For businesses focusing on holistic reduction of their carbon emissions, the vehicles used by suppliers are of increasing significance, with organisations with older and more polluting vehicles particularly at risk of losing or missing out on lucrative contracts. Indirect greenhouse gas emissions from sources within supply chains that a business does not own or control, but that are still related to their activities, are known as Scope 3 emissions. And such emissions are becoming an urgent talking point with scrutiny of supplier activities, upstream and downstream, increasingly coming under the spotlight. 

For smaller businesses where the pressure is already on costs, the prospect of having to commit to new electric vehicles is an unwanted burden. But they could miss out on contracts because their fleet does not meet necessary emissions standards.  

A grey area

The other issue that makes achieving Scope 3 emissions standards challenging is where employees use their own vehicles – grey fleet – for work travel.  Whilst grey fleet usage reduces the financial burden of owning a fleet, with grey fleet vehicles typically older and therefore less fuel efficient, it throws the spotlight back on an organisation’s sustainability credentials.

The Rental solution

Providing employees with access to rental vehicles – by the day, week, month or even year – not only provides more certainty over vehicle safety and condition. It also means emissions can be reduced by using modern rental vehicles, as well as accessing the latest electric models. And it can all be achieved without having to make any long-term financial commitments to vehicles that may not be required in the future.  

Rental also helps businesses carry out a real-world test drive of electric vehicles and win over the hearts and minds of any reluctant would-be EV-drivers. The best way to understand how electric is going to work for certain parts of an organisation’s fleet, and what changes may be required, is to experience it first-hand. And for many businesses, rental could prove to be an ideal solution where new contracts can only be won if electric vehicles are a guaranteed component. 

To find out more about Europcar’s low and zero emission mobility solutions visit: https://www.europcar.co.uk/en-gb/p/business/fleet-services/electric