Clarios, a battery technology solutions provider, has developed technology to allow fleet managers, technicians and drivers to monitor battery life in real-time to reduce downtime. This component solution was presented at the Clarios press conference during the annual Technology and Maintenance Council (TMC) meeting and exhibition.

According to the company, dead batteries are the third most common cause of fleet downtime and battery failures have the potential to cost large fleets millions of dollars per year. Clarios Smart AGM (absorbent glass mat) technology identifies weak cells that eventually drain battery life, provides a predictive assessment and send performance and replacement alerts to fleet management systems, so fleets can proactively plan for replacement.

How it works

As stated in the release, the most common cause of battery failure begins when a single cell weakens or becomes imbalanced. Via fleet management software systems, drivers and fleet managers receive real-time alerts when a battery requires maintenance. Clarios Smart AGM sends a notification when it’s time for a battery replacement, so fleets can get the most of batteries, plan for replacement expenses and avoid any unnecessary costs or delays caused by a dead battery.

Additionally, fleets can determine battery performance and identify factors that may contribute to diminished battery life and thereby inform future specifications to benefit the truck’s entire electrical system.

According to the release, Clarios is currently testing Smart AGM in commercial fleets and has partnered with three fleets across the globe to determine the most accurate way to reduce battery-related fleet downtime. The company notes that testing of sensor-based technologies found that Clarios Smart AGM delivers the highest level of predictability compared to alternative sensing technologies, due to its individual cell level monitoring capabilities.