By Philip van der Wilt, VP EMEA, Samsara

Philip van der Wilt, VP EMEA, Samsara

The Drive to Zero is now unstoppable

“Everything we do is framed — to some extent — on geopolitical issues and decisions made at a national level. For instance, there is still mounting pressure in Europe to take immediate action to avoid the risk of natural gas shortages. According to some estimates, it faces a shortfall that could be as much as 30 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas in 2023.

“When we look at vehicles, zero-emission trucks (ZETs) are projected to achieve cost parity with diesel trucks before 2030 for most truck segments.

“Elsewhere, 15 EU nations have signed a global Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (ZE-MHDVs) which is expected to see 100% ZE truck and bus sales by 2040.”

Reliable data is essential as connected operations manage transition to EVs

“At Samsara, our business is driven by the conversations we have with our customers. By listening to their needs, we have pulled together a roadmap that improves the efficiency, safety, and sustainability of physical operations. Over the last two years, we’ve interviewed hundreds of customers, EV partners, and industry experts to truly understand what customers need as they embark on their journey toward electrification.

“Our mission is simple — to become the trusted electrification partner of choice for our customers. We want them to rely on us as they undertake the complex journey toward their transition to EVs. We want them to be confident that we will be with them during every phase of their EV transition – to make the process as efficient and effective as possible – no matter where they are in their journey.

“That’s why we’re giving our customers new and innovative solutions – designed specifically for supporting EV transition – and the unique workflows that come with managing a mixed-fuel fleet.”

Fleets need EV-specific digital tools to maximise investment

“Since our EV strategy is driven by the conversations we have with our customers, we can be confident that the solutions we have in place are designed for their needs.  That includes providing dedicated solutions for every part of their EV journey – from planning for electrification to deploying EVs, to managing and scaling a mixed-fuel fleet.

“In particular, we’re working on solutions to address specific concerns raised by customers that pivot around areas such as investing in EVs and charging infrastructure without having the necessary tools to manage the workflows.

“Ultimately, customers need a better understanding of the tech and data-based solutions they need to run an EV fleet. Looking ahead to 2023, we expect customers to start managing EVs alongside their ICE fleet to maximize their existing investments.”

Real-world data will provide the signposts for further EV adoption

“The fleets we’re in contact with are actively planning their transitions today with most scheduled to receive their first EVs in 2023. Not only will this give customers invaluable experience in planning, deploying, and managing EVs, but it will also provide vital data to better inform their decision-making. And as the number of fleet-based EVs grows, it will provide even more data that, in turn, will help to make EV fleet management a success.”