Electric vehicle fleet operators face a unique scheduling challenge: both vehicles and drivers require downtime. While EVs stop to recharge, drivers must take legally mandated breaks. When scheduled separately, these activities create compounding delays that impact delivery schedules and operational costs.
The Route Optimization OptiFlow API version 1.36.0 solves this problem by intelligently combining driver breaks with vehicle charging periods. The optimization engine now automatically identifies opportunities where charging time can simultaneously satisfy break requirements, eliminating redundant stops and reducing total route duration.
How It Works
When a vehicle with configured break settings (maximum working/driving duration) arrives at a charging station, the engine evaluates whether the charging duration can accommodate the required break. The solution properly handles plug-in and plug-out times as work activities, scheduling the actual rest period during charging itself.
If the required break exceeds minimum charging time, the system extends charging duration—a practical trade-off that provides extra range without adding route time. The output now includes a breaks array on each stop, clearly indicating when breaks are taken during charging activities.
Technical Implementation
The feature requires no code changes. Configure your vehicles with battery properties (capacity, consumption rate, state of charge) and break settings (EU or US regulations). Define locations with charging stations including setup times. The optimization automatically combines activities when beneficial.
Review the new response structure: $.routes[].stops[].breaks[] indicates when breaks are taken at each stop. Overlapping break and charging times confirm the optimization is working.
Business Impact
Typical deployments see 10-20 minutes saved per charging stop—time previously wasted with the driver idle during charging, then taking a separate break afterward. For fleets with multiple daily charging stops, these savings compound significantly.
The feature addresses a key concern for organizations transitioning to electric vehicles: the perception that EV operations are inherently less efficient than traditional fleets. By demonstrating that smart scheduling can actually improve upon diesel-era practices, this enhancement supports accelerated EV adoption.
Get started with version 1.36.0 today. Configure break settings on your EV fleet and let the optimizer find the most efficient combination of charging and rest activities.
Learn more
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Vehicles Concept – Break Settings
Try it and contact us
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Test options: https://developer.myptv.com/en
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Sales and support: https://developer.myptv.com/en/help/support-and-contact
