trans.info — 2023-06-30
Land transportation
PTV Logistics, a company promoting the electrification of road transport, has announced the launch of the EV Truck Route Planner, an online tool designed to facilitate the introduction of electric trucks and vans into transport fleets.
The brand-independent route planner calculates suitable routes for electric vehicles, taking into account factors such as payload, weather conditions, battery capacity and vehicle age. Fleet managers can use the tool to determine the most suitable electric vehicle for their operations.
Michael Hubschneider, Senior Product Manager at PTV Logistics, emphasises the importance of transparency when investing in electric fleets. He explains that the challenges of climate change have prompted European governments to enforce reductions in CO2 emissions for fleet owners through legislation and taxation.
In addition, the establishment of low or zero-emission zones accessible only to electric vehicles is becoming more common, prompting companies to electrify their transport fleets.
The EV Truck Route Planner addresses the challenges posed by the introduction of electric vehicles. Fleet managers can use the tool to determine which electric vehicles to invest in, plan for the necessary charging infrastructure, and assess how limited range and energy consumption are affected by weather conditions and driving behaviour.
A key feature of the EV Truck Route Planner is its extensive database of available and upcoming commercial electric trucks and vans in Europe. This database allows fleet managers to compare the performance of different models and make informed decisions about their transport operations.
What makes the tool unique is that it uses manufacturer data to create digital twins of each vehicle. These digital twins provide a realistic representation of the vehicle’s behaviour under different conditions, taking into account factors such as outside temperatures, headwinds, vehicle age, mileage and driver behaviour. Fleet managers can simulate different scenarios to understand vehicle performance and select the most suitable vehicle for their operations.
PTV Logistics aims to expand the tool to include vehicles from other parts of the world, other vehicle types and alternative powertrain technologies to contribute to a more sustainable world.