By Richard Mallek, Director of Business Development, FLD Remarketing

A recent series of interviews with top fleet managers shows that a lack of accurate and timely insights into their assets during the remarketing process was one of the biggest problems they’d experienced before working with FLD.

Without a proper assessment, many fleets sell used assets for far less than they’re actually worth, further eroding their return on investment while driving up total cost of ownership.

In the 45 years that we have been pioneering the remarketing space, the team here at FLD has encountered – and helped fleets overcome – a wide range of problems. It’s what we do.

Contact the experts at FLD to make remarketing fast, easy and painless with an offer in days and payment in hours on any used asset in any condition – anytime.

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By Dave Bean, Content Editor, FMW

The newly released J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Tech Experience Index (TXI) Study indicates that new vehicle owners find Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based components, such as smart climate control, to be very useful and relatively easy to figure out. The user experience for other new technologies, however, leave this same group scratching their heads and wondering why some are even needed.

Those technologies frustrating new vehicle owners most include facial recognition and fingerprint reader components, as well as interior gesture controls. The low ratings for these features, highlighted by sheer bewilderment as to why OEMs would even include them, have created a perceived overall loss of value for the vehicles that have them.

“A strong advanced tech strategy is crucial for all vehicle manufacturers, and many innovative technologies are answering customer needs,” said Kathleen Rizk, senior director of user experience benchmarking and technology at J.D. Power. “At the same time, this year’s study makes it clear that owners find some technologies of little use and/or are continually annoying.”

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By Greg Oppenheim, Head of Marketing, IoT Solutions, Telit Cinterion

Even if EV fleets have reliable access to charging stations via home-based charge points, these stations cannot function without always-on connectivity. Stable connectivity is another significant hurdle to electrification, which fleet managers must address accordingly for such initiatives to be successful.

Fleet managers should leverage a network adapter enabled by cellular Internet of Things (IoT) modules and supported by SIM technologies, permitting their charge points to exchange data securely and communicate reliably with acceptable latency.

Fleet managers should also use management platforms to respond in real time to connectivity issues. Rather than sending technicians on-site to remediate problems, fleet managers can identify, diagnose, and remediate IoT devices remotely, saving precious time and resources.

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Leasing has become the preferred way for Americans to get behind the wheel of a new electric vehicle. Leasing accounts for 48.7% of sales, while financing went down to 34.7%, followed by cash with just 16.6%.

The shift toward leasing is a market-wide trend, but the EV sector saw the biggest change in this direction. The percentage of leases attributed to EVs in Q2 2024 was 16.5%, while in Q2 2022 it was 11.0%.

When it comes to EVs, the proliferation of more budget-oriented models, higher inventory levels and the fact that the $7,500 federal tax credit can be applied to any EV when leasing, not just American-made ones, were the main factors at play.

via InsideEVs

States that experience severe weather damage and high car theft rates will see premium jump as much as 61 percent. Three states, in particular, could see rates increase by more than 50 percent by the end of the year, according to a report.

According to a new report from Insurify, the increases are due to a number of factors, including severe storms, wildfires, and car thefts. For example, the Midwest experienced a supercell last year that produced golf ball-sized hail, heavy rains, and tornadoes. In Minnesota, the hail reached baseball-sized proportions. As for California, well, it has a tendency to burn.

via The Drive

There are usually two types of people in a relationship: Those who fill their gas tanks as soon as it crosses the halfway mark and those who tempt fate by driving as far as possible with the low fuel light on. A recent MarketWatch Guides report caters to the latter crowd, as it examined how far different vehicles travel on an empty tank.

The Toyota RAV4 Icon FWD offers the best mileage with an empty tank, traveling more than 73 miles after the fuel light comes on, according to the study. That’s more than enough to get to the next gas station and may even tempt some owners into driving for days with the fuel light illuminated.

via Autoblog

The US Joint Office of Energy and Transportation has broken ground on a $150 million grant project to repair and upgrade 4,500 EV charging ports.

Gabe Klein, executive director of the Joint Office, emphasized the importance of reliable charging infrastructure, stating, “These upgraded chargers offer faster speeds, serve more drivers, and are part of projects creating jobs across the country.”

The effort to fix and upgrade existing EV chargers comes at a time when, according to the US Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center, approximately 5% of public charging ports are temporarily unavailable.

via Electrek

Techsbook, a leader in scheduling specialized technicians, is redefining the telematics industry by integrating advanced technology and streamlined processes.

This transformation is crucial for telematics service providers (TSPs) and direct B2B consumers, addressing long-standing challenges and significantly improving efficiency, communication, and quality control.

At the core of this transformation is Techsbook’s Direct Booking Platform, which fundamentally changes how telematics services are managed.

“Techsbook is not just improving how telematics services are scheduled; we’re transforming the entire process to be more efficient, transparent, and reliable,” said David J. Pollack, CEO of Techsbook.

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By FMW – FleetWiki

Commercial fleet managers and consultants are at the forefront of a transportation revolution as the global transition to electric vehicles (EVs) accelerates, driven by regulatory actions, increasing fuel economy, and improving technological efficiencies.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore these advancements and forecast the growth potential for each technology, providing fleet industry professionals with the insights needed to navigate the evolving EV charging landscape.

As the EV charging landscape evolves, staying informed about technological advancements and market trends will be crucial. In the future, we will likely see a mix of these technologies deployed strategically to meet diverse fleet needs, with DC Fast Charging and Level 2 charging forming the backbone of most fleet charging infrastructures.

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Lawmakers in Congress introduced a bill on Friday that would put federal limitations on automobile hood height and visibility to protect pedestrians and other vulnerable road users.

“We’ve seen these standards over time improve vehicle safety with a focus on the people in the vehicle,” said Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.), a co-sponsor of the Pedestrian Protection Act. “But this would sort of expand that to pedestrians, bicyclists and people outside the vehicle.”

Larger cars are favored as they’re supposed to be safer for the occupants but it’s a very different story for people outside the car.

via NPR