Overview
Manually adding charging stops to routes for electric vehicles (EVs) in the TMS ensures efficient route planning with necessary charging considerations. Planners can identify, define, and schedule charging stops within the system, while drivers receive clear instructions in the Driver App for smooth execution and accurate route management.
Why Use This Feature?
Efficient Route Planning: Reduces manual coordination effort by integrating charging stops into route planning.
Accurate Driver Payment: Ensures appropriate remuneration for drivers by introducing a distinct "Charging" stop type.
Improved Customer Communication: Accounts for charging stops in estimated delivery times to provide accurate delivery windows.
Driver Clarity: Clearly outlines when and where charging stops should occur to prevent errors.
How to Plan a Charging Stop
1. Open the Route that needs to be driven by an Electric Vehicle.
2. Identify where to add the charging stop by considering the vehicle’s range (e.g., if the range is 120 km, plan a stop after 80-100 km of driving).
3. Check the cumulative distance in the stop details.
Use keyboard navigation arrows (→/←) to cycle through stops.
4. Identify the best charging location by reviewing route data (e.g., after stop 21).
5. Add a charging stop:
Click on the "+" button between the selected stops.
6. Select "Charging" as a stop type.
7. Review system-generated charging station suggestions:
The system suggests the three closest stations and ranks them based on impact on route distance and duration.
8. Click "Show more" to explore additional charging station options.
9. If you are still not satisfied, you can manually enter a different address, and the system will suggest the charging stations closest to that address. This is useful for adding a charging stop at a Distribution Center or between two stops that are far apart.
10. Select a charging station:
The system auto-fills the charging station name and address for display in the Driver App.
11. Define charging time based on vehicle battery capacity, current charge, desired charge level, and station speed.
12. Customize driver instructions to enhance clarity.
13. Click "Create Stop" to add it to the route.
14. Now your route is ready to be driven.
Steps to Execute a Charging Stop
1. Arriving at the Charging Stop
Charging stop type (1): Clearly labeled as "Charging" in the top bar.
Stop address (2): Displayed next to the stop number, with a lightning icon for easy identification.
Company name (3): Displays the name of the charging station as reported by Google. It usually contains information about the operator.
Instructions (4): Any custom instructions provided by the Planner will be displayed.
Deviation reporting (5): Option to report any issues if the stop cannot proceed as planned.
Start Charging (6): Click "Start Charging" to begin tracking the charging session.
Arrival at the Stop: When the driver has found the address.
Start Charging: When at least one of the stations is available, and the driver has connected the plug.
Complete Charging: When the vehicle is fully charged.
2. Key Charging Moments:
Arrival at the Stop: When the driver has found the address.Arrival at the Stop: When the driver has found the address.
Start Charging: When at least one of the stations is available, and the driver has connected the plug.Start Charging: When at least one of the stations is available, and the driver has connected the plug.
Complete Charging: When the vehicle is fully charged.Complete Charging: When the vehicle is fully charged.
3. Reporting a Deviation
Depending on when the driver wants to raise a deviation, different deviation reasons will be available. If the driver encounters an issue, they can choose from the following deviation options:
Wrong address: The provided address does not match a charging station.
Charging station out of service: The station is broken or closed.
Queue at charging station: All charging points are occupied, and the waiting time is excessive.
Vehicle already charged enough: The driver charged the vehicle at an earlier stop, and this stop is no longer required.
Other deviation: Any additional unforeseen issues.
For each deviation, the driver must select whether to:
Continue the stop: Record the deviation but proceed with the operation.
Fail the stop: Mark the stop as "Failed" and move on to the next planned stop.
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3. Starting the Charging Process
If no deviations occur, the driver should:
Click "Start Charging" to begin tracking the charging session.
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Keep instructions accessible while charging.
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Report any deviations if needed (only three options are available at this stage: Wrong address, Charging station out of service, Other deviation).
4. Completing the Charging Stop
Once the charging is finished, the driver should:
Click "Continue" to mark the stop as completed.
Ensure that the next planned stop is correctly updated in the route sequence.
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What the TMS Shows Upon Completion
Actual charging time and arrival time are logged. The stop displays a green border from arrival to completion.
Additional stop data, like the Actual charging time, can be accessed in stop details.
Best Practises
Identifying EV Routes
Leverage Route Planning Rule Sets to tag all EV routes, making it easier to identify those requiring charging stops while ensuring they are accurately reflected in your reporting.
Create a View in your Route List, to only identify Routes with the EV tag to be driven today (or tomorrow), so that you’ll always have a clear overview of which routes to modify with charging stops.
Note: the tag filtering is case insensitive, it does not matter if you write “EV” or “ev”
Guide the Driver Effectively
To ensure clear communication with the driver, it's essential to provide detailed instructions for charging stops. You can customize the stop instructions to include key details such as the recommended charge level and the location of the charging station.
A well-structured message template can be:
"Charge your vehicle at this station. Ensure the battery reaches at least 90% capacity. Charging station details: Google Maps link
On the driver's side it will appear as below:
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Conclusion
Proper execution of charging stops is crucial for maintaining efficient EV routes in the Mover TMS. By following the structured process outlined in this guide, drivers can ensure smooth and timely charging sessions, minimize disruptions, and accurately report any deviations.
Leveraging best practices such as EV route tagging and clear driver instructions further enhances operational efficiency. Implementing these strategies will help ensure seamless electric vehicle route execution, improving both driver experience and overall delivery performance.
FAQ
Why can’t I create a charging stop as the first stop on the Route?
The first stop on the Route is always expected to be a Pickup at the Distribution Center, ensuring the vehicle starts fully charged and ready for its journey.
What happens if all charging stations near the planned stop are occupied?
If all charging stations are occupied, the driver can report a "Queue at charging station" deviation and either wait or proceed to an alternative charging station.
Can the driver update the charging stop location?
No, the charging stop location is planned in advance by the Planner. However, the driver can report deviations, and adjustments can be made in the system by the Planner.
How is the actual charging time recorded?
The Driver App tracks the time from "Start Charging" to "Complete Charging," which is logged in the TMS for reporting and analysis.
What if the vehicle does not need to charge at the planned stop?
The driver can select "Vehicle already charged enough" as a deviation, allowing the system to record the stop as skipped while keeping the route optimized.