Telematics is an essential management tool for many commercial and government fleets. Whether your chosen solution comes factory-embedded from the manufacturer or is added in after acquisition, telematics helps managers to monitor and understand their fleet assets.
Even when the right vehicles for your fleet become available, there is still the question of whether they are truly the better option. Fleet managers must justify that EVs would perform at the same level as their current ICE models.
The benefits of connecting a fleet with telematics are pretty much indisputable. With such a deep collection of vehicle and driving insights, managers can dig into data to identify waste reduction opportunities and optimize performance. However, as many switch to electric vehicles they are wondering, are telematics just as useful for EV fleets?
Business intelligence seems to be one of those buzzwords that companies throw around when talking strategy and futureproofing solutions, but many find it hard to actually define. Is it a system? A service? A strategic approach? In some ways, it is all of the above.
With a major lack of electric vehicle options to replace medium- and heavy-duty ICE trucks, EVs are unfortunately not viable for many utility fleets yet. This doesn’t make ICEV fleets a lost cause for sustainable practice though.
The term “OEM telematics” has built up quite a buzz in recent years because telematics have long been sourced from third party providers and added to vehicles after acquisition. Manufacturers are catching onto this trend, however, and are creating their own solution.
In addition to the variety of third-party providers who can integrate their software into any vehicle, many OEMs are starting to build vehicles that are ready to collect data as soon as they are driven off the lot. This is an important option for fleet managers to consider when evaluating their fleet’s needs.
Deciding the lifecycle of a vehicle is a strategic decision that affects operational costs and a company’s bottom line. The decision could depend on the intended use of the vehicle, the terrain and environment in which it operates, and the impact of maintenance costs and downtime to business.
The ability to collect so much valuable data also allows data management teams to identify areas for improvement that could greatly reduce a fleet’s carbon footprint. Observations regarding waste reduction, fuel consumption and idling time can help managers identify where and how they can do better.