The Challenge of Managing Electric Fleets
Managing just a couple of electric buses involves navigating daily variables such as route length, battery capacity, and weather conditions. This task becomes even more complex as additional electric vehicles are integrated into the fleet.
To alleviate these challenges, fleet management technology is deploying the combined power of artificial intelligence and digital twins, which are designed to optimize electric vehicle (EV) efficiency according to real-time operational needs.
Insights from Experts
Brandy LeBeau, fleet manager for the City of Roseville in California, emphasizes the importance of having a charge management system for effective EV operation. She stated via email, ‘We plan to leverage [AI-driven optimization technology] once our four EV buses are in service.’
BetterFleet, the technology provider for Roseville, has developed systems that create a digital twin of the entire fleet operation. Though Roseville has not yet implemented this component, anticipation is high for its future integration, with plans to ‘optimize transit operations’ as EVs come online.
Daniel Hilson, CEO of BetterFleet, explains that everyday factors such as temperature and battery condition can affect charging speed, insight provided by their AI technology which considers all external and internal metrics. Hilson detailed, ‘We know the mass of the vehicle, its performance, energy consumption, and battery degradation over time.’
Furthermore, digital twin technology is becoming integral within smart city applications, allowing for training of AI to handle complex real-world scenarios, according to Jumbi Edulbehram from NVIDIA.
A Look to the Future of Fleet Management
With AI and digital twins at the forefront, the future of fleet management is poised for transformation. Hilson states that while the initial focus of charge management was on the functionality of chargers, advancements now provide a broader understanding of the entire fleet system, including data around routes and climate.
LeBeau confirms the financial benefits of a charge management system: ‘This not only reduces operational costs but helps extend battery life by avoiding unnecessary fast charging.’
As EV adoption escalates, the integration of cutting-edge fleet management technology will be crucial for cities and organizations aimed at maximizing efficiency and service delivery.
