Dynamon launches ‘virtual electric fleet’
Dynamon has launched its Synthetic Telematics feature, which allows businesses to run a ‘virtual electric fleet’, modelling how vehicles will perform in real world conditions.
The technology, which is similar to that used by aerospace manufacturers and part of its ZERO software package, can either take existing telematics data or create its own for commercial vehicle fleets.
Using the software’s database of electric commercial vehicles, fleet managers and consultants can specify exact vehicles in detail, including options such as battery size, tyre choice, weights, optional extras and accessories.
They can then create routes, using either existing journeys or plotting new ones, and set up fleet movements in simulated scenarios that include real world geographic, traffic and road conditions. Drop-offs, deliveries, rest stops or charging, driving styles and weather conditions can also be added.
Synthetic Telematics’ analytic and predictive algorithms show how an electric fleet would operate, which can then be adjusted to determine what a real-world fleet will need to operate successfully, such as alternative charging methods, other vehicles, new routes or revised operational procedures.
Dynamon has created its own database of vehicle information, which included on-road testing for real-world efficiency figures and the calculation of factors such as the effect of certain options, such as different tyres or wheelbases. It can also model the effect of loads and wind direction on battery effectiveness.
Dynamon CEO Angus Webb said: “Synthetic Telematics is game-changing because for the first time, fleets can now run their entire operation virtually before a wheel even turns for real. This allows them to make fully informed decisions in every area of procurement and planning, ensuring that the transition to electric is right first-time, avoiding expensive over- or under-speccing of vehicles and infrastructure.”
“The modelling available with Synthetic Telematics changes the way businesses can plan for the future, because it lays out all the data they will need. It shows how vehicles will perform on different routes, in different temperatures.
“We’re now at a stage where Synthetic Telematics can take over from testing. Fleets often try electric vehicles out, but how rigorous can their testing procedure be? Often it can be quite anecdotal, and limited: nobody has the time and money to test all EVs on every route, in all conditions. With Synthetic Telematics, you can do this.”
Image of Angus Webb courtesy of Dynamon
