Electric vehicle (EV) sales in the US have seen a significant increase, reaching over 10% of total vehicle sales in 2023. Considering the favorable environmental benefits and potential cost savings throughout the vehicle life, the upward trend in EV sales is expected to continue. Telematics data is crucial to transitioning to electric and ensuring fleet operations are optimized, providing efficiencies and value for money for fleet operators. This article will explore how Telematics data is a vital tool for EV fleets.

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Embracing data to transition to EV

Making the switch to electric is daunting for fleet operators, especially when confronted with new technology and challenges. Which vehicles should I adopt? How and where do I install charging stations? Will the battery experience degradation over time? And how will the vehicle fare in different conditions? These are all legitimate concerns. Telematics data is the perfect starting point to answer these questions. Examples of how data can help include:

Managing range anxiety - assess typical daily mileage and potential EV range of the replacement vehicle, making sure the EV can operate the daily tasks on a single charge, maintaining fleet productivity. 

Putting chargers in the right place - how often an EV will need to charge will depend on the vehicle's operational cycles, the battery size and the charging power. Using GPS to identify where vehicles dwell most of the time (at the depot or otherwise) can assist in locating the best and most effective place to put charging stations.

Working out fleet transition costs - a key barrier transitioning to electric is the upfront cost. Telematics data offers real-time insights into the present vehicle's operating costs, allowing a comparison with the potential electric vehicle replacement, understanding the overall ownership costs and identifying potential savings.

Ultimately, telematics data is an evidence base to help a fleet operator make a seamless transition to electric. The advantages of telematics extend beyond the transition phase, playing a pivotal role in ensuring ongoing optimization of the fleet.

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How data can optimize an EV fleet

Telematics data possesses the capability to monitor EVs in real-time, offering crucial information on battery charge levels, remaining battery percentage, and estimated range. This ensures proactive measures can be taken to prevent any fleet vehicle from running out of charge. Additionally, real-time monitoring of battery health and degradation through telematics becomes essential for assessing the ongoing suitability of electric range as the vehicle ages. 

The power of telematics is elevated when integrated with fleet management and charging management platforms, enabling the oversight of charging activities and billing processes.

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All the charging data you will ever need

Telematics data can offer a complete overview of each vehicle's charging sessions, including information on the charging type used, kilowatt-hours delivered, cost, and duration for each charging session. Additionally, it can highlight whether a vehicle is currently plugged in. Additionally, configured dashboards can provide a monthly fleet summary detailing AC and DC charging usage, most used charging networks, and top locations for vehicle charging. This crucial insight aids in effectively monitoring the EV fleet's charging, optimizing schedules, and maximizing overall productivity.

As the fleet grows, it becomes essential to have a platform that allows seamless addition of drivers and vehicles. Furthermore, the ability to group drivers or vehicles is crucial for supporting monitoring and benchmarking activities.

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Effortlessly manage charging costs

Paying for EV charging isn’t always the easiest, with multiple vendors, apps, and ways to pay. Charge point management platforms simplify this by having everything in one place and much more. Where possible, charging at home can be a cost-effective strategy for fleets. Having visibility between home and public charging and implementing automated payments and reimbursements can save considerable time. Additionally, establishing monthly cost limits for each driver can contribute to effective cost management.

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Driver App at your fingertips

Having telematics data readily available through a driver app is an indispensable tool every fleet driver should have. The app can locate chargers along the route for vehicle charging and offer essential information, including any fault details and the last charging session. This ensures drivers can confidently approach a charger, knowing it is operational and ready for use.

Telematics data, fleet, and charge point management tools are crucial for every step of your EV journey. Bluedot for Fleets stands out as the all-in-one solution every fleet operator should have, and integrates with major telematics providers to unify payment and vehicle data. Bluedot streamlines billing and payment for public and at-home charging, aggregating 80% of the nation’s chargers in a single app and tracking home charging sessions.

If you are interested in learning how Bluedot can simplify charging, billing, and monitoring for EV fleets, connect with fleet@thebluedot.co.