Leasing companies share their top initiatives for going green

Plug-in vehicles

Is it a ‘quick win’ or in the ‘harder to do’ category?

Harder to do.

Potential savings (monetary and/or CO2)?

Plug-in vehicles typically have a higher capital cost. However, when a wholelife cost approach is applied, the right vehicle in the right application can prove more cost-effective than traditionally-fuelled vehicles in the longer term. Plug-in vehicles benefit from Government grants, tax breaks and significantly cheaper fuel costs. In addition, electric vehicles provide significant environmental benefits in urban driving conditions and produce substantially lower CO2 emissions.

What are the steps to introduce it?

Careful consideration is needed around the suitability of the technology with issues such as range per charge. A pure electric may work in some drive cycles, but a plug-in hybrid or extended range electric vehicle may be required if higher daily mileages are regularly required.

How can potential hurdles be overcome?

The challenge surrounding transitioning a fleet to plug-in vehicles is to ensure that the type of journeys are suitable for the technology chosen and that the vehicle is fit for purpose. A growing public charging infrastructure, including rapid chargers, is helping reduce the issue of range anxiety.

Source: Lex Autolease

Incentive schemes

Is it a ‘quick win’ or in the ‘harder to do’ category?

It can take a bit of time to analyse the existing fleet, look for and advise on bands and incentives.

What are the potential savings (monetary and/or CO2)?

Emissions fell by 10% over a two-year period for one of Zenith’s customers following the introduction of an incentivisation system. The cost of the incentives needs to be weighed against the financial benefits from lower-emitting vehicles and benefits to the environment.

What are the steps to introduce it?

Some of Zenith’s customers have introduced the scheme on a sliding scale so that the lower the emissions the greater the incentive. Those who select higher-emission vehicles can also be penalised. The existing fleet emission bands should be reviewed, the fleet profile analysed, a percentage reduction to be achieved proposed and a scale put in to meet the reduction. An overall cap should be imposed, with a scale for the incentives and penalties. Employee focus groups can be used to help understand how changes would be perceived and the best way to communicate them.

How can potential hurdles be overcome?

Employee buy-in needs to be obtained through a structured communications strategy which could include focus groups and roadshows. Any changes to choice lists need to take into account desirability and fitness for purpose of vehicles.

Source: Zenith