In the last couple of years, the data-driven solutions for aftermarket car telematics have been significantly increasing. These solutions empower fleet managers and car manufacturers to appeal more to the demands of their buyers, to make data-based decisions, and to lead innovation in their industry. Furthermore, private individuals are now realizing the comfort and safety factors these solutions give to their life, thus they are becoming more and more prone to easily adapt these solutions. But what are currently the 5 most highlighted applications when you are managing a fleet of vehicles? This is what we are going to explore in this article.
1. Stolen vehicle tracking
Stolen Vehicle Tracking (SVT) systems make it possible to detect, locate, and in some cases immobilize stolen cars in order to enable quick recovery. SVT systems must have very high integrity and resilience against security-breaching attempts, tampering, or removal attempts to make sure they cannot be compromised by malevolent people.
The most common security capabilities of SVT solutions include; detection of tampering and radio jamming, blocking or spoofing GNSS or cellular signals, car reactivation a few weeks after the theft to transmit its position to the authorities or the owner, or immobilizing the engine, thus preventing the restarting of the vehicle.
2. Vehicle finance telematics
During the 2000s, the increasing use of cellular GPS tracking for mortgaged vehicles added a new dimension for creditors to manage their assets remotely. This is a common practice for sub-prime loans targeting automotive buyers with lower credit ratings. Creditors are potentially provided with the ability to track down or cut off the ignition for non-paying car owners. The greater transparency provided by telematics offer vehicle finance companies and creditors a better way to manage risk, similar to insurance companies using UBI (Usage-Based Insurance) and fee.
3. Remote control and convenience services
Telematics device scan enable a wide range of convenience services and remote control of vehicle functions. Examples for these include remote door lock/unlock, vehicle preconditioning (heating or cooling of the passenger compartment before a trip),and vehicle status checks, such as tire pressure and fuel level. Furthermore, GNSS tracking enables the driver to find the last parking position, but the list of advantages for the driver goes on with geofencing and speed alert notifications.
In some markets, service providers also offer concierge services that enable subscribers to get personal assistance, for instance, to find information, get directions, find flight information, and book restaurants or hotel rooms.
4. Vehicle diagnostics and maintenance
Telematics services in the form of maintenance and vehicle diagnostics can offer various new capabilities to enable better customer retention management, reduce costs for vehicle, recalls and improve product quality. Nowadays, many aftermarket car telematics services offered by dealers and leasing companies include some form of basic maintenance reminders that help customers to book routine services.These possibilities not only increase customer satisfaction but make the vehicle’s lifespan longer at the same time.
Several leading carmakers have launched remote diagnostics services that rely on various sensors in the vehicle to detect issues. Remote diagnostics can also be used to facilitate preventive maintenance and reduce product recall costs. These telematics solutions save time for the service provider and the vehicle owner as well while helping them upkeep a reliable maintenance schedule without compromising vehicle safety and driving experience.
5. Vehicle emission monitoring
Emission compliance is a compelling aftermarket car telematics use case. As the OBD port originally was created to measure emissions, such services can be offered by consumer telematics solution providers. The emission regulations of the California AirResources Board (CARB), which is accepted and implemented by many other states in the USA, like Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island,Oregon and Vermont, and Europe as well, includes requirements for manufacturers to sell zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) that emit no pollutants. By the 2025model year, about 15 percent of a manufacturer’s total sales volume inCalifornia will need to be ZEVs.
These changes are the driving forces for the use of telematics solutions in vehicle emission monitoring. In order to comply with regulations, and the increasing demand from drivers and passengers for green solutions, vehicle emission monitoring becomes one of the most important use cases of telematics solutions.
Vehicle emission monitoring is also an important topic if we consider the pandemic situation in 2020. Air quality has improved since the introduction of transport restrictions due to coronavirus.
How Inventure takes part in emission control and monitoring?
Inventure Automotive, being a brand independent in-car technology enabler, can also play an active role in decreasing vehicle emissions. In cooperation with other companies and universities, we take part in a project, which emerged to validate and optimize the decreasing of emission levels.
The research project aimed to design a performance-optimizing device applicable to internal combustion engine vehicles. The Emission Reduction Device (ERD) contributes to the protection of clean air and a sustainable urban environment through decreasing pollutant emission, fuel consumption while increasing the performance of the vehicle.
The ERD, at the time of the writing of this article, is in testing phase. Its effectiveness has been proved by laboratory tests. The previous test results imply that local air pollution could be significantly decreased with the application of this device in internal combustion engine vehicles.
Conclusion
All things considered, the aftermarket of car telematics is a vast field with different use cases, but the 5 most important and most frequently used applications have already made their way into our everyday lives. As we can see, these applications are most probably only the beginning of the higher connectivity of vehicles, and there is still plenty of room to innovate, just like the revolutionary ERD solution developed by Inventure Automotive, and other organizations, to aim for a healthier, more comfortable, and sustainable future.
