About the Author: Gary L. Wollenhaupt is a Phoenix-based freelance writer who covers the transportation, energy and technology sectors for a variety of publications and companies.
The State of Fleet Electrification: Plug-In Hybrids vs. All-Electric
Is the dream of vehicle electrification dead or just delayed a bit? Earlier this year, legacy auto manufacturers announced they would slash electric vehicle production and pivot toward hybrid vehicles. These dramatic changes were in response to the drop-off in consumer demand for EVs and the Biden administration’s announcement of a new technology-neutral approach based […]
With the industry’s ongoing shortage of qualified vehicle technicians, fleet managers need effective strategies to keep their top performers. Compensation is meaningful, but communication is the real key to retaining technicians, said Paul Jefferson, senior fleet manager for Oklahoma Gas & Electric (OG&E), an investor-owned utility based in Oklahoma City. The results of an OG&E […]
If you’re a utility fleet manager who isn’t thinking about cybersecurity, the question is, should you be? Cyberattacks on utilities increased by more than 200% in 2023, according to a report from asset intelligence firm Armis (www.armis.com). In May, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency warned water utilities of a heightened risk of attack from foreign […]
While the automotive industry is recovering from the worst of the pandemic-era disruptions, many vehicles still have extended lead times that are disrupting fleet acquisition plans. Pre-COVID, lead times for most vehicles were about three months, which stretched to as much as 12 months during the pandemic. The lead time has fallen to around six […]
As more utility fleets add electric vehicles to their mix, fleet managers need to understand the intricacies of managing EV charging costs, much like they would fuel expenses. Fleets are adopting an emerging array of strategies, tools and practices to monitor and control these costs. After all, utility rates are the new fuel prices and […]
While the flying automated cars of “The Jetsons” cartoon are still to come, the growing power of artificial intelligence is moving fleet telematics into the future. Smart telematics systems are already in use by many fleets, but the technology is moving to the next level with the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning to […]
Service-level agreements (SLAs) are a powerful tool in managing vendor performance for outsourced fleet maintenance. An SLA is a contract that describes expectations for service quality. It may include, for example, guaranteed turnaround time for preventive vehicle maintenance. The fleet manager can bank on an oil change being completed in 72 hours and plan the […]
All-terrain utility vehicles (ATUVs) are machines that utility fleets use to transport people, materials and equipment across potentially hazardous off-road environments for the purpose of inspecting or repairing power lines or performing other tasks in remote areas. These vehicles go where four-wheel-drive pickups cannot, navigating steep slopes, trudging through heavy brush, hovering over swamplands, and […]
Fuel cells powered by hydrogen have become an attractive technology because hydrogen powers an electric motor – without plugging in, as you do with a battery-electric vehicle – and the only emission out of the tailpipe is water. Big-name truck makers including Toyota, Kenworth and Navistar have entered the fray. And then there are new […]
As utilities adopt electric vehicles for their fleets, they face a fundamental question: wired or wireless charging? The decision could have long-term effects on the success of EV adoption. Electric utilities will be consulting with their customers on the same question. While EV plug-in charging stations are familiar sights thanks to Tesla, wireless charging is […]
