In the last couple of years, the transportation industry has significantly shifted to become more sustainability focused. For some fleets, this means making choices to adopt greener operations with current vehicle assets. For other businesses, it might mean switching to a full EV fleet of light commercial vehicles. For those in the second camp, understanding fleet data will be crucial for optimizing EV usage and getting the most out of your vehicle investment.
EV fleet data provides insights to inform your business’s overall sustainability strategy, from optimizing route planning and monitoring vehicle health to tracking fuel and energy consumption patterns, depending on the type of electric vehicle your business uses. The key to unlocking this level of data and actionable insights is partnering with a comprehensive fleet management solution to optimize your fleet and support your ongoing goals.
In this blog by MICHELIN Connected Fleet, we discuss tactical ways to make the most of your fleet data after you’ve switched over to EV vehicles.
Analyzing your vehicle data to optimize route planning is a good place to start. By pulling data from your fleet tracking solution, you can identify which routes waste the most fuel, support energy efficiency or lead to nearby assignment opportunities. These considerations can ensure your EVs follow the most efficient, green routes while supporting fleet productivity and overall business goals.
Route planning data can also help plan EV charging opportunities. Specific to charging stations, vehicle data can inform your drivers when it is time for a battery charge and which routes provide necessary charging stops. This way, you can plan your routes around charging stations to ensure a seamless journey for your EV vehicles.
Fleet data is a treasure trove of insights into vehicle health and performance. If your EVs are experiencing battery, fuel or equipment issues, starting with data analysis can help identify the root of the cause. And even if they’re not experiencing any issues, monitoring vehicle data can help you create and implement preventative maintenance plans. That way, you can prioritize EV health from the start and receive real-time updates on your vehicle’s performance.
Fleet data can also paint a clear picture of your EV battery condition. While most electric vehicle batteries do not require extensive maintenance, it’s important to understand their projected lifespan and ensure your charging behaviors support longevity. EV data can provide a snapshot of your battery charge time and its implications on battery health.
Next, use your EV fleet data to track and analyze energy consumption patterns across all your vehicles, identifying areas that need attention. As mentioned, utilizing tracking solutions can pinpoint efficient routes and areas that waste energy. For fleets with hybrid electric vehicles, analyzing driver behavior like idling, harsh braking and rapid acceleration can also help you identify high fuel-consuming behaviors. Once you have visibility into these patterns, you can create driver coaching opportunities or adjust your fleet routes to optimize EV energy usage and reduce fuel costs in vehicles with a battery and electric motor.
Lastly, leverage your EV data to track asset utilization and fleet performance analytics for peak efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Analyzing and tracking performance metrics, vehicle mileage, idle time and other relevant data points can help improve asset utilization. Leverage asset-tracking features from your connected fleet management solution so you can know the exact location of your vehicles. Use the insights from this fleet visibility to make decisions that enhance productivity, control costs and maximize vehicle utilization, all while ensuring on-time delivery.
Switching from traditional ICE vehicles to EVs can come with a steep learning curve, so knowing how to analyze your vehicle data can make a world of difference. Use your connected fleet solution to give you the insights and next steps needed to inform your EV fleet strategy. MICHELIN Connected Fleet can provide your business with the right solutions and strategies so you can not only capture vehicle data, but actually understand the data. When you have access to in-depth EV data analysis, you can continue to optimize operations, enhance vehicle performance and not only reach but surpass your sustainability goals.
Our team of experts is ready to provide you with further information and guidance on maximizing your fleet's efficiency and performance through data analytics. If you’re ready to explore the full potential of your EV fleet's data capabilities, call 800-358-6178 or contact us online to learn more.