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JULY 2026 I SMT007 MAGAZINE 49 current, temperature, state of charge, and state of health. Advanced analytics now extend these capa- bilities by evaluating trends over time and identi- fying abnormal behavior patterns. 13-15 Machine learning and cloud-connected diag- nostic systems are becoming important tools in this effort. By analyzing fleet-level data, engineers can identify subtle changes that would be difficult to detect at the individual vehicle level. Changes in charging behavior, thermal performance, isola- tion resistance, contact resistance, or sensor output may provide early indicators of future problems. 14-16 This approach offers several advantages: • Reduced unexpected downtime • Improved warranty management • Better service planning • Earlier detection of emerging reliability concerns • More efficient use of replacement parts • Improved customer experience Predictive maintenance does not eliminate fail- ures. It provides an opportunity to intervene before degradation progresses to a level that affects vehicle operation. Digital Monitoring Extends Beyond the Vehicle Monitoring is not limited to onboard systems. Charging infrastructure increasingly employs remote diagnostics, cloud-based analytics, and network-level performance monitoring. Recent ChargerHelp reliability studies found that reported charger availability often differs significantly from actual charging success experienced by drivers .17-18 A charger may report itself as available while communications faults, connector damage, payment-system issues, or software errors prevent successful charging sessions. This distinction highlights an important evolution in reliability thinking. Availability metrics remain valuable, but successful mission completion is often a better indicator of real-world performance. For the charging infrastructure, the mission is not simply to remain powered. The mission is to success- fully initiate, sustain, and complete a charging session. The same principle applies to vehicle elec- tronics. Reliability is not measured solely by compo- nent survival. It is measured by successful comple- tion of the intended function under expected oper- ating conditions.