vehicles best suited for electrification by analyzing daily energy use and total cost of ownership.
• ezIO – Projects when, where, and how long vehicles will need to charge at each parking facility.
• EMIT – Monitors fleet activity, establishes an emissions baseline, and tracks reductions over time.

This data-driven approach provided a high level of accuracy and confidence. As a result, Denver Water accessed the insights needed to make informed procurement and infrastructure decisions.

The results: Lower emissions and smarter fleet spending

By the end of the study, ezEV identified 63 vehicles as strong candidates for electrification. These were primarily light-duty trucks and SUVs. These vehicles were scored against available EV alternatives, factoring in:

• Projected daily energy use
• Charging accessibility
• Total cost of ownership (TCO)

The analysis recommended battery electric vehicles (BEVs) for 61 vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) for two. If Denver Water moves forward with these recommendations, the projected impact includes:

• $360,000 in reduced fleet spending over vehicle lifetimes
• 1,000 tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions eliminated
• More efficient vehicle deployment without disrupting daily operations

Beyond light-duty vehicles: Planning for future medium- and heavy-duty EVs

No medium- or heavy-duty vehicles were recommended for immediate replacement. Interestingly, however, the study found that some Class 5 trucks could meet daily operational needs with an electric alternative. At the same time, higher upfront costs for medium- and heavy-duty EVs made the total cost of ownership less favorable.

Rather than ruling them out completely, Denver Water is using these findings to guide future purchases. They are also exploring grant opportunities to offset costs. With EV technology rapidly advancing, keeping an eye on cost trends for larger vehicles will be critical for long-term fleet planning.

Optimizing charging infrastructure: Planning for expansion

Electrifying a fleet isn’t just about choosing the right vehicles—it’s about ensuring the right infrastructure is in place to support charging needs. Sawatch Labs’ ezIO software helped Denver Water:

• Identify which fleet locations needed charging stations first.
• Determine how many ports were required at each site.
• Project peak energy demand and optimize charging schedules to minimize costs.

Armed with this data, Denver Water has already installed new Level 2 chargers. The organization is also actively planning additional infrastructure build-outs to support future EV adoption.

Taking action: Fleet electrification in progress

The insights gained from Sawatch Labs’ analysis are already shaping real-world decisions. Since completing the study, Denver Water has begun purchasing EVs and expanding its charging infrastructure, including:

• Seven Ford F-150 Lightning EV pickups delivered
• Four Chevy Blazer EVs ordered, with the study results cited as the primary reason for selection
• Installation of four dual-port Level 2 chargers and one single-port Level 2 charger

These investments mark just the beginning of a long-term strategy. The information gleaned will guide fleet, facilities, sustainability, finance, and driver operations for years to come.

The future of Denver Water’s fleet: A data-driven approach to sustainability

Denver Water’s electrification journey is far from over. With the help of Sawatch Labs, the organization now has a clear roadmap for reducing fleet emissions while optimizing operations. By using real-world vehicle data to drive decisions, Denver Water has set itself up for long-term success. They are confident they will be able to maximize sustainability efforts while minimizing costs and operational disruptions. And as more medium- and heavy-duty EV options become viable, the insights from this study continue to shape Denver Water’s procurement strategy, infrastructure planning, and fleet evolution.

For other organizations considering fleet electrification, Denver Water’s approach offers a powerful lesson: data is the key to making smart, cost-effective decisions. As Katie Fletcher, Sustainability Program Analyst at Denver Water, put it:

“We have certainly gotten a lot out of this service, and we have really enjoyed working with you all to start developing our strategy for the electrification of our fleet.”

With the right tools, the right data, and the right partners, fleet electrification isn’t just possible—it’s practical, efficient, and financially sustainable. Denver Water is proving that a smarter fleet is a greener fleet, and the road to sustainability starts with the right insights.

Explore WEX’s comprehensive EV solutions

When adopting electric vehicles into your fleet, one layer of complexity is how your drivers will pay for/get reimbursed for charging. You’ll want to partner with a fleet card provider who has already developed ready-made solutions for fueling a mixed-energy fleet. WEX offers solutions for drivers to charge while on the road as well as from home all within the same platform as you use to track ICE vehicle fueling. 

WEX’s EV En-route program offers a range of features that simplify the complexities of public charging:

Enhanced driver experience

To access nearby charging stations, drivers can use the DriverDash app or the WEX EV RFID card. DriverDash is a user-friendly app that simplifies the charging or fueling process. The app can also be used to fuel ICE vehicles. It provides real-time information on and directions to nearby available fueling or charging stations, and allows drivers to initiate a charging session.

Secure payment network

With the DriverDash app and RFID card, EV En Route uses WEX’s proprietary closed-loop payments network. This means you’re ensured secure transactions and you’ll have access to detailed insights about charging behavior, driver identification, and vehicle mileage.

DriverDash is accepted at a growing network of accepting charging locations, including ChargePoint, EVConnect, EVGo, FLO, AmpUp, and Blink. 

Simplified cost management and billing

Managing the costs of EV charging can be complex, but WEX EV En Route simplifies the process of managing a mixed-energy fleet. You’ll have one credit line, one invoice, and one set of reports which includes both your charging and your fuel purchases. The reporting also provides insights into charging costs across different stations and times, allowing managers to strategically pick stations for cost and time efficiency.

Learn more on how WEX EV En Route can benefit your fleet. 

WEX EV At-Home is a cutting-edge solution to charging your EV at home. It automates reporting and charging reimbursement to any organization where employees bring their EV home at night. Charging at home, overnight is also the most cost effective solution, according to AAA.

WEX speaks the language of small business operators. Whether you’re looking to modernize your insight and reporting efforts, save on fuel costs or take advantage of the latest GPS tracking technologies, WEX offers solutions to simplify the business of running a business. Learn more about WEX, a dynamic and nimble global organization by visiting our About WEX page.

To learn more about EV solutions and mixed fleets, visit:

• EV: Everything you need to know for your commercial vehicle fleet
• EV adoption: 4 global trends in transition to mixed-energy fleets
• EV FAQs
• How to best incorporate EVs into your fleet
• EV at-home charging

For more about how Sawatch Labs can help you make the best business strategy for electrifying your fleet, contact them at info@sawatchlabs.com or (303) 578-2465. You can also book a demo here.