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It comes as no surprise to me that the Energy Savings Trust has announced a re-evaluation of its green fleet services...
It comes as no surprise to me that the Energy Savings Trust has announced a re-evaluation of its green fleet services. Improving the environmental performance of the fleet is among the most common enquiries we receive from our customers and recent Arval research also revealed that 82% of our fuel card holders want to see environmentally-friendly fuels available at forecourts. It underlines how strong the desire is to at least be seen to go green.
The Energy Savings Trust provides invaluable advice and in re-evaluating their service, I welcome the news that emphasis is being placed on monitoring, follow-up support and long term impact of green fleet decisions. This level of involvement will be essential in developing a sustainable, cost-effective, low emission solution for businesses rather than see them making sweeping policy changes only to find they don't deliver.
A hasty decision to go green could prove to be the wrong decision long-term. Hybrid technology, for example, is ideal for low mileage and urban driving, but with long-distance motorway driving, an efficient diesel maybe the better option. Selecting high concentration bio-fuels may offer the promise of lower emissions from the vehicle, but if mileage increases as a result of travelling to forecourts that supply the fuel, the benefits are negated.
Developing a green fleet must involve a holistic approach including policy, procurement, fuel management and driver behaviour as all of these have a significant bearing on the greenhouse gas emissions. A green fleet policy must also be progressive, adapting to new targets and innovations in both fuel and engine technology.
In the last few years alone we have seen significant development in engines which have resulted in emission reduction and we can expect further innovation in the coming years. The Low Carbon Innovation Strategy will pave the way for a framework to drive ever increasing fuel and emission efficiency. As a result the engine and fuel technology we think of as less green today, may well be the green stars of tomorrow.
We should all welcome the desire for companies to introduce green fleet policies, but urge them to keep sustainability as a watch word when making procurement and fleet management decisions. The move to turn the fleet green should deliver real business as well as environmental benefits.
Until the next time,
Mike
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