Smartrak is excited to announce the launch of Priority Charging, the latest feature of its EV Enablement solution. Designed to streamline the day-to-day operations of your EV fleet and minimise disruptions, Priority Charging sends proactive alerts to Fleet Managers, notifying them when a vehicle needs to be charged, or reallocated to support upcoming bookings.
In its commitment to customer-led innovation, Smartrak collaborated with a Special Interest Group (SIG), comprising leaders in EV transition, including Meridian Energy, Aurecon Group, and Griffith University. Their experience and challenges in managing large fleets of EVs across multiple sites helped identify critical management needs, leading to the development of Priority Charging.
Dr Sharlene Smith, Smartrak’s Sustainability Initiative Business Manager, said:
“Insights from the SIG confirmed that one of the key challenges in managing EVs is the lack of remote data, which leaves Fleet Managers unsure if a vehicle out on a trip has sufficient charge for its next booking. This led to last-minute scrambles to rebook, stressed Fleet Managers, and reluctant EV users. Even scheduled charging wasn’t solving the issue, resulting in excess vehicles in the fleet, lower utilisation, and reduced emissions benefits.”
To address these challenges, Smartrak developed Priority Charging, a first-of-its kind technology in EV fleet management. By integrating live EV data from Smartrak’s telematics device (Nextrak), with its vehicle booking platform (PoolCar), Priority Charging ensures managers can see critical EV data in real-time, and receive instant updates on charging needs, even when the vehicles aren’t plugged in.
Dr Smith added: “By using real-time battery information and booking data to highlight charging needs, Priority Charging alerts managers when charging is required. It also offers quick options to reallocate if it isn’t possible to get a vehicle charged in time, and sends alerts to drivers if their vehicle allocation has changed. This ensures vehicles are ready to go when needed.”
As fleets scale up their EV operations, having Smartrak’s Priority Charging becomes critical. This feature is part of Smartrak’s EV Enablement solution, a comprehensive suite of fleet management tools designed to support every aspect of electric fleet operations. From real-time battery data, and trip planning, to emissions reporting, charging insights, and fleet utilisation, this solution provides everything you need to optimise your EV fleet in one integrated platform.
