Is Telematics Necessary for Successful EV Initiatives? | Utilimarc Fleet FYIs

Gretchen Reese (00:07):

Hey there, welcome to the Fleet FYIs Podcast, the weekly podcast by Utilimarc that reveals how you can make the most of your data for smarter fleet management. My name is Gretchen. And every week you'll hear from me or some of the industry's finest in candid conversations that will not only shed some light on over two decades worth of fleet data insights, but also some of the industry's hottest talking points and key metric analysis, with the aim to help you better understand your fleet from every angle. But before we begin, if this is the first time you've heard our show, thanks for stopping by. I'm so glad you decided to come along for the ride with us.

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(01:34):

Hello, everyone, and welcome back to another episode of the Fleet FYIs Podcast. Today I wanted to take a little bit more of a data centric approach to EVs. And I didn't just want to talk about EV reporting as a whole, because I think, when we're talking about electric vehicles, one thing that I really want to touch on, before we bring the full scale of electric vehicle reporting into the mix on this show, is the whole process of actually translating the EV metrics that you need from internal combustion engine metrics that you're already used to. But the one thing that I'd really like to talk about today is actually how telematics and electric vehicles can work really closely hand-in-hand.

(02:17):

Now, I'm sure we all know by now that telematics is a powerful tool for fleet managers to collect realtime data from all of their vehicles. These brand diagnostic solutions connect fleets of all sizes and allow managers to track vehicle location, driver behavior, and monitor engine diagnostics remotely. And the question comes to pay, what are the benefits of specifically using telematics in electric vehicles? Why is the big fuss in electric vehicles here? Well, for one, telematics can amplify fleet sustainability efforts and provide the data to track success. We already knew that. But also, there's a couple other pieces to the puzzle that I really wanted to touch on here as well. Let's dig in.

(03:28):

So let's start with touching on the EV specific benefits to telematics in general. I think that's a good point to kick off this episode here. So the benefits of connecting a fleet with telematics are pretty much indisputable. And we've talked about this in this show before, and this probably won't be the last time. But with such a deep collection of vehicle and driving insights, fleet managers can dig into data and identify waste reduction opportunities, optimize performance; the list goes on. However, as many switch to electric vehicles, especially as mandates and technology purchasing patterns and behaviors change, a lot of people are wondering, "Are telematics really as useful in electric vehicle fleets? And if so, in what ways?"

(04:13):

The first is gauging EV suitability. That I think is the first and foremost piece of this puzzle here. Electrification seems to be the go-to answer for fleets in trying to figure out how to help fleets go greener. However, without trustworthy data to compare the results, fleet managers are actually left to blindly assume that this is just true. And this is why I always like to say on this show that fleet sustainability is a multifaceted approach. And again, I'm going to stress that in every electric vehicle episode that I ever do. Nothing's going to change there, because the thing is here is you have to delve into the data to make sure that these are the right option for your fleet, the right replacement for your fleet vehicles that are already internal combustion engines. Because if they're not the right replacement, then they're not going to be as efficient as performing their duties as they currently are.

(05:03):

My point here, though, is that telematics can help ease fleets into a total EV transition if this is something they choose to pursue by giving fleet managers the option to compare performance between a tester group of electric vehicles, here's the key here, and the rest of their vehicle fleets. And EVs are a costly investment. That's no secret, especially with all the chip shortages and all the challenges that are driving purchase prices through the roof. But my point is, is that this adoption strategy can potentially save millions of dollars when it comes to acquiring and procuring new vehicles. And ultimately, it gives fleets a chance to see what works best for them with far less risk, which is I think always an attractive option.

(05:43):

The second piece of this is alleviating range anxiety. Now, one of the biggest deterrents from electric vehicle adoption is the added pressure of range anxiety, or can this vehicle actually do what I need it to do when I need it to do it? Telematics tracking can help fleet managers plan the most optimal routes for their drivers based on a vehicle's capacity. And they can also factor in the location of charging stations, just in case a driver needs a supplemental charge during a shift if they're running low on battery. Now, this is comforting for drivers who might be new to electric vehicles, have never driven one before, and they worry about running out of charge whilst they're on the road.

(06:22):

It's also useful in conserving energy, reducing carbon footprint, and ensuring that you get the most out of a full battery charge. Additionally, fleet managers can actually quickly locate their vehicles, again, similar to internal combustion engines. They can check their current state of charge, and they can decide whether the vehicle could make it to one more stop before returning to its charging station. On the whole, I think telematics can actually help facilitate the communication between vehicle and fleet manager and driver, which leaves a lot less room for missed opportunities and a lot less room for worries surrounding range anxiety in itself.

