In this episode of Fleet Mobility Today Expert Talks, host Daniel Bland interviews George Ayres, Managing Director of Auto Mobility Advisors, on the future of fleet and mobility heading into 2026.

They explore five key themes: connectivity, service models, electrification, energy, and AI. George highlights how connected vehicle ecosystems are transforming fleet management through telematics, data sharing, and predictive analytics. Features like route optimization (especially for EVs), predictive maintenance evolving into prognostics, and usage-based insurance reduce risks and costs.

On Mobility as a Service (MaaS), George explains how it optimizes fleet utilization by enabling ride-sharing and motor pools, reducing the need for dedicated vehicles and minimizing idle time. Discussing EV adoption hurdles, he identifies infrastructure costs, vehicle availability, and operational charging processes as major challenges. Innovative solutions like robotic chargers (EVbots) and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology offer ways to enhance efficiency and sustainability, though U.S. grid inconsistencies pose issues.

Finally, AI agents are poised to revolutionize operations by automating dispatching, scheduling, and maintenance, cutting costs while requiring human oversight to ensure accuracy. The interview concludes with an announcement for the Fleet Manager and Mobility Club meeting on December 12th.