Electric vehicles are quickly becoming a crucial part of fleet management as organisations and governments place a stronger emphasis on emissions reductions. However, ensuring that your EVs are always charged and ready to go can be a challenge.

This is where Priority Charging comes in. A new feature of Smartrak's EV Enablement solution, Priority Charging minimises disruptions due to insufficient charging, and maximises productivity by ensuring vehicles are charged based on their upcoming needs.

How does it work?

Priority Charging integrates real-time battery data from Smartrak's telematics device, Nextrak, with its vehicle booking platform, PoolCar, to identify which vehicles are scheduled for upcoming use and determine its charging needs. By prioritising the charging of those vehicles, Priority Charging ensures that the EV you need next, is sufficiently charged and ready for its scheduled trip.

This real-time battery data is accessible from anywhere, even when the vehicle isn't plugged into a charger. Smartrak's Nextrak device captures live data directly from the vehicle's CANbus, giving you full visibility of your EVs battery and range status whether they're in the carpark or on the road.

This feature also sends proactive alerts to Fleet Managers when a vehicle won't have sufficient charge for an upcoming trip, allowing time to either charge the vehicle or reassign to a vehicle that's ready. If a reallocation is necessary, the Driver will be promptly notified, keeping operations running smoothly and a seamless experience for your end-users.

How will this benefit me?

Priority Charging addresses a critical challenge for Fleet Managers - ensuring vehicles are ready to go when needed and reducing overall fleet downtime. Here's how it adds value to your fleet operations:

• Monitor live, remote battery data - no need to be plugged into a charger!
  • Get live battery data and alerts, equipping fleet managers with the tools to monitor charge status and plan efficiently. No more guesswork—just actionable insights at your fingertips.
• Optimise charging infrastructure and minimise spending
  • By alerting Fleet Managers of charging needs, Priority Charging maximises your existing charging infrastructure, allowing more vehicles to be charged with fewer stations and reducing the need for costly upgrades.
• Reduce EV downtime
  • By prioritising vehicles that need charging for upcoming trips, Priority Charging ensures operations keep running smoothly by addressing potential issues before they affect your fleet.
• Streamline operations of your mixed fleet
  • Whether managing just EVs or a mix of traditional vehicle, Priority Charging simplifies operations by giving full visibility of entire fleet into one integrated platform. This visibility reduces manual oversight and makes your operations more efficient.

Incorporating Priority Charging into your fleet management system gives you the confidence to transition to scale your electric fleet operations, while optimising performance, reducing costs, and providing a seamless experience for both managers and drivers.

As your EV fleet grows, Smartrak’s Priority Charging becomes increasingly critical. This feature is part of Smartrak’s EV Enablement solution, a comprehensive suite of management tools designed to support every aspect of electric fleet operations.

From live battery data, and trip planning, to emissions reporting, charging insights, and fleet utilisation, this solution suite provides everything you need to optimise your EV fleet in one integrated platform.

Learn more about Priority Charging and how Smartrak’s EV Enablement solution can elevate your fleet operations here.