Ford to introduce updated fleet management tools with E-Transit

Date: Wednesday, November 18, 2020 | Author: Sean Keywood

Ford has announced future updates to its range of fleet management tools.

The upgrades will coincide with the arrival of the new E-Transit electric van, scheduled for 2022.

Among the new features offered by Ford Commercial Solutions will be electric vehicle tools, allowing fleet managers to monitor the performance of individual vans with data such as energy consumption, charge speed and remaining driving range.

Operators will be able to remotely pre-condition cabin temperatures while the van is plugged in to improve battery efficiency, and receive alerts warning them if the van is not plugged in when scheduled.

There will also be tools allowing managers to remotely manage transactions for public charging, and receive reports to support reimbursement for employees who charge at home.

In addition to the EV-specific tools, other new features will tie in to the Sync 4 infotainment system, to come with the E-Transit as standard.

These include real-time driver coaching, with the driver given an audio warning if they break the speed limit, accelerate or brake harshly, drive without a seatbelt, or leave an engine running in petrol or diesel models.

In addition, after-hours monitoring will alert managers if the vehicle is being stolen, used without permission, towed away or damaged while parked.

There will also be an integrated driver ID feature, allowing managers to analyse the performance of specific drivers by getting them to enter a driver-specific code into the system.

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