Conventional fleet management involved tracking & monitoring fleet operations. The aim was to improve productivity by reducing time wastage & expenses as much as possible. EV fleet management involves collecting the same data as you would for fuel-powered fleets, with the addition of EV charging schedules.
Managing an EV fleet has challenges, but technology helps. The best way to tackle these challenges is via an EV fleet management system (or software), which allows fleet managers to get insights on fleet vehicles which help them optimize routes and ensure that maximum distance is covered between charges.
EV fleet management softwares can help companies to plan & manage their EV charging schedules more efficiently. Machine learning-enabled FMS helps fleet managers establish best practices for driving & charging. Advanced fleet management solutions help in optimizing routes, managing charging schedules & monitoring vehicle performance in real-time. The shift from fuel-powered fleet to tech-empowered EV fleet not only supports environmental goals but also boosts operational efficacy.
A typical EV fleet management system performs the following tasks:
- Real-time vehicle tracking
- Battery state-of-charge monitoring
- Battery charge scheduling
- Analyzing energy consumption
- Providing predictive maintenance alerts
- Integrating with renewable energy sources
EVET by Magenta:
Magenta Mobility’s fleet management system EVET (Electric Vehicle Enabled Transport) provides real-time insights for track & trace, vehicle health, driving behaviour, real-time state of charge & low charge alert.
Magenta’s FMS processes data generated by its ‘Telematics Control Unit’ which helps EVET manage the fleet efficiently. EVET is complemented by a user-friendly interface that is accessible in real-time on smartphones via an app.
EVET makes sure that fleet managers are always in touch with their driver partners & vehicles, giving them more control over operations. The system also tracks unauthorized vehicle movements and displays the vehicle’s exact location on a graphical map to the manager.
EV Fleet Management Solutions Providers in India:
1.Pulse Energy:
Pulse Energy’s cloud-based software provides a comprehensive group of functions curated for EV fleets. Key features include:
a)EV Charging Management: The software helps optimize charging schedules. Pulse Energy has its own proprietary charging network as well as tie-ups with 35 CPOs across the country.
b)Real-Time Fleet Tracking & Route Planning: The software keeps you updated about your fleet’s whereabouts. It also helps in route planning taking into account battery state-of-charge, distance from charging station & real-time traffic flow.
c)Driver Behavior Monitoring: It helps monitor driver behavior to identify scope for increasing productivity and also for vehicle security.
d)Maintenance Management: The software helps in planning your fleet’s preventive maintenance to guarantee peak performance and save expensive malfunctions.
2.Trinetra Wireless:
a)Trinetra Fleet Management System helps EV fleets by streamlining their operations. It provides real-time updates about individual vehicle locations, which help fleet managers identify shortest routes. The software sends pop-up messages to offer trip updates. The geo-fencing feature enables location-based alerts and non-compliance alerts. It helps with setting EV charging schedules for timely charging of vehicles to ensure punctuality of operations. The fleet management system also generates reports for vehicle maintenance and tyre management.
Electric Cab Fleet Management:
Electric cabs are the new way to improve sustainability in passenger transportation services. And to manage a fleet of electric cabs, EV management softwares for taxi fleets have been developed & deployed. The software tracks & monitors EV cab operations by analyzing their routes, charging schedules, driver habits and much more. The software-linked apps can enable drivers to remotely schedule charging sessions ahead of time, so that they can avoid the wait at public charging stations. Let’s understand more about this via an example.
BluSmart:
BluSmart is India’s largest electric cab service company.
The company’s patented fleet management tech utilizes a combination of algorithms, real-time location & the EV’s state-of-charge.
Factors that are taken into consideration by BluSmart ride-matching algorithm for trip allocation:
a)Which cab is closest to the pick-up location?
b)Current state-of-charge of the cab. Does it have enough charge to make the trip and then reach its nearest EV charging station?
c)When the driver completes the trip, where should he be directed to go, on another trip or the nearest charging station?
Conclusion:
Smart EV fleet management solutions are becoming increasingly important for managing commercial logistics & cab fleets. These systems utilize data analytics & telematics to optimize route planning, monitor vehicle health & manage charging schedules. By leveraging these softwares, fleet managers can improve operational efficiency, reduce costs & enhance the overall performance of their electric fleets.