ABB Introduces ‘World’s Fastest’ EV Charger: Terra 360
ABB announced the launch of the "world’s fastest electric car charger" called Terra 360, which will be available in Europe from the end of 2021 (2022 in other markets).
The key feature of the Terra 360 is the dynamic power distribution between up to four vehicles (there are two plugs on each side of the charger). It means that drivers connected to the chargers will not have to wait on each other to end charging the previously connected EVs. According to ABB - this makes the Terra 360 well suited for refueling stations, urban charging stations, retail parking and fleet applications.
Read the article at InsideEVs.
Helping Customers Find Their ‘Next Normal’
By Holly Hill, CAFS, Director of Business Development, FLD Remarketing
As just about anyone in the industry can attest to, the Covid pandemic has changed fleet in ways that none of us could ever have imagined.
From labor and chip shortages that have shuttered major automotive manufacturers, to supply chain stops and starts that have just about everyone searching for creative workarounds, the past 18 months have been unbelievably challenging.
So, with tempered expectations, I was anxious to attend this year’s NAFA I & E in Pittsburgh to see old friends and colleagues, exchange pandemic stories, and check in on folks I hadn’t seen in person since the NTEA conference in early March 2020.
As one might have expected, this year’s NAFA was unlike any I have ever attended over the last 20 plus years.
Brendan P. Keegan, CEO of Merchants Fleet, Invited to the Fast Company Executive Board
Merchants Fleet announced CEO Brendan P. Keegan has been invited to join the Fast Company Executive Board, an invitation-only organization comprised of company founders, executives, and leaders who are defining the future of business across the globe.
“For me, Fast Company is synonymous with innovation—and innovation is at the heart of everything we do at Merchants Fleet,” says Keegan. “I am honored to be invited to participate in this esteemed organization, and I look forward to sharing thoughts and ideas with my colleagues on the board, in our collective pursuit of transforming the business world.”
Keegan was invited to join the board based on his demonstrated expertise and thought leadership in the fleet industry. He is a frequent editorial contributor to Fast Company, Newsweek, Entrepreneur, and Inc., and also authors a widely followed LinkedIn blog.
On-Demand Options: Automakers Move Toward Subscription Services
Monthly payments for music and TV have become the norm. The people making cars are paying attention.
Instead of building cars with many different option packages to spec, companies can produce one fully equipped model and charge consumers to turn on the features they want. "You're going to have increased complexity in the car but less complexity in manufacturing," says Sam Abuelsamid, principal analyst at Guidehouse Insights says.
Read the article at Car and Driver.
Managing Fleet Operations in This Era of Change
Fleet Management Weekly Staff
While the business world has changed immensely since the COVID pandemic, best business practices have not.
Budget constraints, metrics-driven performance, customer experience, profitability … they all continue to define fleet operational performance.
The difference is the relative criticality of the different facets of fleet management. Supply chain has heightened attention. Vehicle lifecycle and replacement are getting much more attention. Asset management with the transition to EVs is another wrinkle, and there’s much more.
Managers could easily fall into a “chicken little” posture looking at a sky full of challenges raining down around them. Or, they could remember the best practices that still define a successful fleet operation.
ARI recently listed some of the steps necessary to keep from straying off the path that has always led to a successful fleet operation.
