(Beta) Automated Charging Sessions with Geotab

Automated Charging Sessions allows Fleetio to use vehicle sensor data from Geotab to detect when charging starts and automatically create a Charging Entry.

• Charging Entries are a part of Fleetio's EV Charge Tracking feature. With EV Charge Tracking, fleets adopting electric vehicles will be able to capture and review their electric vehicle charging to better understand its impact on their total operating costs.

Unlike manually created Charging Entries, Charging Entries created from Automated Charging Sessions allow you to monitor charging performance and view a real-time energy cost estimate.

Configuring Automated Charging Sessions

Before you can use Automated Charging Sessions, you'll need to enable it in your Geotab Integration settings.

1. Click Integrations in the Sidebar Navigation

2. Select My Integrations in the Integrations Directory sidebar

3. Click the More Actions Button for your Geotab Integration and select Edit.

4. Under Settings, check the Automated Charging Sessions checkbox and click Save.

Manage Settings

Automated Charging Sessions give you access to additional Account Settings, including configuring a Target Charging Percentage and Auto-approving Automated Charging Entries.

To manage your Automated Charging Entry settings:

1. Go to your Account Menu and select Settings

2. In the Settings sidebar, click Fuel & Energy Settings under Fuel & Energy.
3. In the Automated Charging Entries card, you can adjust the following settings:
   • Target Charging Percentage - Vehicles that are charged above this percentage will be marked as "Target Reached" and begin accumulating dwell time. (Default = 80%)
   • Default Energy Price - Used to calculate estimated energy costs in real-time as the vehicle is charging.
   • Auto Approve Automated Charging Entries - Uses the Default Energy Price above to calculate energy costs and automatically approve Charging Entries. This will skip the "Ready for Review" charging status when charging is complete.

4. After making changes, click the Save Fuel & Energy Settings button.

Viewing an Automated Charging Session

Automated Charging Sessions will create a new Charging Entry when a Charging Session begins.

To view Charging Entries:

1. In the Sidebar Navigation, click Fuel & Energy and select Charging History to view the Charging History Index.
2. Locate a Charging Entry from one of your Geotab vehicles and click on it to view its details.

You can learn more about the basics of the Charging History Index and Charging Entry details in EV Charge Tracking.

Below, we'll cover the features available only with Automated Charging Sessions.

Charging Statuses

Charging Entries created from Automated Charging Sessions contain both the Charging Entry Status (a) and the vehicle's Charging Status (b).

The Status in the details card shows the progress of the Charging Entry:

• Charging - The vehicle is currently charging.
• Ready for Review - The Automated Charging Session has finished and is ready to be reviewed.
• Charge Complete - The Charging Entry has been reviewed and approved.

The Charging Status shows the Vehicle's charging progress:

• Charging - The vehicle is currently charging.
• Target Reached - The vehicle charge has reached the defined Target Charging Percentage,
• Charge Complete - Charging has completed.

Both statuses are also available as columns in the Charging History Index:

Charging Session Chart

The Charging Session chart on the Charging Entry will display key charging information during and after the charging session.

1. State of Charge - Percentage of battery charge
2. Charging Power - How much power the charger is supplying to the vehicle
3. Charge Start - Battery percentage and time when the Automated Charging Session started
4. Target Reached - Battery percentage and time when the vehicle charge reached the defined Target Charging Percentage. (Default is 80%)
5. Charge End - Battery percentage and time when the Automated Charging Session ended
6. Dwell time - How long the vehicle continued charging after it hit the Target Charging Percentage.
7. Max Charging Rate - Maximum Charging Power provided by the charger and type of charging station.

Hover your cursor over the State of Charge or Charging Power to view additional data for each metric.

Reviewing Automated Charging Session Entries

When an Automated Charging Session has finished, its status will update to Ready to Review. The Charging Entry will need to be reviewed to update the status to Charge Complete.

To review a Charging Entry:

1. Locate the Charging Entry that is in a Ready to Review status, and click on it to view its details.
2. Click the Review button in the top right.

3. Review the Charging Entry information:
   • Add a Vendor
   • Total Energy is collected from sensor data, but can be changed
   • Add Energy Price per kWh
   • Add Discount and Taxes & Fees if necessary

4. Click Approve to complete the Charging Entry.