Motive, an AI-powered fleet management and driver safety platform, has acquired InceptEV, a software start-up specialising in advanced battery intelligence.
This strategic move integrates patented battery software into Motive's Integrated Operations Platform, providing operations managers with precise insights into electric vehicle (EV) performance.
InceptEV's co-founder, Venkat Viswanathan, has joined Motive as a strategic advisor, bolstering the company's expertise in EVs.
The acquisition equips Motive's customers with the ability to evaluate EV performance under real-world conditions, such as varying terrain, weather, traffic, and cargo loads.
This capability is crucial for companies looking to transition to electric fleets, a shift that can increase costs by up to 114%.
Despite technological advancements, challenges like range anxiety, limited charging infrastructure, and energy costs remain significant barriers to EV fleet adoption.
Motive is also committed to aiding fleet regulatory compliance, particularly with California's CARB Clean Truck Check programme.
By participating in this programme, Motive assists customers in simplifying emissions reporting and staying abreast of changing regulatory demands, thereby reducing administrative work and promoting sustainability objectives.
InceptEV co-founder and University of Michigan faculty Venkat Viswanathan said: “Current EV planning tools can be too simplistic and inaccurate based on fixed numbers, often overestimating range and leading to poor planning, higher costs, and slower buy-in. Integrating InceptEV’s battery intelligence into Motive’s platform will give companies greater control with personalised insights to understand how their EV fleet will actually perform in the real world.”
Later in the year, Motive plans to unveil new reporting tools designed to enhance the management and scaling of EV fleets.
The upcoming Energy Usage and EV Charging Reports will offer comparative analyses of vehicles, highlighting battery consumption and usage patterns.
These tools aim to provide companies with greater transparency in their EV fleet data, enabling them to reduce operational expenses and improve route planning efficiency.
