Understanding the Impact of A.C.E.S. on Your Fleet

Surveying fleets across the county, Cox Automotive set out to understand the industry sentiment and adoption of Autonomous/Connected/Electric/Shared (A.C.E.S.) technologies. As the A.C.E.S. future of transportation continues to unfold, fleet providers will face an increasing need for tools and service capabilities to support complex vehicle needs.

Fleets of tomorrow require technicians versed on the latest technology and trends. The hope is that the following research can help you stay ahead of the curve.

An inside look into A.C.E.S. adoption among survey fleet operators:

Connected

• 54% indicate that they prefer to acquire vehicle connectivity services from manufacturers.
• 4 out of 5 medium- and heavy-duty fleets say that new vehicle technology improves the way they manage their fleet.
• 3.5 out of 5 medium- and heavy-duty fleets feel that the more technology features a vehicle has, the safer it is. 40% indicate that over the next 5 years, connectivity will only become more important to how their business operates.
  • Improved fleet knowledge and dispatch technology allows fleet managers to see directly into the health of their trucks and make informed decisions on maintenance – potentially avoiding emergency roadside situations.
    
    Additionally, connected billing and invoicing services streamline processes, while more fluid dispatches mean less time wasted awaiting direction.

Electric

• 44% say tax incentives and 42% say gas prices are strong motivating factors for fleets to consider going electric.
  • Despite this, 46% believe electric vehicles (EVs) are simply too expensive, while 36% indicate a lack of charging stations in their area.
• 1 out of 3 fleets will consider electric vehicles in their new acquisition cycle, signaling a major shift in adoption.
  • Undoubtedly, this will lead to improvements in the infrastructure as more electric vehicles will be on the road, increasing the need for charging resources.
• By the end of 2023, medium- and heavy-duty fleets are predicted to show a +67% adoption rate in EVs.
  • Among medium- and heavy-duty fleets today, 58% say they are shoppers, while only 20% are adopters.
• It’s important to choose a maintenance provider that’s educated and efficient in maintaining and repairing medium- and heavy-duty EVs.

Shared

• 30% of fleet operated surveyed believe shared resources and technologies will reduce vehicle downtime.
  • This reinforces the fact that shared fleet vehicles will also need to be maintained. It’s important to consider who is servicing and maintaining shared fleet equipment and to ensure your provider is transparent, trusted and can be easily tracked/contacted.