Despite what historical timelines may tell us, innovation never happens instantly. We are in the middle of a new revolution: the future of electric commercial fleet management is here. While skeptics are still skeptical, leaders are underway converting their fleets to stay up with new mandates and build a more sustainable future.
This new era will be even more important to us than past innovations like the wheel and the internal combustion engine. Why? Because electrifying fleets are now being mandated for our future as well as improving operational efficiency, decreasing costs, and contributing to overall sustainability and cleaner air efforts. The question now is not if electric vehicles will take over commercial fleets, but when?
And while I wait for time to back me up on that statement, let me show you what is wrong with our current model and the technology shaping the future of electric commercial fleet management.
Increasing efficiency through new software and technology
One of the essential traits of every good fleet manager is having the eye for efficiency and maintaining it. Recording and assessing data to make efficiency improvements is a never-ending process that consumes fleet managers.
Innovations in fleet management software since the new millennium has been critical to improving fleets and easing fleet managers’ burden. But as innovations go, they are continually improving and changing before reaching their fullest form.
Machine learning will help fleet managers with their decision making by accurately predicting consumption over time and potential maintenance problems. This planning is essential to simplifying fleet managers’ day-to-day tasks and preparing better for the future.
While this new tech is exciting to fleet managers, it will likely replace some roles within their organization. One of those may be the operator’s role, and without a person to report issues, fleet managers will need to rely on data and software even more to make corrections.
With this in mind, maintenance scheduling will become even more critical, but machine learning is here to help again! Fleet management software will detect optimal service timelines cutting out the guesswork and preventing vehicle issues from occurring.
Improving Rider Experience With Technology
Fleet managers will not be the only ones to benefit from this new world of connectivity within fleets. Riders will now be able to connect seamlessly into fleet systems using rider apps. The ability to accurately view ETAs, open seats, and scheduling shuttles removes public transportation anxiety for riders.
Transportation safety is essential, and fleet managers now have to look at new concerns due to the Coivd-19 pandemic. By leveraging their fleet management software, teams can ensure proper social distancing and capacity capping to follow WHO guidelines. Endera motors has taken it one step further to help prevent the spread of the virus. By implementing infra-red cameras into their vehicles, they can detect riders with potential fever symptoms relieving stress for drivers and riders.
What Makes Electric Vehicle Technology More Efficient?
While Ford appears at the headlines of efficiency and productivity in history, their engines are far from it. Oh, and those bright German Engineers, boasting efficiency, they didn’t quite have it figured out either.
The problem is that of the energy produced from an internal combustion engine, only 15% of it is used to propel the vehicle forward. This means you are losing over 85% of your potential energy to heat loss, idle loss, and drivetrain loss. With over 1,500 moving parts in the drivetrain alone, this is not a surprise… and neither are the long lists of repairs that come with them.
Compared to an electric vehicle, which only loses 20% of its energy to the drivetrain and resistance, it is clear who the winner of efficiency is. But what does being 5x more efficient in your vehicles mean to your budget and bottom line?
For Ace Parking and the San Diego International Aiport, their 29 shuttle conversion translates to $20,000 in savings per year per vehicle and 5 million pounds of Co2 emissions saved.
Reducing Total Cost of Ownership with Electric Vehicles.
There are several factors to consider when comparing the cost of vehicles for a commercial fleet. Historically, vehicle prices have been the most significant consideration for fleet managers, making electric vehicles appear as an overly priced luxury due to their sticker price.
But to see electric vehicles in the light they deserve, you must look at the savings on the backend of your fleet conversion.
As fleet managers, you know that we must band together against the common enemy: vehicle maintenance is an essential but costly operational component. With a simple drivetrain, one gear, and a brushless motor, electric vehicles are as maintenance-efficient as they are energy-efficient.
Electric vehicles save fleet managers time and money by not requiring the same recurring maintenance of internal combustion engine vehicles. There is no oil, transmission fluid, filters, or spark plugs that need replacement to maintain a vehicle’s reliability.
Currently, internal combustion engines in fleet vehicles recommend drivetrain replacement every 36 months or 75,000 miles on top of their recurring maintenance. While Electric vehicles don’t get to skip out on this maintenance, they only require replacement every 60 months or 150,000 miles.
Using an EV drivetrain, fleet owners can lengthen their replacement cycles and cut out most of their recurring maintenance altogether. EV drivetrains are a great long term reducer of both cost and long-term maintenance exposure. Most EV drivetrain warranties include even the AC conductor and motor, eliminating the risk of replacing the vehicle’s costliest parts.
Fleet managers should closely review their fleet’s efficiency as the benefits of fleet electrification are here to stay. With the help of your data, a Total Cost of Ownership comparison will show you precisely how much going electric would save your fleet in fuel consumption, maintenance, and your precious time.
As I said before, innovation doesn’t happen instantly. We are fortunate enough to be living during the electric vehicle revolution and can take part in building a more sustainable future. The future for electric commercial fleet management is bright, and with companies like Endera forging the path ahead, the future has become the present.
Learn about how Endera is changing the space in electric commercial fleet management. Watch their video here.