We’re thrilled to announce that real-time data for EVs is now available in PoolCar. This feature will give Fleet Managers and users vital information on the availability and status of each EV in your fleet, without having to guess what the battery charge is.
Managing a fleet of EVs presents a whole range of new challenges to both Fleet Managers and drivers. By combining the data from our telematics solutions (OBD-II, or Nextrak) with PoolCar, you now have the tools to manage EV charging and upcoming bookings. And drivers can be confident that the chosen vehicle will be able to do the trip it’s been booked for.
Effortless EV management with real-time data
Book with Confidence
The benefits of real-time EV data also extend to PoolCar end-users. In order for drivers to actively choose and book EVs over conventional ICE vehicles, they need the confidence that the vehicle they’ve selected has the range for their upcoming trip.
EV data in PoolCar helps Fleet Managers and users make decisions about vehicle suitability.
When users are searching for a vehicle, the vehicle’s current range and battery charge are displayed alongside the make/model/registration at the top of the booking calendar. The information is also present when users create a new booking, to reduce the possibility that a vehicle is booked with insufficient charge.
Finally, PoolCar also prompts users at the Check In/Out screen if the vehicle is below the low-charge threshold set by your Fleet Manager. This doesn’t mean that the vehicle is not capable of completing the trip but does give users an opportunity to switch to a different vehicle before commencing their journey.
Customise low-charge thresholds – Set your preferred range limit
Fleet Managers now have the flexibility to set a low vehicle range threshold according to their specific requirements. By specifying a custom distance in kilometres, PoolCar proactively notifies both admins and users if an EV's range falls below the designated threshold. This ensures that all PoolCar users are aware when an EV with low charge may not be suitable for long-distance journeys.
Gain EV insights at a glance – Monitor the charge and range of your EV fleet
To streamline EV vehicle management in PoolCar, we’ve developed an EV Status Report that highlights the current status of every EV in your fleet. This report will transform the way Fleet Managers oversee their EVs by visualising which vehicles are ready and charged, and which need urgent attention. It highlights any upcoming bookings within the next 24 hours that could be impacted if the vehicle's charge is insufficient.
Prioritise sustainability – Let PoolCar guide you towards low-emissions vehicles
In line with our commitment to helping organisations adopt sustainable transportation, PoolCar now offers the ability to prioritise electric and hybrid vehicles in the booking calendar. By suggesting low-emissions vehicles as the top choices, PoolCar assists users in selecting vehicles that have a positive impact on reducing emissions, aligning with your organisation's environmental goals.
Enhance shared EV management with telematics and PoolCar
Have you already started the transition to EVs in your fleet? Are you ready to tap into real-time EV data directly into PoolCar? This new feature is available to all PoolCar customers equipped with a Smartrak OBD-II, or Nextrak telematics device. If you’re looking to better understand EV fleet utilisation and want the visibility that real-time data can bring, get in touch with us today.
Smartrak is committed to driving the growth of electric vehicles across our customers' fleets to promote sustainable transportation. We're thrilled to finally make this feature available to our customers. Let's work towards a zero emissions future together.
Smartrak Supports Australia's Adoption of Fuel Efficiency Standards to Help Meet Emissions Reduction Targets
Melbourne, Australia - April 19, 2023 - Smartrak, a leading provider of advanced fleet management solutions, today announced its strong support for Australia's adoption of fuel efficiency standards as a critical mechanism for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving the country's ambitious emissions reduction targets.
The transport sector is responsible for 19% of Australia's greenhouse gas emissions and is projected to be Australia's largest source of emissions by 2030. The average passenger vehicle in Australia emits 40% more carbon than cars in the European Union, 20% more than in the US, and 15% more than in New Zealand. These figures highlight the urgent need for action to address emissions from transportation.
Smartrak believes that the adoption of fuel efficiency standards is a vital step towards reducing emissions from transportation and promoting sustainability. Currently, 85% of vehicles sold worldwide are covered by fuel efficiency standards and have demonstrated success in reducing transportation emissions without impacting choice and availability. Australia therefore has no reason to not adopt a similar standard.
