A cloud-based digital solution for real-time EV fleet management will be developed by ABB and Amazon Web Services (AWS).
It’s designed to optimise the efficient use of EVs and speed up the electrification of transport fleets, helping operators worldwide maintain 100% business continuity as they transition to fully electric.
The collaboration will combine ABB’s extensive experience in energy management, charging technology and e-mobility solutions with AWS’s portfolio of cloud technologies and software expertise.
The new platform, expected to roll out in the second half of 2021, will offer a tailored user experience in a single-view platform, from the EV charge point to the fleet data dashboard, to make EV fleet management more efficient and maximise reliability.
“This new solution will revolutionise the world of electric mobility, integrating EV hardware and software into one ecosystem to provide a seamless user experience,” ABB e-mobility division president Frank Muehlon says.
“We are confident that by working together we can propel the use of electric fleet vehicles by giving operators the confidence to make the switch.”
About 23% of global, energy-related greenhouse gas emissions are caused by the transport sector.
Electrification of traffic can substantially reduce CO2 levels and large fleets can play a crucial role with nearly 400,000 electric delivery vans and trucks on the roads globally.
However, many fleets are met with similar challenges when it comes to real-time vehicle and charging status information, EV maintenance and managing access to charging infrastructure.
Most fleet operators now opt for third-party charging management software, ABB says, adding this offers limited functionality and ability to customise based on the range of EV models and breadth of charging infrastructure.
The speed at which charging technology continues to develop is increasing, and the resulting adaptations needed can be costly and take a lot of resources, the company says.
As such, fleet operators are looking for scalable, secure and easily tailored advanced software solutions, combined with easy to manage charging hardware, that enable them to plug and go.
To drive progress in EV fleets, ABB has created a pureplay venture in Berlin that will develop tailored, scalable and cost-effective technologies for fleet operators which can be used by all vehicle OEMs.
Working with AWS, this new venture will design the interoperable fleet management solution to work with all vehicle types and charging infrastructure.
Using machine learning and analytics, it will include a compelling set of features including charge planning and real-time monitoring with insight and actions for vehicle health and servicing, along with EV route optimisation based on time of day, weather and use patterns.
“As industries forge ahead with electrification of their vehicle fleets, customers need reliable and intuitive services to help them adapt to the new operating model and optimise how they utilise their fleets,” AWS automotive professional services director Jon Allen says.
For more information on ABB’s e-mobility solutions click here, or Amazon Web Services click here.
