How EV Access scaled to 200+ vehicles without adding headcount.
We met Justin Pappan, CEO of EV Access, to discuss how he built a dedicated rideshare fleet that manages high-volume transactions and compliance on autopilot.
What were the challenges of launching a high-utilization EV fleet?
Identifying the Gap:
We saw a massive gap in the Phoenix market. Rideshare drivers were spending hundreds a week on gas, and traditional rental companies didn't understand the economics of EVs7. We knew if we could provide access to reliable electric vehicles, we could fundamentally change a driver's take-home pay8.
The Tipping Point:
The real challenge hit around 100 cars. We were manually processing over $10,000 a day in transactions and tracking Supercharging fees on spreadsheets9. It became obvious that adding even one more vehicle would break our manual systems10.
The Compliance Risk:
Beyond the workload, the biggest headache was exposure. In the rideshare world, one insurance gap can be catastrophic11. We constantly worried if our background checks and coverage were actually protecting us in a worst-case scenario12.
“Before Wheelbase, we were managing chaos; after Wheelbase, we were managing a real business. The platform allowed us to scale from a small fleet to over 200 vehicles without adding a single new operations manager.”
Despite these challenges, what convinced you to choose Wheelbase?
More Than Just a Calendar:
We looked at generic tools, but they ignored the two biggest risks we face: insurance and compliance. Wheelbase stood out because it provided the infrastructure to protect the business, not just book it.
A Single Source of Truth:
Before Wheelbase, our data lived in six different places—insurance docs, charging reports, and contracts were all scattered. We needed a system where renter data, vehicle status, and billing were tied together. Having insurance embedded directly into the platform removed the guesswork.
How has the operating system changed your ability to scale?
Automating the Busywork:
Shifting into Wheelbase gave us our time back. We automate insurance checks, contract management, and daily exception reporting. Workflows that used to take hours of manual coordination now run in the background without constant oversight.
Focusing on Strategy:
For us as owners, it freed up the bandwidth to work on the business instead of in it. Because the operational foundation is solid, we are now expanding into a dealership model and building a larger mobility ecosystem.
Start managing your fleet
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