The British Army is now running one of the cleanest fleets in the country.

The Ministry of Defence agreed a deal that will see the carbon-dioxide (C02) emissions from one of its key fleets of over 3,000 cars drop below 130g/km for the first time.

The MOD operates one of the country’s largest fleets with over 15,500 vehicles.

Within this pool is the Army’s ‘white fleet’ – unmarked vehicles used for non-operational purposes – and it is this fleet that has become one of the least polluting in the country.

The success of the initiative to green the Army’s fleet is an example of how it is possible for any fleet, public or private that works in partnership with its suppliers, to slash emissions and cut costs.

While there is a Government directive demanding that all public bodies, including the MOD, cut emissions from all new cars put onto fleets to an average of 130g/km by 2011, the Army has already exceeded that target.

“The Army treats the environment with respect,” said Brigadier Mark Armstrong.

“The Government set us a target and we have exceeded that.”

Now, the Army has taken delivery of 50 Toyota Prius hybrid cars with a view to taking 50 more.

This, along with downsizing 30 Vectras to Astras, will see its average CO2 emissions across its white fleet fall to 129g/km by the end of the year.

Last year, the fleet’s average emissions were 135g/km.

“Our intention is to keep driving these emissions down,” Major Ian Sturges, the man in change of the Army’s white fleet, told Fleet News. “We will get below 129g/km, although we haven’t set the next target.”

However, he said that the move to all-electric vehicles is still a long way off.

“I am just not convinced yet of electric vehicles,” said Sturges.

“They are also still very expensive.”

To help continue the reduction in emissions, Sturges said the Army is weeks away from signing a major contract to have telematics fitted to 5,000 vehicles in its fleet.

“This will allow us to monitor use and monitor our fleet,” he said.

“It will save us more money and emissions.”

The remarkable reduction in the Army’s fleet emissions to date has been achieved in no small part through a very proactive approach from the MOD’s suppliers – in this case VT, which manages overall supply of services and goods, and Lex, which supplies its lease vehicles.

Lex has been increasing the churn of lease vehicles, which has seen the average vehicle age fall from five to three-and-a-half years on lease contract.

This has allowed it to replace older, less efficient vehicles with newer cleaner cars quicker.

“The MOD is a very environmentally conscious customer,” David Currier, director of major fleets and outsourcing at Lex, said.

“We are aware of this and we work to support them in achieving this.”

The partnership has helped the MOD introduce a policy of downsizing cars where appropriate, selecting the most fuel efficient models within a group, reducing journeys and using teleconferencing when possible.

As Nick Earl, VT contract director explained, the addition of the hybrids, while significant, is only part of the story.

“Every time a car comes up for replacement, it is reviewed and if a smaller car can be used, it will be supplied,” he said.

“And with Lex’s early-churn programme, they have been able to get new technology in quickly and help get that average emissions down.”

Hybrids, he said, are only suited to certain circumstances, such as inner-city use and on-site transport.

“It’s not all about hybrids, it’s about getting the correct mix of vehicles.”

This new deal with see the 109g/km Prius hybrids (there is new cleaner model being launched with emissions of 89g/km) replace mainly Vauxhall Vectras, which produce 154g/km.

The new cars have been supplied through Lex, which hammered out a deal with Toyota that allows it to supply the Prius to the MOD at no extra cost than if it remained with the Vauxhalls.

The deal is estimated to save the Army £150,000 a year in reduced lease costs alone.

While the deal wit the MOD is unusual, private fleets wanting to switch to cleaner cars should also ask their lease supplier and car makers about incentives.

Managers wanting information on how to green their fleet should attend the Fleet News Green Summit on June 24.