DRIVERS travelling on their own in an average fleet car are using the equivalent amount of fuel per person as a full Boeing 747. Such comparisons dispel the myth that air travel wastes fuel, yet also highlight the scale of fuel consumption by the UK's three million company cars.

Yet cutting car fuel use by only 5%, which needs only a small increase in economy from 35mpg to 36.45mpg, could save a fleet thousands or even millions of pounds, according to Chris Chandler, a consultant to Fleet Audits.

For a 215-vehicle fleet covering 'average' mileage, the savings could amount to £612,500, while a 1,000-vehicle fleet would pocket more than £2.4 million. Chandler said: 'If you have to ask the question about the need for greener transport, then you have a substantial problem in your organisation. If you have so-called 'dirty' vehicles, then you could be banned from entering city centres in future, while we have a road network struggling to cope with all the vehicles.

The benefits available for companies from reducing mileage and fuel consumption are more than financial, as their staff will have more time to work, rather than being paid to travel up and down the country, added Chandler.