Paul Hollick, chair of the Association of Fleet Professionals, highlights a fleet concern about over the air (OTA) software updates, which can reduce the capabilities of company cars and vans 

Over the air (OTA) software updates that reduce the capabilities of company cars and vans were the subject of discussions at a recent meeting of the Association of Fleet Professionals’ Megafleets Committee, consisting of some of the UK’s largest car and van operators.

It was reported that certain OTA updates have slowed the charging speeds of electric vehicles, sometimes quite substantially, and this obviously has a direct impact on their operational potential. If a fleet manager has allocated 30 mins to charge a van midway through a carefully planned route and it suddenly takes 45 minutes instead, that has cost and service implications.

The meeting discussed where fleets might feel the need to draw the line in terms of the extent of OTA modifications. The possible answers are not clear but at the very least, we’d like to see limits placed on the number and extent of changes that are made, and much more information provided about what is happening to fleet vehicles and why.

Manufacturers are no doubt making these changes for good reasons such as improved battery life or even safety but they are also reducing the capabilities of a vehicle long after the fleet has decided to buy or lease it, and that simply doesn’t seem right.

More details about the AFP can be found at www.theafp.co.uk.