Alphabet has bought more than 1,600 cars from insurance company RSA and is selling them back to RSA employees under an employee car ownership (ECO) scheme.

The new AlphaDrive scheme replaces RSA’s original ECO scheme which saw the insurance company sell the cars it funded itself to its employees.

While the change in funding provider to Alphabet provides additional benefits for ECO users such as online quoting and ordering, RSA said the main purpose was to help cut its car fleet CO2 emissions.

Since Alphabet launched the scheme in July, average CO2 emissions of new cars ordered by RSA drivers have fallen by 10g/km, or 6%, compared with average emissions for the existing fleet.

RSA is a carbon neutral company and has cut its carbon footprint by half since 2000 as well as setting aggressive future reduction targets.

“Our goal for the new scheme is for our cars to be managed as efficiently and cost effectively,” said Claire Mills, RSA supplier relationship manager.

“We also want to reduce our impact on the environment by encouraging drivers to choose greener vehicles.”

Alphabet is working with RSA to accelerate the reduction in overall CO2 to help the company meet its targets.

"RSA recognise that CO2 is not just an environmental issue,” said Alphabet director Mark Sinclair.

“It is set to place a steadily increasing cost burden on fleets and drivers both in terms of fuel prices and carbon taxes. It is in everyone's interest to curb emissions."