Over the last few decades, efforts have been made to reduce the transportation industry’s environmental effect. It will become a bigger problem in 2020, especially with battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Significant advancements in battery technology and overall cost reductions have prompted this shift. The scene has been prepared for BEVs to dominate the transportation industry, thanks to increased government emission laws, financial efforts, and public demand for zero-emission technology.
While all types of clean technology will play a part in the next few years, completely electric cars now represent the most promising outcome. With zero tailpipe emissions, they have a far lower environmental effect on average, and as renewable energy technology improves, this will only increase. EVs also provide fleets with the possibility to increase their profits. Electric vehicles often have a lower total cost of ownership since the cost per kWh of power and maintenance costs are lower than the same expenditures for Total cost of ownership (TCO).
The Current State of Sustainable Fleets
The landscape of fleet management is rapidly evolving, with businesses recognizing the importance of embracing sustainable practices. A growing number of companies are adopting eco-friendly initiatives to reduce their carbon footprint, decrease operating costs, and align with environmental regulations. According to recent industry reports, the global adoption of sustainable fleet management practices has witnessed a notable uptick in recent years, with a significant focus on electrification and the integration of telematics technologies.
Statistics reveal that companies that have incorporated sustainable practices into their fleet operations have experienced substantial benefits. For instance, a study conducted by the Business Case for Sustainable Fleets found that organizations embracing sustainable fleet management practices witnessed a 13% reduction in fuel consumption, leading to a 15% reduction in overall fleet operational costs.
Benefits of Sustainability in Fleet Management
- Environmental Impact:
The foremost advantage of sustainable fleet management is its positive impact on the environment. By reducing greenhouse gas emissions and minimizing air pollutants, companies can contribute to cleaner air and a healthier planet.
2. Cost Savings:
Sustainable fleet management strategies often lead to significant cost savings. Reduced fuel consumption, maintenance costs, and potential tax incentives result in improved operational efficiency and financial performance.
3. Regulatory Compliance:
Many regions and jurisdictions are implementing stricter emission standards and regulations. Sustainable fleet management ensures that companies remain compliant with evolving environmental requirements.
4.Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR):
Embracing sustainable practices enhances a company’s CSR profile, showcasing a commitment to social and environmental responsibility that resonates with customers, partners, and stakeholders.
Electrification
Electrification refers to the process of transitioning a fleet from traditional internal combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs), including battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). This shift marks a significant stride towards reducing carbon emissions and achieving sustainability goals.
Thingsup provides a free EV Suitability Assessment (EVSA) to assess which ICE cars in your fleet may be replaced with electric vehicles while maintaining operations and saving money.
The electrification process involves several key steps:
- Vehicle Selection:
Fleet managers must evaluate their operational needs and identify suitable electric vehicle options based on factors such as range, charging infrastructure, and payload capacity.
2. Charging Infrastructure:
Establishing a robust charging infrastructure is pivotal for successful fleet electrification. Companies need to strategically install charging stations at key locations to ensure seamless operations.
3.Telematics Integration:
Telematics plays a pivotal role in the electrification process by providing real-time data on vehicle performance, battery health, charging status, and energy consumption. This data empowers fleet managers to optimize vehicle usage and make informed decisions.
4. Driver Training:
Transitioning to electric vehicles requires driver training to familiarize operators with the unique characteristics of EVs, such as regenerative braking, charging etiquette, and optimal driving habits.
Benefits of Electrification
- Emission Reduction:
Electric vehicles produce zero tailpipe emissions, contributing to cleaner air quality and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
2.Reduced Operating Costs:
Electric vehicles have fewer moving parts, leading to lower maintenance costs and significant fuel savings compared to traditional internal combustion engine vehicles.
3.Energy Efficiency:
Electric vehicles are inherently more energy-efficient, converting a higher percentage of energy from the grid into vehicle movement.
4. Noise Reduction:
Electric vehicles operate quietly, reducing noise pollution in urban areas and enhancing the overall driving experience.
The key to maximizing EV operations is telematics.
There are actions you can take once you’ve implemented electric cars into your fleet to maximize the return on your investment. Reviewing your telemetry data is the key to uncovering this knowledge.
Fleet managers may optimize routes using data-driven insights to guarantee that cars travel the greatest kilometre without needing to charge en route. They may also set ideal charging and driving routines to keep the battery healthy and extend the range of the car.
Increasing the efficiency of your fleet’s cars is nothing new, and many of the same tactics will apply to BEVs as well. You may simplify the process by adopting fleet management software that allows you to manage both ICE and BEV cars on the same platform.
Telematics is essential for tracking drivers’ activity and developing long-term driving habits. Telematics, for example, can detect concerns such as forceful braking or acceleration. When it comes to increasing the economy of an electric vehicle, driver behaviour is critical, and telematics can offer the required data as drivers acclimatize to EV driving. Telematics will assist fleet managers in identifying more significant technical faults early on, rather than later on when they become a greater problem.
Existing fleet telematics may help you determine whether an electric fleet is ideal for your company, what kind of cars will meet your needs, and even where your charging stations should be located.
The state of sustainable fleets
Across several clean fuel technologies, fleet sustainability is starting to bloom. For the majority of fleet vehicle duty cycles, current electric cars have sufficient range and can run at a cheaper operational cost during their service life. Fleet managers armed with the correct data and tools will be able to allocate the right vehicle to the right work and smoothly integrate the operations of electric assets with vehicles as more electric cars join the market in new vehicle classes such as pickups, medium-duty, and so on.
Fleet managers are urged to study all of the resources accessible to them in order to stay ahead of the curve. After all, some of the world’s impending government demands are just one or two service lifecycles away.
Business fleets’ sustainability criteria are not always met by driver management. When this is the case, switching from ICE to EVs may be the best answer. Telematics can assist with the changeover. They keep track of energy usage and production, as well as battery charge and other mission-critical data.
