By Sara Sweeney, Senior Product Manager, Wheels

Sustainability is now a goal, mandate or mission for almost every organization. It is the reason why, as a fleet management company, we at Wheels embarked upon our first ‘Environmental Sustainability Benchmark Report’ three years ago.

Having led the project for the past three years, we are seeing trends emerge and we think the insights gleaned are increasingly invaluable.

Download Wheels’ ‘2023 Environmental Sustainability Benchmark Report’ to discover more best practices and trends fleets are implementing to not only electrify their fleets, but to also make them more environmentally friendly and sustainable.

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By Steve Bender, President and CEO, Fleet Street Remarketing & outgoing President, Automotive Fleet Leasing Association (AFLA)

As I sit to pen what likely will be the last missive of my AFLA presidency, I have to admit I have a wide range of emotions running through my head.

I am so incredibly grateful to all of the wonderful AFLA board members and staff I have been fortunate enough to work with and who’ve made the past year so special and rewarding.

There was a lot for members to be proud of when it came to this year’s AFLA conference, as well as the future of the organization, including the amazing relationships and meaningful connections we made.

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Fleet safety is paramount, but misconceptions can lead to costly mistakes.

Download our latest eBook, ‘Continuous License Monitoring: Myth vs. Fact’ to learn more about:

-The significance of driver behavior in fleet liability risk.
-Overcoming obstacles in implementing continuous license monitoring.
-The financial benefits of a robust monitoring program.
-Real-world statistics highlighting the impact of continuous monitoring.

To download the free eBook from Solera, click here.

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Four companies and university researchers have shared details about sensors and systems they’re using, or that are in development, to improve driver and pedestrian safety at night, detect objects and pedestrians on the road from further away, and slow vehicles down.

Koito has developed adaptive driving beams, which automatically change brightness levels as oncoming traffic nears while still maintaining improved visibility.

Denso has developed sensors that recognize a vehicle’s surroundings and play the role of the “eyes” in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Denso is working to improve the object recognition rate of image sensors not only at night but also in various traffic situations.

via Repairer Driven News

New York City has lifted the cap on the number of cars ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft can have on the city’s roads – but there is a major specification, as the new vehicles must be electric or wheelchair-friendly.

With the move, the city hopes to expand fleets back to pre-pandemic sizes.

The transition will be gradual. By the end of 2027, the figure stands at 40% and then increasing by 20 percentage points per year until gas cars that are not wheelchair-accessible are entirely phased out of ride-hailing fleets by the end of 2030.

via electrive

Most of the focus right now in the commercial electric vehicle space is still on last-mile delivery vehicles, the kind employed by Amazon and other retailers.

But there is also considerable movement at the opposite end of the size spectrum.

Mercedes-Benz has taken the wraps off its latest electric Class 8 semi truck, one aimed at long-haul routes rather than local deliveries or drayage. Dubbed the eActros 600, denoting battery size in kWh, the model was engineered to travel 500 kilometers or 310 miles between recharges, with Mercedes saying the truck can travel over 1000 kms (621 miles) in a single day with legally required driver breaks in between.

via Autoweek

Colorado’s Air Quality Control Commission unanimously approved a new Colorado Clean Car rule, which essentially follows California’s “Advanced Clean Cars 2” rule but falls short of setting a 2035 target for 100% EV sales.

Colorado has areas of exceptionally poor air quality, particularly in the Northern Front Range, which is home to Denver and its environs and is the most populous area of the state. While Colorado has not yet adopted the full rule, the CAQCC says it will consider full adoption of California’s ACC2 rule no later than 2029.

The new Colorado rule targets 82% new EV sales by 2032, which is in line with California’s target for that year but does not set targets for years beyond 2032.

via Electrek

A Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) has a gas-powered internal combustion engine (ICE) and an electric motor (I.e., battery) that both work in tandem to run the car.

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) have the same setup: a gas engine and an electric motor. However, they’re equipped with a larger battery and motor that work independently from the gas engine to power the car.

Plug-in hybrids tend to be more expensive than hybrid vehicles. The added flexibility and convenience of using all-electric power for short drives while still being able to rely on the gasoline engine comes with an added cost.

-kbb.com

By Laura Jozwiak

I look to the skies for wisdom on preparing, supporting, and ensuring we all achieve our desired results together.

The flight patterns of birds are fascinating. How do they move in unison, know where they are going, and stay in flight with the constant pull of gravity and resistance tiring them out?

The flight of the geese reminds us that, at times, we need to be in the front of the team to remove roadblocks and show the path forward, as well as know when we need to move to the back to regain our strength and allow others to lead us on.

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By Roni Taylor, SVP of Strategy and Business Development, Spireon, a Solera Company

Advancements in trailer tracking technology have emerged as the cornerstone of efficient fleet management. By making this data available and digestible, businesses gain the ability to optimize their operations comprehensively.

Long gone are the days when a basic spreadsheet sufficed for tracking trailers. In today’s hyper-competitive market, precision and efficiency reign supreme, and businesses are achieving this by embracing cutting-edge technology.

Companies like Spireon have developed user interfaces that are designed to accommodate a wide range of user requirements, from yard check reports to landmark entry and exit reports.

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