Rental giant Europcar has launched a free tool to help employers tackle grey fleet usage.
Called the Europcar Grey Fleet Calculator, the tool allows people to enter details of the car and the planned journey, with the system then assessing the true cost of the trip, allowing employers to ascertain whether it is best for the driver to use their own car or not.
Last year, research conducted by the Energy Saving Trust and the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association revealed the use of grey fleet vehicles in the public sector accounts for 1.5bn miles a year at a cost of £750m a year, with that cost expected to be much higher once private sector businesses are factored into the equation.
“Grey fleet vehicles tend to be older and less reliable which can lead to breakdowns, as well as the heightened risk of accidents,” said Gary Smith, managing director of Europcar UK. “The consequences for employers are, therefore, considerable. Breakdowns can have a serious impact on productivity, with employees unable to reach vital appointments as well as putting pressure on already stretched budgets with the cost of additional transport to get them to their next meeting.”
He added: “Our goal with the introduction of our Grey Fleet Calculator is to give employers an easy way to identify the best mobility solution for each business journey. They can then tap into our extensive fleet of vehicles, available from a comprehensive network of locations across the UK, when it’s clear that an employee’s own vehicle is not the best option for the journey. The reduction in risk to an employee’s safety, together with the cost savings, can make a real impact.”
Read our list of eight ways to reduce your dependency on grey fleet vehicles.