Are EV Work Truck Conversions a Game Changer?
By Mike Sheldrick, Senior Editor
Fleets might be the lowest hanging fruit of all for EV makers. After all, fleet vehicles are chosen and operated to minimize cost maximize return on invested capital.
Eventually, the savings on fuel, maintenance, longer life ought to be a winning formula.
But for the startups aimed at fleets, particularly, the work truck segment the last few months have been tough sledding. Most recently, the gadfly short seller Hindenburg Research wrote a disparaging report on Lordstown Motors Corp. This was six months after it had released a similarly downbeat report on Nikola Motor Co.
Not everything in the pickup space is gloomy, however.
Top Ten List of Commercial Fleet Management Trends
By Ed Pierce, Contributing Editor
All fleet managers can find value in the recently published Top Ten list of commercial fleet management trends that will impact asset tracking, operational efficiency, driver safety this year and in the years ahead.
Developed by Rastrac, a leading provider of GPS tracking devices and remote asset tracking systems, the trends include:
1. Adoption of Electric Fleet Vehicles
With the auto industry and people now embracing electric vehicles (EVs), it is only a matter of time before some fleets begin using electric cars and trucks.
One of the biggest concerns for fleet management companies is the cost of phasing out old vehicles and bringing in new electric vehicles. Most experts forecast that EVs will be priced competitively with gasoline-powered cars in the next few years.
Adaptive Cruise Control Spurs Drivers to Speed
Drivers are using adaptive cruise control (ACC) as a tool for speeding, possibly undermining the feature’s potential safety benefits, a new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found.
ACC is a more advanced version of traditional cruise control that uses sensors to calculate and maintain a preselected following distance from the vehicle ahead, eliminating the need for the driver to repeatedly brake and reset the system. With the addition of lane centering, the vehicle also maintains its position within the travel lane automatically.
Drivers are substantially more likely to speed when using ACC or partial automation that combines that feature with lane centering than when not using either technology, the study showed. When selecting a speed to “set and forget,” many drivers choose one that’s over the limit.
Read the article at IIHS.
Holman Enterprises Launches New Automotive Podcast
MOTIVE powered by Holman explores the latest automotive, fleet, and mobility trends impacting the industry
The monthly podcast will examine the latest news and trends from across the automotive sector while also providing a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the industry, highlighting everything from the newest vehicles and ultra-luxury exotic cars to cutting-edge technology and fleet best practices.
“With the launch of MOTIVE, our goal is to explore the major topics and emerging trends relevant to the movement of people and goods,” said Peter Nogalo, host of MOTIVE powered by Holman and Marketing Manager, Holman Enterprises.
Arizona Utility Offers Customers $1,000 Rebate to Switch to Electric Cars
Arizona utility Salt River Project (SRP) really wants its customers to drive electric cars, so it’s now offering any customer who buys an EV a $1,000 rebate in a pilot program. By the end of 2021, its sedan fleet will be fully electric.
SRP is doing its bit to incentivize EV driving. On March 3, it published “21 reasons to drive an electric vehicle in 2021” on its blog. No. 1 is their $1,000 rebate, and No. 2 notes that SRP offers $250 off a Level 2 charger when you buy it from SRP marketplace.
It also points out that vehicle registration fees are cheaper for electric cars in Arizona than for ICE cars. Further, Arizona EV drivers get a special license plate that gives HOV lane privileges, and of course, not have to bother with getting emissions tested.
Read the article at Electrek.
