Hitachi ZeroCarbon launches electric fleet management platform

Customers are provided with a bespoke service which supports fleet managers through the entire decarbonisation process.

Launching the service, Hitachi said its solutions were born out of Hitachi ZeroCarbon’s involvement in Optimise Prime, the world’s largest commercial trial of over 8000 EVs, which saw Hitachi work closely with major UK fleets, technology providers and local distribution network operators to develop and test EV fleet solutions.

Commenting on the launch of Hitchi ZeroCarbon’s fleet management platform, Mike Nugent, Hitachi ZeroCarbon chief revenue officer, said: “We understand that every business is unique, and has its own set of decarbonisation challenges, so we’re proud to have curated a service that threads the entire process together in one seamless offering.

“Our customers are telling us they don’t know where to start, and need support through every step of the journey. That’s why we combine bespoke strategies with a people-first approach to transformation, showing how close management of charge infrastructure and battery assets can deliver real business value.

“We are experts at taking the complexity out of electrification, and removing capital constraints, so operators can enjoy greater benefits, sooner.”

The company said operators, such as Nordic postal and logistics group Posten Bring and the UK’s largest bus operator First Bus, are already reaping the benefits of incorporating ZeroCarbon’s management to optimise charging schedules and route planning.

Stig Tvergrov, Posten Bring director, said: “We operate in a challenging environment where the conditions can change dramatically based on season. We needed a resilient and proven electrification partner that had the solutions to anticipate challenges and address them before they materialise. 

“Hitachi’s ZeroCarbon’s end-to-end service ticked a lot of boxes, and through our deployment of ZeroCarbon Charge, we achieved complete visibility into the health and performance of our key battery assets, so we can optimise our vehicles based on route, journey, or condition.

“The service plugged seamlessly into our existing site hardware and software too, which meant no disruption during installation. It led to us having complete visibility over both vehicles and chargers, allowing us to rely on new technology and help us towards achieving our climate goals early.”

 Services provided by the platform include:

• ZeroCarbon Fleet – combining Hitachi’s charging and battery management capabilities helps ensure vehicles are correctly charged to meet daily operations and batteries are protected for long-term performance.
• ZeroCarbon Charge – this provides real-time insights and alerts for charging facilities to ensure resources are optimised and cost effective.
• ZeroCarbon BatteryManager – helps to analyse vehicle battery life, protect performance and maximise the battery’s residual value.
• ZeroCarbon Strategy: Hitachi’s energy expertise supports fleet managers through every step of the electrification process, through designing bespoke decarbonisation strategies, conducting site assessments, calculating total cost of ownership, facilitating access to financing through its partners and identifying new energy and asset utilisation revenue opportunities.

Hitachi ZeroCarbon is also the principal partner in Gridserve’s Electric Freightway consortium, which is part of the DfT’s Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator programme (ZEHID).

The company is working with Gridserve to collate, analyse and report on data throughout the project, leveraging experience from its role in Optimise Prime.

This involves analysing routes, vehicle and charging session data including the optimisation of battery health, range and charging infrastructure monitoring, and evidence-based Total Cost of Ownership modelling to support investment business cases for future eHGV deployments.