One of the world's largest and most complex deployments of electric vehicle charging management software is currently underway for a major UK-based project thanks to a joint effort by BetterFleet and Go-Ahead Group.
BetterFleet offers data-driven software platform assists fleets as they transition to electric vehicles with planning, procurement, and operational management, while Go-Ahead Group is an overseas-based public transport company.
[Related: BetterFleet's AI-powered fleet management software secures $15M in funding]
This week, the duo announced that the latter is rolling out BetterFleet's AI-powered management and operations platform across its UK fleet consisting of over 1,000 electric buses (including double-deckers!) and chargers across 20 bus depots.
Plans are already in place for those figures to grow to 1,500 units across 30 depots by the end of this year.
[Related: InductEV, BetterFleet expanding wireless fleet charging]
BetterFleet
Go-Ahead depot operators, thanks to BetterFleet's platform, receive mission-critical information to not only simplify their regular tasks but also to ensure that vehicles are prepared for dispatch. Another major platform feature is the intelligent load deferral that helps avoid costly infrastructure upgrades and allows more vehicles to be charged within existing grid capacity.
"This is an important example for truck fleets that are planning to scale up EV trucks, because operational efficiencies become critical, and risks increase as the fleet gets larger," BetterFleet CEO Daniel Hilson explained to Clean Trucking.
[Related: What it takes to install charging infrastructure]
"The ability to ensure that every truck is available for service and is being deployed in the most efficient way possible is crucial at scale. Additionally, using load management to get the most out of each grid connection using smart load management, reducing charger maintenance costs through smart incident management, and tracking vehicle battery performance have been hallmarks of the value to Go-Ahead, and equally apply to trucking fleets."
Another key software benefit is its use of intelligent incident management capabilities to cut costs, streamline overall operations and maintenance processes.
Charging systems developed by other companies can also benefit from the BetterFleet IoT Hub because it provides virtual upgrades to extend the hardware's product lifespan, thus saving buying time for eventual replacement units.
“We’re proud of our leadership in zero-emission transport. By using BetterFleet, we have live data to track and manage our zero-emission fleet through its in-depot charge status and on-road state of charge, as well as manage our energy consumption more effectively and minimize our impact on the grid,” added Matt Carney, CEO Go-Ahead Bus.
