3 Wheeler : telematics for micro-mobility

Background and challenges

With the rise of light electric vehicles, micro-mobility is emerging as a sustainable solution to urban transport needs, particularly in Africa, where many countries are deploying electric rickshaws (“3-wheelers”) to provide affordable and environmentally friendly transport options.

But whilst these fleets provide a practical solution to transport needs, they pose a significant challenge:

How can thousands of electric vehicles, scattered across several countries and often operating in challenging environments, be tracked, maintained and made profitable?

The challenges are manifold:

• Optimising routes and reducing operating costs;
• Anticipating breakdowns and maintenance requirements;
• Ensuring the safety of drivers and passengers;
• Centralising data for rapid and reliable operations.

It is against this backdrop that a major French manufacturer turned to Dunasys Telematics to design and roll out a bespoke connected solution capable of ensuring connectivity, reliability and large-scale monitoring of its fleets.

Project Objective

The objective of the 3 Wheelers project is to roll out a comprehensive fleet management solution across several African countries, prior to its expansion into Asia.

The client wanted to:

• Have complete visibility over vehicle performance and usage
• Plan maintenance in advance to ensure operational availability
• Standardise telematics across its entire fleet for consistent international operations.

In other words: to provide micro-mobility with the same management and performance tools as large industrial fleets.

The Solution Provided by Dunasys

Dunasys Telematics proposed a turnkey solution based on the DCAR E, a fleet management unit designed and customised to meet local operating conditions.

Thanks to our combined expertise in in-vehicle electronics, connected software and system integration, we delivered a specific version of the DCAR E capable of withstanding the most demanding conditions: heat, vibrations, areas with poor network coverage or limited maintenance.

The solution’s key benefits

• Wireless ‘plug & play’ technology, simplifying large-scale deployment
• Reliable 4G connectivity for real-time data transmission, even in remote areas
• Seamless integration with the client’s SaaS platforms and monitoring tools
• Collection and analysis of data on journeys, usage and vehicle health
• Scalable and future-proof architecture, ensuring compatibility with future generations of connected vehicles.

Project milestones

The project was rolled out according to a phased, structured and ambitious roadmap:

1. Development and technical validation of the DCAR E for micro-mobility;
2. Full integration into the manufacturer’s monitoring and analytics systems;
3. Operational roll-out across nine African countries: Egypt, Nigeria, Morocco, Kenya, Burkina Faso, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia and Ghana;
4. Planned expansion into Asia, as part of a global roll-out strategy;
5. International technical and logistical support, ensuring the quality, maintenance and availability of the equipment.

Today, more than 100,000 DCAR E units are already in service, with a planned increase to several hundred thousand units over the coming years.

Perspectives

Building on this success, Dunasys Telematics continues to develop bespoke connected solutions for car manufacturers, equipment suppliers and fleet managers looking to accelerate their transition towards smarter and more sustainable mobility.

The next steps include:

• Expanding deployment across Asia and into new emerging markets, whilst developing the French and European markets
• Evolving the DCAR range to include new predictive and data-driven features
• Strengthening long-term industrial partnerships with major players in the sector.