ABB signs on AWS to develop cloud-based fleet management platform

ABB and AWS will accelerate the electrification of transport fleets

The collaboration will create a cloud-based solution for the management of charging infrastructure and charge scheduling to improve fleet efficiency and optimise electronic vehicle (EV) uptime.

The new platform, which is planned for a roll out in the second half of 2021, will offer a tailored user experience in a single-view platform. From the EV charge point to the fleet data dashboard, it will make EV fleet management more efficient and maximise reliability.

Frank Muehlon, president of ABB’s eMobility Division said, “ABB and AWS share a similar vision around the potential of eMobility to transform society. Our combined expertise supports the common goal of making EV fleet management simpler and more accessible. This new solution will revolutionise the world of electric mobility, integrating EV hardware and software into one ecosystem to provide a seamless user experience. We are confident that by working together we can propel the use of electric fleet vehicles by giving operators the confidence to make the switch.”

At present, 23 per cent of global, energy-related greenhouse gas emissions are caused by the transport sector. The electrification of traffic can substantially reduce CO₂ levels and large fleets can play a crucial role with nearly 400,000 electric delivery vans and trucks on the roads globally. However, many fleets are met with similar challenges when it comes to real-time vehicle and charging status information, maintenance of EV’s, and managing access to charging infrastructure.

Today, most fleet operators opt for third-party charging management software. This offers limited functionality and ability to customise based on the range of EV models and breadth of charging infrastructure. The speed at which charging technology continues to develop is increasing, and the resulting adaptations needed can be costly and take a lot of resources. As such, fleet operators are looking for scalable, secure, and easily tailored advanced software solutions, combined with easy-to-manage charging hardware, that enable them to plug and go.

To drive progress in EV fleets, ABB has created a pureplay venture in Berlin that will develop tailored, scalable, and cost-effective technologies for fleet operators which can be used by all vehicle OEMs. Working with AWS, this new venture will design the interoperable fleet management solution to work with all vehicle types and charging infrastructure. Using machine learning and analytics, it will include a compelling set of features including charge planning and real-time monitoring with insight and actions for vehicle health and servicing, along with EV route optimisation based on time of day, weather, and use patterns.

“As industries forge ahead with the electrification of their vehicle fleets, customers need reliable and intuitive services to help them adapt to the new operating model and optimise how they utilise their fleets. This collaboration between AWS and ABB will combine our companies’ deep expertise in the automotive, logistics, and electrification spaces with leadership in the cloud to deliver a hardware-agnostic, intelligent electric fleet management solution,” said Jon Allen, director, Professional Services, Automotive at AWS. “Together, ABB and AWS will bring the insights, agility, and scale the cloud provides to the electric vehicle industry and help our customers successfully transition to a lower-emission future.”