"Transportation is a significant contributor to Australia's greenhouse gas emissions, and we need to take action to address this challenge," said Peter Grant, CEO of Smartrak. "By setting standards for fuel efficiency, our customers can adopt more efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles across their fleets. This will help reduce our customer’s impact on the environment and create a cleaner, healthier future for all Australians."
Australia has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 43% by 2030, and net zero by 2050, as part of its obligations under the Paris Agreement. By implementing fuel efficiency standards, Australia can make significant progress towards meeting this target and reducing its overall carbon footprint.
Smartrak's advanced fleet management solutions include a range of features designed to support sustainable fleet management, including real-time tracking and reporting of vehicle emissions and fuel consumption, and the effective management of zero-emissions vehicles such as Electric Vehicles. The company also provides training and support to help customers optimise their fleet operations and report and reduce their environmental footprint.
"We are proud to support Australia's efforts to meet its emissions reduction targets, and we believe that fuel efficiency standards are an essential mechanism for achieving this goal," Grant added. "We look forward to continuing to work with our customers and partners to promote sustainability and reduce our impact on the environment."
About Smartrak
Smartrak is a leading provider of advanced fleet management solutions, serving customers across Australia and New Zealand. The company's comprehensive platform includes real-time tracking, reporting, and analysis of fleet performance, as well as a range of features designed to optimize operations, reduce costs, and enhance safety and compliance. Smartrak is committed to promoting sustainability and reducing the environmental impact of transportation through innovative solutions and expert support.
Severe weather events are becoming more frequent across Australia and New Zealand, underscoring the urgent need for fleets to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
Accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) seems like the obvious solution, but is it really that simple? For fleets to be both sustainable and resilient, they need strategies that balance environmental goals with operational realities.
Climate Change and Fleet Operations
In early 2023, New Zealand’s North Island experienced catastrophic flooding, followed by Cyclone Gabrielle. Eleven councils declared States of Emergency, with thousands displaced and infrastructure like power, communications, and transport severely disrupted.
How can fleets reduce emissions while staying operational during disasters?
EVs Are Essential, But Not the Whole Answer
Adopting EVs is a critical step toward reducing fleet emissions. However, fleets also need to prepare for situations where power grids are down, and charging becomes impossible.
For example, Wellington City Council has been ambitious in its EV adoption programme, but Fleet Advisor Vishal Garg insists on maintaining a strategic reserve of petrol and diesel vehicles.
“EVs are a great billboard for our sustainability drive, but any goodwill would quickly evaporate if our fleet was stuck in the carpark with flat batteries during a natural disaster.” – Vishal Garg, Wellington City Council
This balanced approach ensures that fleets remain both sustainable and resilient in emergencies.
The Challenges to Full EV Adoption
Despite strong momentum, most fleets still rely on internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. Common barriers include:
Higher upfront costs of EVs.
Lack of EV models for specific fleet roles.
Resistance to change within organisations.
This means many fleets will operate with a hybrid mix of ICE and EVs for years to come.
Smartrak’s Approach: A Pathway to Lower Emissions
At Smartrak, we understand that sustainable transformation doesn’t happen overnight. That’s why our solutions are designed to:
Maximise efficiency of existing ICE fleets, reducing fuel burn and emissions.
Identify cost savings that can be reinvested into EV adoption.
Provide telematics insights to manage both ICE and EVs seamlessly.
Desktop access to charging status and range projections.
Continued management consistency across mixed fleets.
No more walking to the carpark to check charge levels - everything is visible in one dashboard.
Building Fleets That Are Both Sustainable and Resilient
The climate is changing, and fleets must adapt. By combining innovative technology, telematics, and practical strategies, organisations can reduce their carbon footprint while maintaining the reliability communities depend on - especially in times of crisis.
Change is here - in our weather and in the way fleets operate. The way forward lies in smart, sustainable, and resilient fleet management.
