The Critical Ingredient for Delivering Low Cost Fuel Economy and Sustainability: DATA

XL Hybrids recently debuted their XL Link™ cloud-based connectivity and analytics system which leverages critical data points to assist commercial and municipal fleets in achieving low cost fuel economy and sustainability.

Today, making smart and informed equipment purchasing decisions is just the beginning of a fleet’s electrification process. Cutting edge connectivity and cloud technologies can now provide fleets with the data to validate vehicle-purchasing decisions by proving that equipment delivers and continues to deliver the performance promised. Additionally, connectivity can empower companies to move from a old, one-size-fits-all, depreciating model of purchasing and using equipment to an adaptive, iterative program of progressive improvement tailored to the realities of a specific business.

XL Hybrids developed the XL3^® Hybrid Electric Drive System hardware platform product with real time performance feedback precisely to enable their cycle of innovation -> validation -> adaptation. The launch of XL Link provides a key component that allows the company to continue to develop and improve the XL3 system performance, in conjunction with the company’s partners and customers.

Marc Zbyszynski, Cloud Systems Manager, said XL Link first started to take form as the company developed the XL3 hybrid electric system. It was originally built as a tool to monitor the performance of the XL3 platform and receive instant feedback on the impact of adjustments to the hybrid strategy or configuration.

As fleets around the country adopted the XL3 hybrid system, XL Link continued to collect data on the performance of real-world vehicles. This informed the ongoing development process, and enabled XL Hybrids to make improvements to their hybrid control software. XL Link was also expanded to include an early warning system to identify XL3 equipment that might require maintenance and respond with support more proactively to ensure vehicle uptime for fleet customers.

Years of data collection with XL Link provided many insights into the realities of commercial fleet fuel economy, based on statistically significant data collected on vehicles in operation. As the volume of collected vehicle data grew, XL Hybrids realized the it would have value to fleet customers, and that accessible on-demand vehicle performance data could be another tool in the hybrid fleet manager’s toolbox. This type of data could drive and validate process decisions in the future in a way that was not previously possible and have a real, positive impact fuel economy, maintenance planning, driver performance, asset deployment planning, and sustainability.

For example, in XL Link, a fleet manager can view how much of the fleet’s fuel was consumed while actually moving, compared with how much was consumed while idling (such as in traffic or waiting at a light) and how much was consumed while the vehicle was parked and not in gear. Depending on the nature of the fleet’s operations, a certain amount of time spent parked with the engine running may be unavoidable, but tracking and reducing excessive parked fuel consumption through driver training or incentive programs for example, could lead to a significant improvement in the fuel economy of a hybrid fleet. Just as installing the XL3 hybrid electric system enables fleet vehicles to operate more efficiently, XL Link provides further insights and enables fleet drivers and operations processes to work more efficiently with hybrid technology.

About XL Hybrids

XL Hybrids is the leader in connected fleet electrification solutions for commercial and municipal fleets, with technology that delivers a 25 percent increase in miles per gallon and reduces carbon dioxide emissions. Recognized as one of the World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company in 2014, XL Hybrids supports customers such as The Coca-Cola Company and other major fleets. The award-winning XL3® Hybrid Electric Drive System is a revolutionarily simple solution that helps commercial and municipal fleets lower operating costs and meet sustainability goals. Compatible with new and existing Class 2 to 6 commercial fleet vehicles, the XL3 system can be installed in less than six hours. It works seamlessly in the background with zero impact on fleet operations or service, and no driver training or infrastructure requirements. XL Hybrids was founded by MIT alumni and is based in Boston. For more information, visit www.xlhybrids.com or on Twitter @XLHybrids.

By Marc Zbyszynski

Tags: Hybrids

Category: Featured, Fuel & Oil