EV Connect Enters 2023 With New Products and Software to Enhance EV Charging Management
To ensure reliable EV charging for the estimated 10.6 million new EVs sold in 2022, EV Connect today announced sweeping enhancements to its product and service lines.
With these innovations, EV Connect further improves the EV charging experience for site owners, network operators, and EV drivers. These innovations are the capstone to a year during which EV Connect saved drivers over 900,000 gallons of gasoline, powered more than 38,000,000 electric miles, and kept more than 8,000,000 kilograms of greenhouse gasses from release into the atmosphere.
In addition to expanded partnerships with hardware companies and utilities, growth in customer installations, new product releases, and an acquisition by Schneider Electric, EV Connect now also offers:
GM President Outlines What Automakers and Consumers Are Getting Wrong About EVs
In a recent interview, General Motors' president Mark Reuss went over what he believes to be several misconceptions buyers and manufacturers have about EVs.
Speaking with Business Insider, Reuss first discussed hybrids. He believes they are unnecessary in 2022 and insisted GM has no plans to dilute its investment into electrification with hybrids. Reuss also went over concerns that EVs will overload the grid. He stated that GM is already working to solve this issue and mentioned vehicle-to-vehicle charging and sending unused energy back to the grid during peak hours as possible solutions.
He also addressed concerns about charging-industry consolidation. A lot of charging startups have emerged in recent years, however now many are merging together. He doesn't think it's a bad thing and believes partnerships are important for delivering adequate charging infrastructure.
Raven Connected Announces Integration with Fleetio
Raven Connected Inc. has announced an integration with the Fleetio fleet maintenance software platform. The integration empowers public and private fleet operators with better control over vehicle maintenance and fuel-related costs.
Raven’s video telematics solution provides managers with unparalleled insights and oversight over their field operations. The Raven in-vehicle hardware interfaces directly to the vehicle’s engine control unit, capturing critical data elements as key inputs to an effective vehicle maintenance process.
Fleetio is widely known for its vehicle lifecycle management and preventative maintenance scheduling software for fleets of all sizes, allowing supervisors and maintenance teams to become proactive rather than reactive. The Fleetio system also delivers valuable fuel insights through integrations with a number of leading fuel card providers.
It’s Over: Last 3G Network Closes December 31
By Kevin Dennehy, Editor, Location Business News
It’s the end of an era as Verizon will close the last 3G network on December 31. The 3G networks once allowed millions of passenger cars, trucks and buses to offer emergency, convenience and navigation features.
AT&T started to phase out its 3G network in February. T-Mobile closed the Sprint 3G network on March 31 and Sprint LTE on June 30. In addition, the company closed its T-Mobile 3G on July 1.
For fleets, it means loss of vehicle connect and driving data for companies that did not upgrade telematics services. Many of these companies, because of the pandemic, delayed software and hardware upgrades.
NHTSA To Formally Investigate GM Cruise’s Self-Driving Cars
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been alerted of multiple incidents involving GM's Cruise self-driving cars. The vehicles in question are manufactured by GM (Chevrolet Bolt EVs), though the autonomous technology comes from the automaker's subsidiary, Cruise LLC.
The NHTSA will assess the two concerns with regard not only to what's causing them to happen, but also how often they may occur. The organization must also determine how long the immobilized vehicles typically remain "stuck," and what consequences there may be if this continues to happen.
Thus far, the NHTSA has already noted that the reported problems "may introduce multiple potential hazards such as a collision with a Cruise vehicle, risk to a stranded passenger exiting an immobilized Cruise vehicle, or obstruction of other traffic including emergency vehicles."
