%202%20(1).png)
Electrifying public transport across Europe is no longer an experiment—it’s happening at scale. over 50% newly registered buses in EU were electric. After interviewing more than 20 leading fleet Operators are more and more becoming energy companies, which requires a new skillset. Their main hurdles cluster around four main areas: data, safety, range, and battery lifetime.
1. Data: From Fragmented to Useful
Modern fleets need reliable, high-quality data—but many operators told us they still don’t have it. The biggest hurdle? Access. Vehicle and battery data is often slow, low-frequency, and locked away in proprietary systems that don’t talk to each other.
What operators really need is open, high-frequency, brand-agnostic data. Without full visibility into parameters like voltage, temperature, charge rates, and degradation indicators, they can’t power the analytics that would make their operations smarter and more efficient.
It’s not just about diagnostics—it’s the foundation for AI-powered planning, predictive maintenance, smart charging, and driver coaching. The data exists; the challenge is making it accessible and usable across the fleet. Once that happens, everything from route planning to cost control improves dramatically.
2. Safety: Spot problems before they escalate
Battery fires are rare, but when they do happen, the impact is huge. We heard from operators who’ve seen entire depots go up in flames. And with insurers and regulators tightening the rules, the pressure is on to detect problems before they become disasters.
That means continuous monitoring of voltage, temperature, and charge rates—down to the module level. If something looks off, the system should trigger an alert immediately so the vehicle can be checked or pulled from service. This is especially important during overnight charging when no one’s around to spot a problem.
3. Range estimations are inaccurate, so operators play it safe. At a cost.
Planning routes with electric buses isn’t just about battery size. Weather, traffic, terrain, and driving style all cause massive swings in energy use. In some cases, heating and air conditioning consume more energy than driving itself. A single day of snow can throw off your whole schedule.
To cope, many operators rely on conservative estimates and seasonal route plans. But that means underused capacity and overcompensating with too many vehicles. What they really need is dynamic range prediction that factors in real-world conditions and updates in real time. That kind of insight not only prevents breakdowns but also builds driver trust. When range estimates are off, it causes anxiety—and drivers may switch back to diesel just to be safe.
4. Battery Lifetime: many unknowns
Battery replacements are expensive and disruptive, but many fleets still take a reactive approach. We heard the same question over and over: “Are we charging in a way that shortens battery life? we don’t know”
Operators want clarity. Is it better to do frequent top-ups or wait for deep charges? Is fast charging every day a problem? A dashboard that shows how charging behavior affects degradation—tailored to each operator’s routes and climate—would be a game-changer.
There's also growing interest in modular replacements. If a few cell blocks are wearing out early, why swap the whole pack? Being able to pinpoint faulty modules could save serious time and money, especially when warranties no longer cover the entire battery.
Final Thoughts
Electrification is about building an ecosystem where data from various sources are coming together in a streamlined and structured way, so in-house data analysts waste as little time as possible to get reliable data. At Jump Energy, our mission is to turn batteries into transparent, predictable assets. We do this best in collaboration with in-house data analysts.
Stay in the Loop
Want to learn more about our solution? Contact us or follow us on LinkedIn for the latest updates.
