In the 80s Fleet Managers were bombard with requests for air conditioning because it was an optional extra. Once it became standard fitment drivers turned their attention to window tinting.
One of the great innovations during the nineties from Ford was Smart Tint which was an advanced film applied to the windows and it offered the equivalent protection of SPF15 sunscreen. Unfortunately it was almost undetectable so thousands of Ford Falcons also received aftermarket window tinting to satisfy employees who were concerned with being exposed to sun while driving.
Another popular accessory in the 90s were floor mats. Still not included from the factory and a great upsell opportunity for dealers. Considered unnecessary by many organisations, drivers made the argument of higher resale values because they protected the carpet from wear and tear.
Some Fleet Managers resorted to cheaper aftermarket options though this became a safety concern after the Toyota case in 2009 that involved a loose floor mat that interfered with the accelerator pedal resulting in a fatal collision in the U.S.
Wider tyres were also a regular request from fleet drivers during the 90s because the newer fuel injected engines with automatic transmissions delivered more power to the rear wheels which caused wheel spin at take off until drivers adapted their application of the right. Apparently lives were at risk when it rained because of the wheel spin despite the millions of dollars spent on research and development that saw a massive increase in active and passive safety technology during the decade.
After a colourful history of ‘must have’ accessories being requested by fleet drivers, the transition to electric vehicles is making one accessory mandatory.
Charge cables and adapters are the accessory to include with every electric vehicle on your fleet. There’s a range of connections on offer in public charging networks, and some make you Bring Your Own charging cable.
So to ensure your drivers can charge at every available charging station, put charging a cable and Type 1 to Type 2 adapter in their boot and teach them how to use it.
Click here to see what charging cable bundles can be purchased from EVSE.
