One of the many necessary factors for the widespread deployment of electrified, long-haul Class 8 semis are advanced software platforms capable of assisting fleet managers with a variety of critical tasks such as optimizing routes and connecting drivers to available charging stations.
Enter Toronto-based BetterFleet and its proprietary AI-driven software which, according to the company, provides the most comprehensive platform across sustainable fleet planning and operational management, focusing on complex mission-critical organizations in transit, government, utilities, and logistics.
BetterFleet has just announced $15 million in a Series A funding round with the goal of scaling the platform internationally. The funding was led by venture and growth firms with industry experience, including Aligned Climate Capital, Ecosystem Integrity Fund, and Remarkable Ventures Climate.
At present, BetterFleet's user base has around 200 customers scattered across Europe, Asia-Pacific, and North America, and has worked with fleets of up to 20,000 vehicles across thousands of depots.
What makes BetterFleet's platform unique? CEO Daniel Hilson told Clean Trucking that "We map the entire fleet network. We take customers on a journey of optimization [as to which] infrastructure they need."
How it works
The technology, which can be utilized by fleets running trucks with ICE and electrified powertrains, works by creating a "digital twin" of fleet operations' vehicles, energy infrastructure, and routes. Not only does the software help companies and governments avoid building too much and unnecessary infrastructure, it also easily integrates into live operational systems. This ensures that vehicles perform as required, optimize asset utilization, and have the ability to address incidents with minimal downtime.
"If you've got an average fleet, the first problem is essentially 'How do I make decisions around this new technology and how to do I do that in the most optimal way?' So that's sort of the first decision. How many chargers, what power of charger, and then how does a company manage that efficiently and effectively to make the fleet as productive, cost effective, and efficient as possible," Hilson explained. "That's a really big challenge for fleet managers who've never had to think about those things. If a charger suddenly stops, for example, what do you do?"
Hilson provided Clean Trucking with a live software demonstration displaying fleets in action.
An example of what fleet managers see while live monitoring charging and/or fueling progress.BetterFleet
"Say you've got a mission critical depot somewhere and you've got to electrify that whole depot. I'm going to have vehicles coming year after year, and chargers coming year after year as fleets move across to new technologies. So which kind of depot chargers will be a very important question. Will they be fast enough? Fleets need to know which vehicles to buy with the battery big enough to do the routes it needs in order to be productive, to not have drivers sitting around waiting for charging. These are all really hard costs that fleets will face."
Mapping meets AI
BetterFleet's technology is also capable of mapping locations in real-time thanks to its advance AI capabilities.
"The digital twin maps the environment," Hilson explains. "These are the hills. This is the topography. This is the climate. These are the chargers you've selected. This is the vehicle selected on this very hot day when your air conditioning is blasting and you've got a very big load on that truck. So it's that variance that we sort of simply manage and our digital twin and AI optimizes that and says 'Ok guys, today that vehicle can do two more drops.'"
The system continuously learns over time, enabling more accurate decisions about what drivers and fleet managers need to do in seemingly endless situations, especially unexpected ones.
"Our algorithm learns that situations are going to be different. For example, does a driver have to wait for half an hour or an hour to charge? How does the driver know when the truck is ready? That's what the system does. It learns your environment and it basically optimizes over time."
For example, there will be scenarios when a battery-electric semi driver doesn't need a 100% charge. They can easily get by with a 75% charge for that particular route. BetterFleet's software will spot this, thus saving the driver time and helping to conserve energy.
Saving time, money, and energy
As the commercial trucking industry continues undergoing rapid 21st century changes, such as the the inclusion of electrified rigs, busier roads and highways, and environmental challenges, stable software is more necessary than ever in order to keep fleets running on time, ensuring fleet managers have the tools they need to make the right decisions, and to keep drivers of both commercial and passenger vehicles safe.
"Our goal is to enable more sustainable and productive fleets, allowing the transition to zero emissions solutions, saving our customers billions, while reducing emissions by millions of tons annually. Our customers have to make those hard decisions and we give them a platform that enables them to look at different scenarios," Hilson concludes.
