Imagine you're zipping past traffic jams in Nairobi on an electric bike, making swift deliveries across the city with a drained battery, worn-out tires, and a chain that hasn't seen oil in weeks. The frustration mounts and the risks multiply.
What if you had taken a moment to sharpen the saw—giving your bike the care it needs to power through the day with ease? Suddenly, that journey isn’t just easier—it’s safer, faster, and far more enjoyable. The same principle applies to managing a fleet.
At eWAKA, we understand that a well-maintained fleet is more than just a collection of e-bikes—it's a source of peace of mind for riders and businesses alike.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to sharpen your fleet maintenance management strategy, so you can enhance your operations and stay ahead of the curve.
What is fleet maintenance management?
Fleet maintenance management is the process of ensuring that your assets are operating at peak performance levels through regular inspection, maintenance, and repair.
It involves creating and implementing a plan for maintaining and repairing your vehicles, tracking maintenance costs and schedules, and managing staff responsible for maintenance.
Types of Fleet Maintenance
Preventive maintenance
Preventive maintenance is a type of maintenance performed regularly to prevent equipment failure. At eWAKA, it involves conducting weekly inspections, changing fluids and filters, and replacing worn or damaged parts before they cause more significant problems.
Corrective maintenance
Corrective maintenance involves repairing an ebike after a problem has occurred. It is usually more costly than preventive maintenance since it may involve replacing entire parts or systems.
Predictive maintenance
Predictive maintenance uses data analysis to predict when maintenance will be required. This allows for maintenance to be performed before a problem occurs, thus reducing downtime and costs.
Example of predictive maintenance
Brian, our fleet analyst realizes that the jasiri eboda tires will need mainenance after covering a distance of between 160-185k kilometers. Rather than waiting to see if the trend holds true, the maintenence team decides to replace the tires on similar models once they get close to 160k miles in order to avoid the costs of a breakdown away from the shop.
Fleet Preventive Maintenance Program Components
Inventory
Start by taking stock of each asset in your fleet. Create a list documenting each asset that requires preventive maintenance. Include asset details such as year, make, and model.
Research
Record the existing service history for each asset. By seeing what service has been performed historically, you can better prioritize upcoming maintenance needs rather than constantly performing avoidable fleet repairs. Create a system for documenting fleet-wide maintenance.
Plan
Create a list of OEM-recommended maintenance tasks and intervals for each asset. When determining what maintenance to perform and how often, it's best to refer to the guidelines set in place by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM).
Schedule
Develop a maintenance calendar for each asset. Once you know what maintenance has been performed and what maintenance needs to be performed, create a maintenance calendar to anticipate downtime for each bike.
For example, at eWAKA, our Shujaa 2.0 cargo ebike is scheduled for a weekly check-up every Wednesday in our yard to ensure optimal performance.
Track
Log odometer readings and other usage data. Track meter readings for all of your fleet's assets to ensure that they are receiving the service they need when they need it.
Ebike preventive maintenance checklist
Bike cleaned, including reflectors
Tires in order and inflated
Wheels turn freely
Chain cleaned, checked for clogging and oiled
Gears work perfectly
All lights work
Brakes apply correctly
Brake cables and brake pads are in order or have been replaced
All screws are tightened
Fleet Preventive Maintenance made easy with eWAKA Telematics
With eWAKA fleet telematics, you can ensure that your fleet never misses a service need again.
We conduct routine inspections to identify and address any issues before they become major problems. This proactive approach helps keep your fleet in top condition.
We also provide a maintenance schedule that aligns with your fleet’s usage patterns. This includes tasks such as brake adjustments, tire replacements, and battery health checks.
To ensure proper battery maintenance, we monitor and manage battery health, ensuring that your fleet maintains optimal range and performance.
Our experienced technicians can handle repairs of all kinds, from minor adjustments to component replacements, to keep your e-bikes running smoothly.
In the event of unexpected breakdowns, we offer emergency repair services to minimize downtime and get your e-bikes back on the road quickly.
At eWAKA, safety is paramount. We conduct thorough safety checks to ensure that your e-bikes meet all necessary safety standards.
We are also committed to building the future of eMobility on the continent. We collaborate with technical colleges to train the next generation of mechatronics experts and provide hands-on training to ensure that our teams and partners are well-equipped to support the growing green economy.
Join us as we continue to transform urban transportation one ebike at a time.
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