Page 27 - Logistics News - Issue 01 - 2024.indd

FL E E T M A NA G E ME N T

5 fleet management

trends for 2024

By Justin Manson, Sales Director at Webfleet

Webfleet, Bridgestone’s globally trusted fleet management solution, has forecast
five fleet management trends that are on the horizon for this year.

leet management is undergoing major advances average 5,665 litres of fuel per vehicle per year, €3,599
and 2024 will be a decisive year in two key (R74,893.82) in costs and 15 tons of CO per vehicle per
2
Fareas: safety and decarbonisation. In addition, year.
technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) applied to
automotive will drive new challenges and opportunities Electric trucks on South Africa’s roads will be joined
in the sector. Here are Webfleet’s five fleet management by vehicles powered by gas, specifically compressed
trends that are forecast for this year: natural gas or liquefied natural gas, and fuel cell trucks.

1. AI in the automotive industry 4. Smart charging for electric vehicles
AI is revolutionising everything, from programming to One challenge confronting companies with EVs is smart
data management, cybersecurity and training. It also charging. What’s the point of using EVs if recharging
plays a crucial role in the automotive industry, advancing is done using non-renewable energies? The market is
issues such as autonomous driving, road safety and starting to implement systems that ensure the use of
user experience. This trend will continue in the coming clean energy during the charging process of EVs. This
months, with AI being used to train autonomous vehicles, not only improves battery health and increases residual
improve emergency braking systems, detect fatigue, value, but also facilitates charging when grid costs are
predict vehicle maintenance and optimise routes in real- lower, leading to energy cost savings. Editor’s note: Solar-
time, ultimately improving mobility in cities. powered charging may be more of a necessity than a
choice here in South Africa.
2. Sustainability
Reducing the environmental footprint has become one 5. Fleet safety
of the most important goals for companies globally, The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that
alongside meeting increasingly stringent emissions traffic accidents result in 1.3 million fatalities and 50
targets. Many European cities have already implemented million injuries every year. To address this, a global
low emission zones (LEZ) and by 2030, zero emission strategy has been drawn up to reduce road deaths and
zones (ZEZ) will be introduced, permitting only vehicles injuries by at least 50 percent by 2030. The strategy
that do not emit to circulate. involves establishing measures such as setting driving
and resting time limits and using in-vehicle technology to
3. Fleet electrification promote safe driving styles.
2024 will be the time to transition fleets to electric
vehicles (EVs). Rapid technological advances, combined Even better news is that there will be safer trucks on
with a global commitment to sustainability, create a South African roads in 2024 and into the future. Global
particularly favourable environment for electrification. truck manufacturers are constantly striving to introduce
According to a Webfleet study on the electrification innovative safety features. Unlike in the past where many
potential of vehicle fleets, 61 percent of commercial were optional extras, features such as lane guidance and
vehicles in Europe could be replaced by an electric collision avoidance are fast becoming standard features
alternative. Moreover, companies with EVs save on in the newer models. •

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