Urban infrastructure maintenance providers Oxford Direct Services (ODS) has partnered with telematics firm Webfleet Solutions to support a fleet electrification project for Oxford City Council.
ODS, which manages a fleet of over 300 vehicles to maintain the council’s housing stock, parks, highways, streets and waste disposal, is leveraging Webfleet telematics data to pinpoint the most suitable vehicles to swap for electric models. The software is also helping to optimise EV charging efficiencies and cut fuel use by improving driver behaviour.
The move supports the council’s launch of the UK’s first Zero Emission Zone, which begins today [28 February 2022] in Oxford. It is hoped the initiative’s success can be replicated by other UK local authorities.
Data is being fed via the Webfleet API into Oxford’s Fleet Reporting Database, with outputs used to support learning and evaluation at Energy Superhub Oxford, an initiative to decarbonise Oxford by 2040.
Owain Pearce, transport manager at ODS, explained: “The published ranges of EVs, based on dynamometer testing, can often be lower in ‘real world’ conditions, with load, temperature, terrain and driving behaviour all affecting performance.
“With Webfleet reporting, we can see what daily ‘real world’ mileages are being achieved by both ICE and electric vehicles, along with criteria ranging from road types to standstill times, signposting vehicles’ true EV potential, total cost of ownership and emissions savings.”
Additionally, Webfleet data will be used to help ODS plan for the most cost-effective EV charging strategy.
“Drivers returning to our depots at the end of the day might be prone to plug-in immediately – but 4pm to 7pm is usually the most expensive time to charge,” said Tina Mould, capital programme project manager, Oxford City Council.
“Webfleet is helping us to educate our team and to predict how many charge points will be needed in the future.”
Workflow planning for existing EVs is optimised with real time battery levels, remaining driving ranges and pre-emptive maintenance alerts available for every vehicle within the platform. Fuel usage and CO2 is also being cut through its integral OptiDrive driver behaviour monitoring.
“Some of our vans are used by several different drivers in one day,” added Pearce. “With Webfleet, each driver has to log on and off allowing us to carefully monitor driving behaviour across the team.
“Real time alerts will highlight incidents such as harsh cornering, braking or speeding, while simple traffic light coding will tell us which drivers we need to offer extra support and training to.”
ODS has already purchased 50 electric vehicles for its inner-city fleet, including cars, vans, an electric refuse vehicle, a JCB, a sweeper and two tippers. It is aiming to replace at least 25% of its ICE fleet by 2023, with further targets planned for the next few years.
The company has also signed up as an official Webfleet Solutions research partner to help shape the company’s ongoing fleet electrification research and development programme.