As a Fleet Manager, it’s essential that your fleets EV charging needs are met when out on the road. We understand how frustrating it can be to arrive at a charging station only to find it ICEed (blocked by a non-EV vehicle), causing unnecessary delays and frustration for your fleet drivers.
The Australian Capital Territory has recently announced that they will introduce fines for individuals who block EV charging stations. This decision makes the ACT the fourth State or Territory in Australia to implement fines for this offence, joining Victoria, Queensland, and New South Wales.
The introduction of fines for blocking EV charging stations sends a strong message to the community that these stations are not to be used for anything other than charging EVs. It also helps to ensure that your fleet drivers have access to the infrastructure they need to continue driving their electric vehicles on journeys without unnecessary delays.
Fines can range from $369 in Victoria through to $3,200 in the ACT for blocking an EV charging space. This applies to both Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles or EVs that aren’t actively using the charging infrastructure.
As EVs become more commonplace, ICEing is something organisations must bring to the attention of all drivers. The last thing you’d want is to be hit with a hefty fine simply an employee wasn’t aware of the issue or didn’t understand they’d be inconveniencing other drivers.
As EVs become an increasingly common feature in fleets we thought it would be helpful to get some insights from people within Smartrak who have already made the decision to go electric.
In talking to them we found that in most instances, EVs are pretty much just another way to get from A to B, that the challenges in swapping from petrol are generally imagined, and any changes to routine become just that – routine.
Today, we’re talking to Jacqueline La Grand, Smartrak's Customer Services Team Lead at our Hamilton office who has been a Nissan leaf driver for nearly five years.
Why electric and why a Nissan Leaf?
My husband already had an Outlander, so I couldn’t see any point in having a second vehicle that was thirsty on petrol. My requirements for a car were limited to getting to and from work and dropping my son off at school. For longer trips out of town there was always the SUV. I looked at a Jazz, but if I was going to step into a smaller car, I wanted more benefits than simply size and fuel savings.
At the time, the Leaf was practically the only EV available, so I bought a second-hand import from Japan.
Did it take much adjustment?
Not really, my workday routine is pretty much set, so putting the Leaf on charge at home every three days covered off any charging requirements. The biggest adjustment was due to the whole information system inside the car being Japanese. That stopped me accessing many of the features and even the dash swap-out I paid for did little to sort out those problems.
Any other unforeseen costs?
A new auxiliary 12-volt battery – which wasn’t really unforeseen, because they are only supposed to last around three years. Other than that, a regular service and a WoF costs just $50. That’s a sum that wouldn’t even cover a filter change in the Ute my husband drives now.
Tyres were another standard cost that probably got a little higher than it should in the early days. The Leaf has two driving settings: Eco and Sport. Driving around in Sport definitely increases the acceleration and leaving a ‘patch’ when pulling away was all too easy. I tend to keep it in Eco now.
Did you invest in a special charger setup at home?
A three-pin plug through the lounge window has worked for me for nearly five years! Because my routine is so set, I really don’t have any super-fast charger requirements. If I’m running low because I haven’t charged up at home, a half-hour on a charger at work gets me back up to 50% battery.
What’s your dream EV?
It used to be a Tesla, but a few weeks ago I parked up in the supermarket carpark to charge and alongside me was a BYD. No idea what the name means but apparently it won car of the year last year; it looks really nice and quite techy inside.
Smartrak is excited to announce that you can now pull EV charge data and display it in real-time. As the transition to EVs continues to gain momentum, having a single source of truth on the current capabilities of your fleet becomes even more important. With this update Smartrak is laying the groundwork for organisations to better manage their EV fleet.
Effortless EV data access
We are thrilled to be able to support our customers as they transition their fleets to a sustainable future. By offering the tools to better manage EVs, Smartrak eases the transition away from petrol and diesel vehicles, reducing the stumbling blocks that arise when adopting electric vehicles in fleets.
