As sophisticated as they may be, today’s cars are still fragile mechanical systems. This is why it is essential to strictly adhere to preventive and corrective maintenance: any failure to do so can quite simply result in engine failure or an accident.
How can we not mention the mishap that befell a well-known short-term rental company? A customer stranded on the side of the road calls for assistance; his seized engine is diagnosed as beyond repair. The result: several thousand euros to be spent on a standard replacement. The cause? A simple leak that led the driver to drive dozens of kilometers without oil, until the engine seized up. Of course, the warning light had come on well in advance on the dashboard — but the customer flatly denied it. How can you prove they were at fault?
Neglected maintenance, reduced residual value
For all fleet managers, lessors and rental companies, the issue of vehicle maintenance is therefore of critical importance and largely determines whether the residual value is maintained at the end of the lease. But even then, by the time maintenance issues are discovered upon the vehicle’s return, it is often too late: the damage may be irreparable and, even if it isn’t, gaps in the maintenance log can only reduce the resale value. Hence the need for fleet operators to monitor the lessee’s compliance with maintenance schedules in real time and throughout the lease term.
It would also be unrealistic to assume that electrifying the fleet would eventually eliminate the need for maintenance: while electric cars do not require oil changes, their batteries nonetheless contain cooling and temperature-control systems that require regular visits to the repair shop. As for the braking system and tires, their poor condition can have even more serious consequences, since these vehicles are much heavier than their internal-combustion counterparts, increasing the risk of accidents.
Echoes: real-time maintenance data
This is where Echoes, a neutral server independent of manufacturers, is able to meet these needs. Echoes collects technical vehicle data from all manufacturers and displays it in a standardized format within its dedicated CarFleet interface, including preventive and corrective maintenance data. This technical data includes, in particular:
- The scheduled date and remaining mileage until the next maintenance due date.
- Tire pressure.
- Fluids: fuel level, engine oil and AdBlue levels, coolant temperature.
- Mechanical alerts as displayed on the dashboard (oil level, coolant level, brake-system fault, overdue maintenance, etc.).
For each of these alerts, the GPS location, the date and time of occurrence, and the odometer reading are available. They can be viewed for each vehicle individually or as a consolidated report. An alert log is also provided to the operator, so they can see at a glance every current and past alert across all or part of the fleet on the road.
Corrective maintenance vs. preventive maintenance
With this data, nothing is easier for the operator than to carry out corrective or preventive maintenance actions.
- Corrective maintenance: the alerts displayed on the dashboard should, in theory, prompt the user to resolve the malfunction — either by acting themselves (topping off fluids: engine oil, coolant or washer fluid, tire pressure), or by visiting the nearest service center in the event of a major defect in the powertrain or braking system. If the lessee delays, the fleet manager is notified via CarFleet and can contact them to request immediate action, or even book an appointment at the nearest service center on their behalf.
- Preventive maintenance: under a lease on a new or very recent vehicle, adhering to the schedule set out in the service manual is essential, as it determines whether the manufacturer’s warranty applies. For most brands, exceeding the maintenance deadline by 2,000 to 3,000 km automatically voids the manufacturer’s warranty for any malfunction that occurs thereafter — a risk that neither the driver nor the lessor can afford. Hence the importance of reaching out to the customer before the deadline, by email, text message or push notification, to give them time to organize themselves, or even to offer them service slots. Action is even more critical once the deadline has passed: the customer should then be contacted urgently, by phone if necessary.
- Dispute resolution: if failure to follow the maintenance schedule, or ignoring an engine warning light, leads to serious damage, the complete history of mechanical alerts available in CarFleet lets the lessor easily prove the lessee’s liability for the incident — simplifying the handling and resolution of any disputes.
Raise awareness to avoid having to monitor
That said, monitoring the mechanical condition of vehicles on the road will be all the easier if lessees are made aware of the importance of maintenance, in their own best interest: their safety is at stake, but so is their peace of mind. These are truths that individuals can be made aware of when signing their contract and regularly throughout its term — via newsletters, brochures or notifications, potentially fueled by the data, statistics and case studies drawn from CarFleet.
With Echoes, track every vehicle’s service deadlines and mechanical alerts in real time — and protect its residual value.
