As the price of diesel starts rising again and the recession continues to bite, there can’t be many fleets in the UK at present which aren’t looking to cut fuel costs.

There are various ways of doing it. Speed limiters are the obvious choice for any fleet that employs drivers with a heavy right foot. 

Telematics systems are another, so that operators can keep their eyes on drivers and optimise their routes. But the van makers are playing their part too. 

Reader will know that some manufacturers have already launched Euro V compliant engines – Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen are in the forefront – and these engines promise higher power and torque combined with lower fuel consumption.

Indeed we already reported on the new Euro V Mercedes-Benz Sprinter in the June issue and came back from a test drive in Stuttgart full of glowing praise. The Sprinter was recently named Best Large Panel Van at the Fleet Van Awards.

But most van fleet operators will know that it’s no use just handing the keys of a fuel-efficient van to a driver and expecting him or her to get on with the job and save fuel straight away.
Many have tight schedules and will simply floor the throttle as soon as they are out of the yard.

So Mercedes-Benz has launched a new fleet initiative that not only sees a fresh ‘Blue Efficiency’ moniker on some green models (to echo those on the cars) but will also offer advice to buyers on which models are best suited to their particular needs and training for drivers on how to make the most if the new fuel-saving technology without losing time on the road.

Klaus Buhl, Mercedes-Benz product specialist, told Fleet Van: “Technology and the human being must fit together and the van profile must fit the usage.

“Training is getting more and more interesting to fleets. Eco-driving which we will be teaching doesn’t mean a change of time or speed – it means a more relaxed drive in which state-of-the-art technology combines with a new driving style.”

And of course, in addition to costing less, such driving techniques mean lower CO2 emissions too, not to mention reduced wear and tear. Vans should be involved in fewer accidents as a by-product too, making everyone a winner.

Even without the BlueEfficiency packages on offer, the new Sprinter will save money over the old model.

Two engines are available – 2,2143cc four-cylinder and 2,987cc six-cylinder units. The smaller engine offers power outputs of 95bhp, 129bhp and 163bhp and the larger one 190 bhp. 

The secret of the extra power is in the increased torque figures at lower revs – 184lb-ft at 1,400rpm, 225lb-ft at 1,200rpm and 265lb-ft at 1,400rpm respectively, meaning general torque figures are up by 10-15% over the old models. 

This is achieved by the addition of a new variable-nozzle turbocharger (the two higher output models have twin turbos), a maximum common rail injection of 1,800 bar and an enlarged intercooler, while the new gearbox has a shorter first gear and a 15% longer sixth gear for lower rpm at higher speed. The new engines will return up to 4.5 mpg more than the old ones and CO2 emissions, meanwhile, drop from 232-304g/km to 214-264g/km.

Only models with the new improved ECO stop-start system or natural gas-powered variants will carry the Blue Efficiency logo.
The Sprinter NGT features a supercharged 1.8-litre petrol engine which will run on petrol, natural gas or bio-methane, pumping out 156bhp and 184lb-ft of torque.

The ECO stop-start system can be added to any Sprinter model and switches the engine off when it is in neutral and has been idling for two seconds. The engine is automatically started again when the clutch is depressed. It costs £500 and is estimated to save between 8-10% in fuel on urban routes.

Translating theory into practice may not be easy

In theory, it works like a dream. The manufacturer makes a fuel-efficient model, drivers are trained in how to make best use of the technology and the cash savings start rolling in.

But we all know that life isn’t that simple. Most van drivers are overworked and underpaid and, with a busy schedule to keep to, saving fuel is probably the last thing on their minds. 

In fact it could be argued that it’s more cost-effective to waste a bit of fuel and get in an extra couple of drops a day.

But assuming you are serious about cutting fuel costs, there are several ways of making it happen.

The first is to ensure you employ the right drivers in the first place. 

At interview, explain that your firm has a fuel economy culture and if the interviewee isn’t prepared to buy into that idea, they should look elsewhere for a job.

You will probably need to give them an incentive to save fuel.
Either set benchmarks and then pay them a proportion of the money saved or have a monthly competition in which, say, the most fuel-efficient driver is rewarded with shopping vouchers or a mini-break.

That’s the carrot side – but you may need to try the stick, too.
The obvious answer – and one that Mercedes-Benz hasn’t included in its BlueEfficiency package – is to fit speed limiters to your vehicles. That way, fuel will be saved at a stroke on high-speed motorway journeys, although your drivers will moan like crazy about them. 

The second method is to fit a telematics system, so that driver behaviour can be monitored – and discipline handed out where necessary.

It isn’t exactly cheap but there is plenty of anecdotal evidence in past issues of Fleet Van to show that after the initial outlay telematics will save serious amounts of cash.

See Trevor take the driver training test.
See top 10 eco-drrving tips.