Accessing this EV data is effortless and can be done straight from Smartrak. Simply click on the vehicle of interest and select the EV Battery tab in the pop-up box.
The EV Battery tab provides comprehensive real-time information on the vehicle’s battery charge, current battery range, and charge status. Data that helps you proactively manage your EVs in the field.
This new capability will be available automatically for any EV vehicles equipped with our EV hardware. With insights into the battery charge state, level, and range, you'll have the power to make informed decisions for your EV fleet. Reduce the administration burden associated with managing EVs and start your journey towards a sustainable future.
If you’re a current Smartrak customer, reach out to your Customer Success Manager to get the ball rolling. And if you’re a new customer, fill out the form below to discuss the best solution for your fleet.
Just the beginning
We’re really excited to help organisations make the switch to sustainable transportation. It’s no secret that EVs will make up a sizeable portion of future fleets, and this is only the start of the journey. Keep watching this space to learn more about what we’ve got planned next.
If you're looking for a comprehensive fleet management solution that will streamline the management of EVs, get in touch below.
Smartrak is at the forefront of developing fleet visibility and reporting tools to enable more efficient fleet management. We're actively developing new tools that will provide the insights to identify where change can be made and the means to accurately measure progress.
One of these tools is our API suite. An API (Application Programming Interface) provides customers with a way to access Smartrak’s raw data. This allows customers to share the data our solutions produce with other software packages and expand the range of options available.
We’re excited to announce that we’re launching two new APIs that will streamline the management of fleet vehicles and users. These are the Geofences and Groups APIs.
Geofence API
Our new Geofence API gives organisations the ability to bulk import geofences from an external database. This is especially handy if you’re managing hundreds or thousands of virtual locations in your Smartrak map. It will also reduce time spent managing access by syncing updates automatically from multiple authorised parties and databases.
Groups API
The Groups API gives organisations the ability to assign vehicles to groups, and automatically update permissions to all authorised parties. This will reduce the time spent managing vehicles and assets when groups change and will enhance reporting capabilities and insights generation.
What’s the deal with APIs anyway?
APIs are an advanced feature that offer the ability to automate access to your fleet data. While Smartrak offers a whole range of reporting capabilities, sometimes organisations require additional analysis or the ability to feed data into other business systems.
Rather than requiring someone manually download the data out of Smartrak on a daily, weekly, or monthly schedule and then import it into other software packages, APIs allow the two software packages to talk automatically. This means that the relevant data can flow in and out of Smartrak as needed, saving time, and allowing employees to focus on decision making.
How do I take advantage of this enhanced API suite?
If you’re a Smartrak customer that is already taking advantage of our API suite, then you already have access to these new API enhancements. Simply log into your API portal and navigate to the Core APIs. Once there, you can view the various Geofence and Groups APIs and start integrating them into your external software solutions.
If you’re a Smartrak customer who is not yet taking advantage of our API suite, then we suggest reaching out to your Customer Success Manager to discuss the costs involved in setting up API access.
Sustainability is an increasingly important factor in how organisations operate. Governments throughout the world are pursuing efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions (120 countries have announced net zero pledges). Consumers are also more aware of their role in making greener choices with products and services. Inevitably, both these factors are influencing the managers and stakeholders within organisations as they seek to keep ahead of government legislation and respond to consumer concerns.
Reducing the sources of CO2 emissions within an organisation is now, or will soon be, on the radars of organisations in New Zealand and Australia. For many, the focus will fall on fleet operations, as vehicles are an obvious target for 'easy' emissions reductions.
Are electric vehicles the only answer?
Often, addressing fleet emissions concentrates on the transition to Electric Vehicles (EVs). And while EVs are absolutely an important piece of the sustainability puzzle, they aren’t the whole story. This is because EVs may not be suitable replacements for certain roles, are generally still more expensive than their ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) counterparts and are in short supply due to the impact of COVID-19 and the microprocessor shortage.
