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A study from EVAI underscores an urgent need for better data integration and predictive tools, especially in light of significant financial penalties tied to vehicle downtime.
“In our conversations with industry professionals, we discovered that equipment downtime doesn’t just halt operations—it can lead to significant financial penalties, and this is something that is completely preventable,” says Ian Gardner, founder and CEO of EVAI. “This realization drove EVAI to focus on providing solutions that not only track vehicle TCO but also help prevent costly downtime. By analyzing data from ancillary on-vehicle systems like pony motors we are able to predict failures before they occur and keep vehicles in service.”
Key takeaways:
- 71% of respondents operate fleets with more than 50 vehicles.
- 20% include road construction equipment, while others manage utility (31%), sanitation (11%), and emergency response vehicles (10%).
- 69% say total cost of ownership (TCO) is extremely or very important in their fleet decision-making.
- 92% cite barriers like inconsistent data collection, lack of integration, and limited analytical tools.
- 38% still rely on manual spreadsheets; 19% do not track TCO at all.
- 41% have adopted fleet management software, with nearly 40% of those users reporting measurable improvements in TCO, some up to 15%.
- Maintenance expenses, downtime penalties, and fuel consumption are the biggest contributors to TCO.
- Common maintenance issues include engine problems (23%) and transmission issues (28%).
- 59% of respondents are unsure about EV transition, despite nearly half viewing electrification as promising for reducing TCO.
- Top barriers include initial vehicle cost (68%) and maintenance and repair concerns (13%).