(06:59):

One thing I think that telematics is also very, very good for is that it discourages inefficient driving behaviors. Now, let me elaborate on this before it sounds like, "Oh, can it really discourage my drivers to drive better or go where I need them to be when I need them to be there?" Well, in a way, yes. Similar to internal combustion engine vehicles, aggressive driving behaviors can burn up fuel faster. We all know this at this point, right? Implementing telematics into a fleet can quickly curb this though, because it provides real time alerts and overall reports highlighting behaviors, like speeding and harsh acceleration and other activities that can consume battery power, similar to how fuel is consumed, even more quickly.

(07:42):

And not only will this help fleet managers ensure that their drivers are being safer on the road, which is ideally what we'd all love, zero accidents and a high safety score, but it can also help with energy conservation for the batteries for these EVs in the long run. Telematics reports can also aid in monitoring and preventing inappropriate idling, which when we say inappropriate idling, we mean the idling that is not necessary to perform your task or to do the job. And it can add up to hours of wasted battery power and electricity back to your vehicle, which what I mean is you avoid it entirely. Idling is one of the heaviest contributors of carbon emissions in the transport sector, so efforts to reduce daily idling are essential for sustainable practice, regardless of whether you're operating an electric vehicle fleet or not. That's something I just thought I'd throw out there. And it's one thing too that, when you're looking at idling, you're able to actually track and know the difference between good versus bad idling. It's kind of a cool component of telematics reporting as well.

(08:44):

The last thing here that I really would like to note before we wrap this episode up though is how telematics can actually help plan for charging in real time for an electric vehicle fleet. A connected fleet of EVs means access to an accurate state of charge for all of your vehicles at the top of one finger, usually clicking a button or something like that. This is useful for fleet managers that are gauging whether vehicles will have sufficient range to complete a sequence of jobs or to change plans and add on another destination, kind of like we've already talked about earlier in this episode.

(09:19):

And similarly, this feature is useful for planning at charging depots, because, if there's a limited number of charging stations, fleet managers can quickly assess and prioritize which vehicles need to be charged first, based on the current state of charge and upcoming work schedule. Vehicles that won't be needed immediately can wait to charge at a later time, whilst those that are needed sooner rather than later can receive priority, which is kind of a cool piece. First come for serve no longer, now it's whoever needs it most gets it first. It's possible for a fleet to have less charging depots on site than EVs due to financial constraints or power availability in the local grid. We all know the challenges of EV infrastructure, especially right now. And in these cases, this is where integrated telematics can be an immense help in smoothing out charging strategies and allowing for last minute adjustments.

(10:40):

My point though, with all of this, is that it's clear to see how powerful of a tool telematics can be when it comes to optimizing fleet operations and the strategies that surround it. By receiving insights from multiple data streams on a constant basis, fleet managers can have the fullest picture possible of their fleet to aid in decision making and tracking performance. This is especially important as fleets around the world transition to partially or all electric fleets or start to look into other sustainable technology options. And with such a major change underway, using telematics to keep tabs on where performance is thriving, are lacking is essential for successful fleets.

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But I'd love to hear your thoughts. Tell me what you think. Do you think that telematics is going to be a necessary tool of the trade that no fleet will be able to operate without in the near future? Or do you think it's something that some people can still get a little wiggle room with getting by without it? I happen to be on the side of the fence where I think that most fleets need it, if they can afford it, because it's such a valuable data source for fleets to be able to use, consume, and improve their performance based on. But tell me what you think. I want to hear from you guys. You can let me know by sending me an email. You can tag me on LinkedIn. Use the hashtag, #UtilimarcFleetFYIs. Even send me a carrier pigeon. I don't judge. Whatever you want to do, just get in touch. I'd love to hear what you think. Anyways, that is all for me. I am so looking forward to speaking to you again next Friday. So make sure you tune in for another episode of Fleet FYIs. Ciao.

(12:35):

Hey, there. I think this is the time that I should cue the virtual high five, because you've just finished listening to another episode of the Fleet FYIs Podcast. If you're already wanting more content, head over to utitilimarc.com, which is Utilimarc with a C, U-T-I-L-I-M-A-R-C .com for this episode's show notes and extra insights coming straight from our analyst to you. That's all from me this week, so until next time, I'll catch you later.