The Challenge
One of our customers, a large care provider with more than 100 wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs), was experiencing an issue with vehicle batteries.
Some vehicles were not being used regularly enough to keep the batteries fully charged. As a result, staff occasionally found vehicles with flat batteries when they needed them.
Our guidance is that vehicles should ideally be driven for at least 45 minutes each week to maintain battery health. However, for large fleets, this isn’t always practical.
The customer needed a solution that would help keep vehicles ready to use, even when they had been parked for longer periods.
Working Together
After discussing the issue with the customer, our Account Management, Aftercare and Engineering teams worked together to find a solution.
Rather than asking the customer to change how they operated their fleet, we looked at how we could adapt the vehicles to better suit their needs.
The Solution
Our engineers developed a bespoke solar charging system that is permanently connected to the vehicle. The solar panel provides a small, continuous charge while the vehicle is parked, helping to maintain the battery and reduce the risk of it going flat.
The system works automatically in the background, requiring no action from drivers or fleet managers.
The Result
Since introducing the solution, the customer has seen a significant improvement across its fleet.
Benefits include:
Fewer flat batteries
Improved vehicle availability
Less disruption for staff
Reduced maintenance concerns
Greater confidence that vehicles are ready when needed
Most importantly, it helps ensure vehicles are available to support residents whenever transport is required.
More Than Just Vehicle Supply
At GowringsVersa Mobility, we work closely with customers to understand the challenges they face and find practical solutions. Â Sometimes this means developing something entirely new.
This project is a great example of how listening to our customers can lead to simple solutions that make a real difference.
Speak to our Community Care team: sales@gowringsversa.co.uk