Given these hurdles, some Fleet Managers could be forgiven for thinking that a more sustainable fleet is beyond them at the moment, but that isn’t the case. Reducing your fleet’s emissions doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing approach where EVs are the only answer. By reframing the discussion of reducing emissions to one around improving productivity, you’ll quickly see that there are likely a range of ‘quick wins’ that your organisation can action right now.
The approach of improving productivity to simultaneously improve your bottom line and reduce emissions is the win-win strategy that helps the organisation and the planet.
Why are we talking about productivity?
It might seem counterintuitive to be talking about productivity when the outcome we’re after is one of sustainability and reducing emissions. But this isn’t the case at all. When we talk about productivity, we’re referring to your fleet’s ability to meet your organisation’s operational requirements. This is measured against the various inputs required (vehicles, employees, running costs, etc.) and the outcomes achieved for that input. Therefore, if you can meet your operational demands while reducing the inputs required (vehicles and fuel), you are creating the conditions for productivity improvement alongside reductions in emissions.
Improving productivity. Reducing emissions
Naturally, there will be multiple factors unique to your situation that determine exactly what you can do, but the overall strategy is still the same:
Lift fleet management to a level where waste is reduced
Interrogate current vehicle use
Generate savings that can be re-invested back in the fleet to finance the adoption of EVs and/or hybrids
Organisations that have followed this strategy have experienced similar evolutions in productivity and sustainability, with gains generating a cycle of ongoing improvement.
The two stages of emissions reduction, as a consequence of improved fleet management
Immediate outcomes
The first set of productivity outcomes related to reducing emissions centre on reducing fuel by managing various factors that are within your control. Fuel reductions can be realised by tackling harsh driving, speeding, and excessive idling. This can be achieved by using GPS tracking to monitor driving behaviours and the reporting that’s generated to educate drivers.
In addition to addressing driver behaviours, you should also look at operations to ensure efficiencies are maximised. By implementing geofences you will be able to accurately identify a range of aspects. This will include knowing when a vehicle is actually in use (left home base) and how long it’s at an off-site task (worksite or customer’s location). This information will help you to judge whether vehicles are being productively utilised, and whether there are opportunities to rationalise fleet size.
The reporting data on vehicle trips is also valuable as it highlights opportunities to improve task scheduling. Is excessive speeding a result of poor scheduling, are vehicles getting caught up in rush-hour traffic, will trip reporting and geofence information combine to drive further efficiencies? There is also the benefit of understanding whether a trip is really necessary and if a video conference call would have sufficed.
These insights, together with real-time tracking of vehicles will result in the leaner, more agile fleet that delivers productivity gains and savings.
Secondary outcomes
Tackling fuel-intensive behaviours and bringing in more efficient journey and task management reduces fuel costs and improves overall vehicle utilisation. This leads to a second set of productivity outcomes when the savings generated are re-invested in EVs or more fuel-efficient vehicles such as hybrids. This starts the cycle of capitalising on the work you have already done.
You could be tempted to leave it at that, but there is more your greener fleet could be doing by using the thinking that’s been driving the growth of the sharing economy. Consider alternative transport options such as electric bikes or scooters, and whether including public transport is a viable offering to employees for certain trips.
These strategies will enable a shift away from a vehicle-centric fleet and ensure that vehicles are utilised as the appropriate mode for a particular trip rather than being the default option. This may sound like a move too far from a conventional fleet but there are organisations that have already made just this type of transition. An energy supplier in Belgium, Luminus, offers its 2,000 employees transport options that include taxis, scooters, shared cars, and public transport.
It's also worth noting that we have arrived at this point by focusing on productivity improvement; your fleet is on the verge of becoming a ‘future fleet’ simply by mastering skills that are really core fleet management capabilities.
What can you do today?
Right-size your fleet: Do you know if you have too many vehicles? Are you keeping excess vehicles in your fleet to cater for the rare occasions when you hit peak demand?
