CMMS Software for Electrification
A CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System) is the system of record for maintaining physical assets: facilities, infrastructure, and equipment. In the ElectronsX universe, CMMS applies to charging depots, Fleet Energy Depots (FEDs), BESS sites, substations/switchgear rooms, utility interconnections, and the built environment that keeps electrified operations online.
What CMMS software actually does
- Creates work orders (reactive and preventive) and assigns them to technicians or vendors.
- Manages preventive maintenance schedules and inspections.
- Tracks assets, locations, warranties, manuals, and service history.
- Controls spare parts inventory for uptime-critical equipment.
- Captures downtime, root cause, and maintenance costs for reliability improvement.
- Supports audits with an accountable maintenance record and approvals.
What CMMS is (and is not)
- CMMS is for assets and facilities. Chargers, BESS, switchgear, HVAC, fire systems, site power, and yard equipment.
- CMMS is not fleet management. Dispatch, routing, telematics, driver workflows, utilization.
- CMMS is not an EMS. Energy Management System (EMS) and microgrid controllers run power dispatch and control loops.
- CMMS complements ERP. ERP tracks finance and procurement; CMMS executes maintenance and reliability.
When CMMS is the right move
- Charger uptime is becoming a KPI (and downtime has real operational cost).
- You have multiple sites (depots, yards, BESS sites, corridor stations) with inconsistent maintenance practices.
- Maintenance is run via email and spreadsheets, with incomplete history and poor accountability.
- Spare parts are missing when failures occur (connectors, contactors, power modules, cooling components).
- Regulatory, insurance, or customer requirements demand inspection records and audit trails.
Rule of thumb: if “charger down” becomes a recurring ticket and you cannot quantify MTTR (Mean Time To Repair), you need CMMS.
Core CMMS capabilities for electrified infrastructure
| Capability | What it covers | Why it matters for charging and energy assets |
|---|---|---|
| Asset registry | Assets, locations, hierarchies, documentation | A single source of truth for chargers, BESS components, switchgear, meters, and safety systems |
| Preventive maintenance (PM) | Schedules, inspections, checklists | Prevents failures in cooling loops, filters, connectors, contactors, and protective devices |
| Work orders | Reactive + planned work, assignments, SLAs | Turns downtime into accountable execution with tracking and closure evidence |
| Spare parts and inventory | Parts, min/max, reorder, kitting | Uptime depends on having the right spares at the right site, not just ordering fast |
| Warranty and vendor management | Warranty claims, contractors, service history | Vendors may perform service; you still need a site-level maintenance record and evidence |
| Reliability analytics | Downtime, MTBF/MTTR, root cause codes | Shows repeat offenders, failure modes, and where design or process changes pay back |
| Mobile workflows | Technician app, photos, signatures, offline | Field reality: fast closure, evidence capture, standardized checklists |
Asset types CMMS should cover on electrified sites
- DC fast chargers, dispensers, cable systems, cooling skids.
- Transformers, switchgear, breakers, relays, protection, and metering.
- BESS containers/racks, HVAC, fire suppression, PCS/inverters (maintenance tracking, not control).
- Communications: gateways, network gear, cabinets, sensors.
- Facility systems: lighting, security, access control, drainage, site power distribution.
- Yard and support equipment: lifts, compressed air, safety equipment, spill kits.
Typical CMMS integrations
- ERP for purchasing, inventory valuation, and cost center rollups.
- EHS software for safety procedures, inspections, incidents, and corrective actions.
- Charging management system (CMS) for alarms, status events, and automated ticket creation.
- EMS and microgrid controller for metering and event feeds (often via BI).
- Identity and access (SSO) for role-based accountability.
Common CMMS implementation failures
- Skipping asset hierarchy and tagging (bad asset IDs = unusable history).
- Not standardizing PM checklists (data becomes inconsistent).
- Ignoring spares strategy (CMMS without parts is just ticketing).
- Letting vendors “own the truth” (you still need your own maintenance record).
- Too many custom fields and workflows (kills adoption).
Compare CMMS software vendors
CMMS platforms vary widely in mobile UX, asset hierarchy depth, reporting, integrations, and implementation services. If you operate charging depots, BESS, or power infrastructure, choose a CMMS that treats your site like industrial equipment, not consumer IT.