For many fleet managers, making their fleet more sustainable is high on the agenda. But where do you start? How do you know which cars are best to replace? And, which electric vehicles are the most suitable match for your drivers’ driving habits? Tamás Halbrucker, Lead Solutions Engineer at Geotab, tells us more about how connected data supports the entire electrification process to ensure that fleet managers make the right decisions for successfully building a more sustainable fleet – based on data.
Vehicle data is the source for electrification
Moove has partnered with Geotab – the global market leader in connected transport solutions – to give fleet managers optimal insight into the performance of their vehicles. If your goals are electrification and optimising the performance of your fleet’s EVs (electric vehicles), connected data is fundamental for obtaining the valuable data you need.
‘Telematics delivers accurate vehicle data with a high frequency, which provides essential information and foundation for your electrification process’
Tamás Halbrucker, Lead Solutions Engineer Geotab
“Extracting useful data from EVs is harder than it is from ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) vehicles because EV data is not standardised on the vehicle,” Tamás explains. “Therefore, you need to find relevant data points for each vehicle from which actionable data can be extracted. Charging data, for example, is not standardised, meaning telematics providers have to figure out a way to access the data from each vehicle.”
Electrification in three stages
Geotab follows three stages in which the electrification process takes shape: preparing for driving EVs, optimising driving EVs, and scaling up driving EVs with charging integration.
Going electric
Each fleet is different and uses its vehicles for different purposes.“The biggest challenge for a fleet manager is deciding which vehicles you want to replace with EVs,” says Tamás. “Fleet managers should realise that, although cars may look the same, EV and ICE vehicles are completely different and have specific features. Their range, the charging options, the driving behaviour –as a fleet manager you have to consider all of these factors.”
Geotab has developed a specific tool for this purpose: the Electric Vehicle Suitability Assessment (EVSA) tool, which is designed for analysing current fleet activities. It helps fleet managers identify vehicles for electrification based on real-world data, preferences, and availability of charging options. The aim of the tool is not only to find an EV that is able to do the job, but is also cheaper than a new ICE. Furthermore, it will only recommend an EV when it makes financial and practical sense, making it the perfect tool to build a business case for electrification.
Operating electric
After you’ve integrated EVs into your fleet, the next step is optimising their performance. Although the fleet manager probably knows the capabilities of the EVs, the drivers may not, which makes processing data and making it visible to the drivers all the more important. Aggregated data supports coaching programs that help them to learn about the EV capabilities of their vehicle in a better way. Key to getting the best possible insights for EVs to be used in the most efficient way are: getting data from the vehicle, monitoring the battery status, and reporting.
Scaling up with charging integration
“To further optimise fleet performance, Geotab developed relevant solutions and collaborates with charging station providers to integrate EV data with solutions for optimal charging management,” says Tamás. “You get a notification when the vehicle isn’t charging properly, for example, to avoid having an empty battery the next morning. It also gives you more control over the charging costs based on usage data. This will give you a full overview of EV charging at the station and vehicle levels. It also lets you plan EV charging across the fleet more effectively by linking charging station data with real-time battery status, capacity, GPS location, and historical charging requirements.”
‘Electric vehicles are already mainstream. I expect companies to integrate EVs even faster than the established government deadlines. But they should start earlier than later, as 2035 is not that far away anymore.’
Tamás Halbrucker, Lead Solutions Engineer Geotab
Would you like to know more about how our solutions can help you electrify your fleet successfully? Request a demo.