Right-shape your fleet: Do you know for certain that the vehicles in your fleet are being used for the right purpose? GPS tracking can answer whether the expensive 4WDs and SUVs are only being driven in urban areas and can be replaced by more efficient sedans or hatchbacks.
Reduce or eliminate unnecessary travel: Can the meeting be done virtually, or resolved in an email or Microsoft Teams chat?
Increase fuel efficiency: Monitor driver behaviour and keep on top of maintenance.
Use alternative modes of transport: Could employees take advantage of public transport or rideshare services like Uber? Rideshare should certainly be on your radar an easy way to satisfy peak demand.
Real-world examples
Saint Vincent’s Health in Sydney reduced the fleet’s vehicle count by 20 with no adverse impact on operational capability. They did this by bringing in fleet management tools that included an integrated key management system and an online booking solution for the 400 users of the pooled fleet. This was especially important as it provided 24/7 access
New Zealand’s Plunket organisation which looks after pregnant women and provides early childhood care used the insights provided by Smartrak to reallocate vehicle resources more efficiently. This allowed Plunket to reduce the number of vehicles in the fleet while supporting growing staff numbers and providing services to more clients.
Ready to start turning a green issue into a money issue? Get in touch with Smartrak today to start reducing emissions and improve your fleet's productivity.
We’ve all had moments on the road we’re not proud of. Whether it’s going beyond the speed limit, cornering too fast, or slamming on the brakes when the road conditions change. What you may not realise at the time is the impact this harsh driving can have on fleets, both for an employee’s safety and the bottom line. We’ve outlined some of the various forms that harsh driving can take, and why tackling it should be a priority.
Overspeeding and acceleration
One of the major contributors to harsh driving is overspeeding. As the name implies, this is when employees significantly exceed a road’s posted speed limit. While all of us drift over the speed limit on occasion, it has to be understood that overspeeding is both a danger to employees and other road users and a cause of increased operating costs.
Safety risks: Going above the posted speed means drivers aren’t giving themselves the ability to safely react to road hazards, whether that’s sharp corners, pedestrians, schools, or entering traffic. This behaviour is incredibly risky and unnecessarily puts both the drivers and the general public in danger.
Accident severity: Another thing to consider is that speeding directly increases the likelihood of an accident. It increases the distance required to brake, it makes vehicles more difficult to manoeuvre and increases the severity of any impact with other vehicles, pedestrians, and stationary objects. Reducing speed directly reduces both the chance and severity of an accident.
Increased costs: Vehicles that speed consume more fuel. In fact, when travelling the same distance, a vehicle will consume 20% more fuel travelling at 120 km per hour than at 100 km per hour. That’s not an insignificant amount of money when multiplied across your fleet. And if your employees are involved in an accident, there’s the potential for your insurance premium increasing.
The consequences of harsh cornering and braking
Harsh cornering and braking are equally concerning forms of aggressive driving.
Vehicle Wear and Tear: Taking corners too quickly places excessive strain on tires and brake pads, accelerating their deterioration.
Safety Hazards: A vehicle cornering at high speed risks rolling over or losing control, potentially leading to accidents. Harsh braking, on the other hand, can cause rear-end collisions and create hazardous situations for following vehicles.
Both behaviours highlight the importance of maintaining control and anticipating road conditions to ensure the safety of drivers and other road users.
How proactive management can address harsh driving
One of the reasons Smarak’s solutions are so powerful is that they provide the opportunity for organisations to proactively manage harsh driving.
By investing in a comprehensive telematics solution, you can benchmark and monitor how your employees are behaving while on the road. This is made possible due to hardware that includes accelerometers that detect sudden changes in movements. By capturing this data, you can run reports on how harshly each vehicle is being driven. This means you can identify instances of harsh braking, cornering, acceleration, and where employees are travelling at excessive speeds. This can directly improve your bottom line by reducing fuel consumption and costly vehicle maintenance. It also helps to keep both your employees and other members of the public safe when using the road.
Ready to tackle harsh driving? Get in touch with us today and take the first step toward safer, more efficient fleet management.
