Optimising fleet maintenance for the net zero future

The transportation sector, a large proportion of which are fleet vehicles, is a major contributor to greenhouse gases (GHGs). The industry is at an inflection point as it confronts pressures to heighten efficiency while meeting regulatory decarbonisation mandates.

The adoption of hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs) is picking up speed as a viable solution to decarbonise. Yet, the transition to cleaner fleets can add layers to operators’ existing challenges. Industry surveys reveal that repair and maintenance costs for fossil fuel-powered fleets account for about ten10 percent of operational costs — largely due to unplanned, reactive maintenance — and these issues are magnified for hybrid and EV fleets. Like other vehicle types, hybrid and EV fleets require meticulous fleet planning.

What, then, are feasible pathways to run fleets for longer while tackling net-zero goals?

Reactive maintenance or waiting for minor problems to escalate before repairs are made, is the second-highest operational expense after fuel.

Consider the disruption when coordinating activities for the day and a report comes in that some trucks are out of commission and require a trip to the shop. Reactive fixes can hurt your overall operations and bottom line, as every minute your vehicles spend off the road leads to a loss of productivity and revenue.

For hybrid and EV fleets, it is even more urgent to transition from reactive to proactive predictive maintenance. This is to minimise risks of unplanned downtime and safety issues that can be particularly disruptive for these advanced vehicle types, making the difference between essential and emergency pit stops. It is also crucial to ensure that trained technicians are available and that specialised spare parts are on hand.

A proactive approach can help hybrid and EV operators maximise fleet uptime, promote asset longevity, curb emissions, reduce resource wastage and foster more sustainable practices. To achieve these gains, you will first need a structured fleet maintenance plan informed by proper vehicle data.

The combined framework of GHD Advisory’s Reliability Excellence and ZEVO^TM (Zero Emission Vehicle Optimisation) platform is designed to suit various types of fleets such as diesel, gasoline, hybrid or EV. It can seamlessly integrate into the fleet operator’s existing model and guide the organisation towards the path of decarbonisation. It is a data-driven approach that uses asset condition data and diagnoses equipment behaviour patterns and failure rates. This helps determine the maintenance tasks to be performed at the ideal time to improve equipment lifespan.

Reliability Excellence optimises equipment performance by factoring in downtime, costs and risks. It also includes fleet reliability analysis, which provides calculations on expected life and guides decisions on the recommended types of vehicles to procure and deploy. The results of this assessment are integrated into the asset replacement scenarios within GHD ZEVO^TM.

GHD ZEVO^TM enables feasibility assessment by transforming operational data into various decarbonisation timeline scenarios, providing the corresponding financial, environmental, utilities, operational and energy analyses for each scenario. This is applicable to any fleet type, fuel type or industry. For example, operators who are not ready to fully electrify can evaluate scenarios to determine the right technologies to adopt or the best pathway to take.

This synergy helps fleet managers lower carbon emissions while elevating performance efficiency — offering a sound strategy that minimises risks and maximises benefits.

The combined framework is tailored to suit the various types of fleets such as diesel, gasoline, hybrid or EV. The objective is to fit into the operator's existing model and guide them towards the path of fleet decarbonisation. Reliability excellence optimises equipment performance by factoring in downtime, costs and risks. The synergy offers the benefit of lowering carbon emissions while achieving higher performance efficiency. The two methods interface seamlessly as shown in the figure.

We understand the complexities of the transition. Our advisors have extensive experience in empowering clients in their fleet management journey through improved maintenance, strategic procurement and informed decision-making around decarbonisation. We can help you map where and how to begin embracing a proactive maintenance approach that works best for your fleet of vehicles.

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