News that fleets are storming ahead in the race to get lower-emitting cars on to the roads confirms that they are at the cutting edge of low-carbon transport.

The average CO2 emissions last year of new cars put on to fleets’ books was 144g/km – ahead of the rest of the new car market, which stood at 149.77g/km (see table) – a fall of more than 5% on the 2008 level.

But new cleaner vehicles are just one way of cutting emissions, as monitoring and assessing fuel use are also critical, says Lee Wickens, CSR manager for Addison Lee,  which has a fleet of 2,500 vehicles.

He adds: “The entire fleet is GPS tracked and we use the manufacturer’s emissions figures to monitor fuel use across the fleet via miles travelled.

“A second level of monitoring is provided by the drivers’ fuel cards – this allows us to track actual fuel consumption versus the mileage-derived figures.

“In terms of benchmarking, we work alongside Motorvate to track our mileage data for each vehicle – allowing us to spot any unusually fuel consumption patterns and address any issues.”

The private hire company has also assessed a range of alternative fuel vehicles and electric cars. However, at present there is nothing on the market which meets its requirements.

Wickens says: “Electric vehicles are appealing but impractical for us due to their short range. Also, when we have tested electric vehicles we found they couldn’t handle the demands of working as courier vehicles. Similarly, electric vans are appealing but cannot cope with the loads that we require.”

Training and buy-in essential to success

Getting drivers into low-emission vehicles is just part of the battle to cut CO2. Driver education, training and buy-in are all essential too.

The Government has recognised this and has made inroads into the LCV, coach and HGV driver sector with its SAFED (safe and fuel efficient driving) courses, which are available at a subsidised rate to fleets in both England and Scotland.

The SAFED courses reduce fuel consumption and emissions by up to 10%. They also reduce accident frequency.

Mercedes-Benz is increasingly looking to driver training to complement the green technology fitted to its vehicles.

It recently launched a new fleet initiative that offers advice to buyers on which models are best suited to their needs.

It is also offering training for drivers on how to make the most of the new fuel-saving technology without losing time on the road.

“Technology and the human being must fit together and the van profile must fit the usage,” says Klaus Buhl, Mercedes-Benz product specialist.

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

Now the Government is considering introducing vocational driving qualifications for at-work drivers, including company car drivers – a move that has been unanimously backed by some of Britain’s most safety-focused fleets.

More than 85% of Driving for Better Business campaign ‘business champion’ fleets surveyed by RoadSafe said they would support NVQ-style qualifications for drivers.

 

 

And, while the Department for Transport – in its ‘Learning to Drive’ consultation document – suggests that vocational driving qualifications should be taken by van drivers, around two-thirds of the ‘business champion’ fleets are virtually unanimous in their view that they should apply to all at-work drivers.

Getting drivers to adopt eco-driving might not be the battle some fleet managers fear.

“Our drivers are trained via the Energy Saving Trust’s Smarter Driving Programme,” explains Wickens. “And the response from drivers has been very positive.”

CO2 emissions set to drop

However, new cars do have a major part to play in cutting emissions, and average CO2 levels should fall again this year as companies replenish their fleets.

Last year fleet sales made up only 40.3% of new car purchases (down from 58% in 2008), but are predicted to recover to more than 50% this year as retail demand falls.

The rest of the European market is following, although it is expected to be 2015 before 80% of new cars sold in Europe emit less than 150g/km.

According to a report published by the European Commission, average emissions from new cars in 2008 were higher across Europe than in the UK at 153.5g/km, a decrease of 5.2g/km from 2007.

“By 2015, the average car in Europe will be 5% lighter, with 30% lower CO2 emissions,” said Vigneshwaran Chandran, programme manager for Frost & Sullivan, which has just published research on new car emissions.

Future fleet cars

Citroën’s next-generation low emissions car could look something like the picture at the top of the page.

Bosses at the French firm have confirmed that work is underway on a new design aimed at saving fuel by taking weight reduction to the extreme.

Based on the C-Cactus concept revealed at last year’s Frankfurt motor show, the radical eco model is likely to do away with much of the equipment most drivers take for granted in the quest for maximum operating efficiency.

Items such as air conditioning, power windows and central locking look set to be dropped and capping engine performance could restrict top speed to 80mph.

 

 

“Our research shows many motorists would be interested in basic, simple transport that is devoid of luxuries or frills.

"But we don’t regard the minimalist model we want to create as a French rival for the Tata Nano – that would be too extreme,” says company chief executive Frederic Banzet.

According to Banzet, the back-to-basics car will be introduced across global markets in 2014.

Executives on the company’s stand at last year’s Frankfurt motor show described the C-Cactus as showing how a design ‘extremely sensitive’ to environmental considerations was feasible for the price of a conventional car.

“It is our ambition to market an ecological hatchback with cheerful, attractive styling and hybrid diesel power at the same price as an entry-level C4 model,” says a spokesman.

“Drastically cutting components and maybe even doing away with the conventional dashboard and bonnet would help it return more than 80mpg average economy.”

Cuts in emissions saves £185,000

Private hire company Addison Lee has more than 2,500 vehicles, including motorcycles, vans and a fleet of chauffeur-driven Mercedes-Benz cars.

It made a commitment to cut its carbon footprint through its environmental management systems, fleet choice, emissions reduction, driver training and recycling schemes.

Along with other initiatives, Addison Lee undertook the Energy Savings Trust’s Green Fleet Review and developed a system for monitoring fuel consumption.

It also investigated opportunities for new technologies, including biofuels, and trained its drivers in eco-driving techniques.

As a result it expects to save 8,344 tonnes of CO2 per year, resulting in a cost saving of £185,000 annually.

Ethanol anyone?

Ricardo has teamed up with Growth Energy to collaborate on a project to demonstrate that an engine fuelled by ethanol can provide a cost-effective, low-carbon, high-fuel economy alternative to fossil fuel.

Two demonstrator vehicles will be produced incorporating Ricardo’s EBDI engine technology, showing that, even for larger vehicles, ethanol combustion can enable engine downsizing of 50% and still deliver substantial fuel economy and CO2 emission improvements from a cost-effective, high-performance, inherently low-emission powertrain.

Ricardo estimates that a fuel economy improvement of up to 30% is possible with no loss of power or performance, using a downsized EBDI engine in place of current petrol technology.

Following completion of the 10-month project, the demonstrator vehicles will be available for a range of demonstration, test and evaluation exercises to be organised in the US.

“We have known for years that engine technology would catch up with fuel technology – and this project is proof of that,” says Ricardo president Kent Niederhofer.

“Demand for ethanol as a transportation fuel is only going to grow in the days to come, because of its low-carbon, renewable qualities.”