Final month, Geotab signed a cope with Volvo Group to combine the producer’s automobile information API into Geotab’s telematics platform. It’s the newest in a latest onslaught of such offers between telematics suppliers and OEMs that begs the query: what’s in it for the OEMs?
Nearly all trendy vehicles and vans are “related” not directly. Ford, for instance, started becoming the FordPass Join modem on all its automobiles within the 2020 mannequin yr, and the automobile (and driver) information gathered powers the Ford Professional fleet administration platform and permits choices like the corporate’s E-Change Help, which permits Ford fleet managers to determine which of its ICE-powered F-150 and Transit property are able to make the swap to EV.
“Sensible instruments knowledgeable by information like E-Change Help are opening up many new conversations with our industrial clients massive and small about EV readiness; we’re already utilizing E-Change Help repeatedly in consultations to assist organizations decide if electrical vans and vans are proper for them,” says Nate McDonald, EV technique and cross automobile model supervisor at Ford Professional. “The significance of those instruments and applied sciences goes past promoting a buyer a brand new automobile—it modifications mindsets about whether or not electrical automobiles will work for his or her enterprise whereas doubtlessly saving them money and time.”
So, it is smart for producers to construct that connectivity into their automobiles and makes much more sense to make use of that information connection to populate a fleet administration dashboard that makes it painless for fleet managers to watch their property inside a trusted ecosystem. Assume Android vs. iPhone, and the ache that will go into switching from one to the opposite after a decade or so of fixed interplay – as a result of that’s how the OEMs are taking a look at it.
Why, then, would an OEM open up that information stream to a 3rd occasion like Geotab?
The reply, presumably, is that that information sharing is a two-way road: the producer’s are opening up their APIs to Geotab, and Geotab is sharing at the least a few of the information from different producers with their business companions.
And Geotab has plenty of companions:
- In 2019, Geotab started working with Ford to combine Ford’s telematics information into its fleet administration platform
- In 2020, Geotab started integrating with GM and its OnStar telematics in North American markets
- In 2022, Geotab started partnering with Stellantis’ Free2move automobile sharing model, offering full telematics integration into the MyGeotab platform in North America
- In April of 2024, Geotab partnered with Mobilisights to combine information from Stellantis’ European manufacturers, together with Opel, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Citroën, and Peugeot
- In September of 2024, Geotab introduced a brand new partnership with VW Group Information Companies geared toward enhancing the corporate’s information integration throughout its manufacturers
- A cope with Rivian, VW’s accomplice in a $5 billion joint software program enterprise, adopted quickly after
All of these gamers are satisfied that the information coming from their automobiles can produce sufficient worth to noticeably influence fleet ROI.
Fleet managers appear satisfied, too. In a latest McKinsey survey, practically 57% of EV consumers stated they had been prepared to change manufacturers to be able to get higher connectivity options. And, in the event you’ve ever labored in “a Ford store” or “a Chevy store” you already know what an enormous that deal that quantity is likely to be to an OEM.
McKinsey connectivity survey
In that viewpoint, working with a trusted, common platform like Geotab who doesn’t have a canine within the automobile gross sales combat is smart. If the Ford Transit the fleet purchaser is taking a look at performs nicely with their fleet auditing software program and techniques and the Nissan NV doesn’t – nicely, it doesn’t actually matter if Nissan’s fleetail man is providing you with a greater deal at that time. It’s simply too painful to function a second dashboard for one subset of property.
The person-hours saved with a common and model agnostic fleet administration platform is probably not the best to hint all the way in which to the underside line, however they’re there.
Moreover, the Geotab dashboard will be configured to gather and even analyze information that’s particularly related to EVs. Data like charging historical past, and regenerative braking effectivity, and total battery well being – information that, over 1000’s of automobiles, can provide fleet managers actual perception into how lengthy the brand new electrical automobiles they’re contemplating will final in comparison with the gasoline and diesel automobiles they’ve expertise with.
Geotab analysis reveals that EV batteries may final 20 years or extra in the event that they degrade at a median fee of 1.8% per yr, as we’ve got noticed.
In response to our information, the straightforward reply is that the overwhelming majority of batteries will outlast the usable lifetime of the automobile and can by no means must be changed. If a median EV battery degrades at 1.8% per yr, it would nonetheless have over 80% state of well being after 12 years, usually past the same old lifetime of a fleet automobile.
Telematics integrations also can assist optimize a fleet’s charging schedules, each by scheduling EV charging for decrease priced, off-peak hours and by figuring out essentially the most reliable high-speed charging stations alongside common routes to reduce down time for each automobiles and drivers.
Lastly, these data-driven platforms can present fleet managers instruments for monitoring and reporting issues like carbon emissions and total vitality consumption, which may streamline ESG reporting processes and make it simpler for the employee bees to get regulators, directors, and managers the type of charts, tables, and graphs they love.
One thing like that, anyway.
You possibly can try my Fast Cost with Nate McDonald, EV technique and cross automobile model supervisor at Ford Professional, who explores how Ford’s in-house telematics may help fleet managers decarbonize, and head over to Geotab to search out out extra about their model agnostic fleet administration dashboard, beneath. Take pleasure in!
EV or gasoline – which is best for you?
SOURCES: Fleet Europe, Ford Professional, Geotab, McKinsey; add’l hyperlinks in article.
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