The district and borough councils of South Hams and West Devon have adopted telematics to boost fleet visibility and support the transition to electric vehicles.

The councils have adopted telematics to boost fleet visibility and support the transition to electric vehicles

South Hams District and West Devon Borough Council have worked together since 2007 within a shared service partnership, running a joint fleet of 70 LCVs.

Since deploying Teletrac Navman’s telematics system in November 2020, the local authorities have been able to optimise fleet operations, enabling them to access real-time data on aspects such as driver performance, vehicle location and idling time, via a single interface. This also enables them to better protect drivers.

The deal also includes support from Teletrac Navman’s Professional Services team, who have overseen the implementation process and will provide training sessions on a case-by-case basis to meet SW Devon’s specific needs and optimise the data and tools offered.

SW Devon is also continuing to work with Teletrac to add its Electric Vehicle Readiness solution. This is an AI software that analyses telematics data and creates a detailed map for EV fleet transition. The proposed addition of the solution will aim to support the local authority’s pledge to become carbon-neutral by 2030, by moving 90% of its fleet to electric in three to five years.

Dale Cropper, operations and fleet team leader at South Hams District Council & West Devon Borough Council, said: “In the past, the safety of our drivers and those in the community was our biggest concern, and by adopting this solution, we expect many of our concerns will reduce or vanish entirely.

“We have made huge strides forward and are now energised to further establish our relationship with Teletrac Navman, looking at how we meet our environmental goals. We know long-term we have the right partner to support our transformation to EV through streamlined professional consultation and equipping us with the solutions and knowledge necessary to reach our desired destination, as effectively and efficiently as possible.”