We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the Business Car website. However, if you would like to, you can change your cookies at any time
The start point for the best source of fleet information |
Reducing fuel consumption and therefore emissions is a "no- brainer." It's good for the environment and for business because it cuts costs and improves your green credentials, which is important for public perception. Growing sales of ultra-low emissions vehicles demonstrates that consumers care about emissions and so even if it is currently a low priority, fleet managers will be aware that there is an opportunity to minimise the carbon footprint of their fleet.
Another consideration for fleet managers and business owners is the emergence of Clean Air Zones. Back in December 2015, the Government announced plans to improve air quality by introducing zones in Birmingham, Leeds, Nottingham, Derby and Southampton. While it won't affect private car owners or newer vehicles that meet the latest emissions standards, the most polluting vehicles, such as old buses, taxis, coaches and lorries, will be charged to enter the zone. Similar zones in Germany and Denmark have been shown to lead to an improvement in air quality.
In addition, within four years, all cars, motorcycles, vans, minibuses, buses, coaches and heavy goods vehicles will need to meet exhaust emission standards, or pay a daily charge, when travelling into central London's Ultra Low Emission Zone.
The Government is also incentivising the purchase of ULEVs. In his most recent budget in March, Chancellor George Osborne announced that company car tax would continue to be based on the CO2 emissions of cars and that there would be a three year extension to the 100 per cent First Year Allowance for businesses purchasing low emission cars.
Many companies have already started to update their fleets to modern, cleaner vehicles. British Gas has committed to replacing at least 10% of its commercial fleet with electric vehicles by 2017 and the Environment Agency to increasing the number of ULEVs to more than 100.
Whether you are rolling out ULEVs or not, the introduction of telematics units into your fleet can also result in significant reductions in fuel use, which not only serves to cut emissions, but also brings annual fuel bills down by 10-15% on average.
Telematics technology, which according to our research is now being used by 38% of UK businesses, provides fleet managers with real-time information about the location and driver behaviour of their entire fleet. A huge amount of information can be relayed via the SIM card in the unit plugged into the engine's on-board diagnostics, which measures braking, speed and other factors and indicates how efficiently the vehicle is being driven.
Using the data gathered, fleet managers are then able to educate their teams on how to drive more efficiently, and drivers can also download an app to their smartphones to keep track of their own score, to ensure they are getting the best performance from the vehicle. In research commissioned by RAC Business in late 2015, about two thirds of businesses said they have benefitted from a reduction in fuel spend as a result of adopting the technology.
Finally, the tracking function of telematics can play an important role in fleet logistics and ensure the better management of vehicles to avoid unnecessary journeys. Fleet or logistics managers can, at the touch of a button, calculate which vehicle is best-placed to carry out the delivery or pick-up, or respond to a customer callout, and ensure they can send the right resource first time.
This reduces unnecessary mileage and fuel consumption and can also help to monitor and eliminate unauthorised vehicle usage and time spent idling, as well as optimising the best route.
By adopting telematics technology, fleet managers can improve their drivers' efficiency, reducing fuel consumption, making important cost savings, and reducing emissions, something that helps businesses meet targets for emissions and tick the 'green fleet' box.
BusinessCar magazine ©2019
Business Car Magazine © 2020 | Business Car is part of NS Media Group.
