The ambition to reach net-zero by 2050 means that the UK fleet industry and its managers must consider solutions and technologies to make fleets green and more sustainable with better green fleet management.
The adoption of electric vehicles has transformed fleets in recent years. It will be the crucial factor in decarbonising UK roads, with 11 million EVs predicted to be on the road by 2030, – as well as the government’s ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030, which will play a significant role in overall decision-making for fleets across the UK.
The government has also highlighted that fleets transitioning to zero-emission cars and vans are essential to reaching decarbonisation goals and will aim to help the UK gain an adequate supply of vehicles to support this.
Sustainability is the future
Did you know that transport equates to 37% of CO2 emissions, with the highest dependence on fossil fuels compared with any other sector? The heavy reliance has caused 45% of fleets to put sustainability and carbon reduction at the top of their priority list, with 43% of HGV operators planning to switch to alternative fuel vehicles in the next year.
Most fleet managers will want to encourage and deliver more environmentally friendly values, but finding the balance between becoming more eco-friendly whilst meeting business objectives can be difficult. That, and the tiring Covid-19 restrictions still lingering in some countries, are still stressing many supply chains to meet demands.
Transitioning to a greener fleet may seem challenging, but incorporating at least some environmentally-friendly aspects of a greener fleet is not as difficult as it might seem.
Steps towards a greener fleet
There are many ways to build a greener fleet. In this article, we discuss just a few of the ways you can make valuable changes to your fleet and the environment.
Assess driver habits
With such high demand for drivers to meet specific goals, such as inflexible delivery times, it is easy for them to develop bad driving habits to meet efficiency expectations in such intense times, resulting in a larger, more damaging carbon footprint.
Assess driver habits using data management and telematics to detect average speed, braking times, fuel use and location. Fleet managers can then use the information to their advantage and can subsequently book training to educate on how to drive in a more environmentally friendly way
Reduce cargo
Travelling with a light cargo load can improve fleet fuel economy, protect engine health and limit general wear and tear that shortens a vehicle’s lifespan. Heavier trips can cause vehicles to require more frequent repairs, and delivering less weighted loads is safer and more efficient, allowing drivers to stop quickly in the event of a collision and preventing the risk of rolling over. This can make it a better solution for both the environment and the driver.
Optimise routes
Utilising route optimisation software will help improve fleet operations and reduce carbon footprint. This application relies on dedicated algorithms that work alongside GPS systems to calculate the best and shortest routes based on traffic, detours, weather conditions and road closures.
Fuel consumption
High-level fuel consumption has a substantial impact on the environment. Having an idea of how much fuel your fleet consumes on a daily, weekly and monthly basis allows you to reduce costs and consumption to help decrease your carbon footprint.
Fuel cards are a great way to monitor the cost of fuel consumption, and equally, you can analyse the data to discover how much fuel drivers purchase during their journeys. This allows fleet managers to create a fuel management system to follow, and fuel cards can also limit the type of fuel purchased and how much.
Going green takes time
No fleet can go completely green overnight. It could take some fleets years to switch to a fully electric fleet. However, shifting to a more eco-friendly fleet doesn’t have to be costly or time-consuming. Applying simple solutions like the ones suggested above can make all the difference and a great starting point for a better carbon footprint.
Drivetech leads the way for green fleet management
We help drivers make better driving decisions in over 95 countries, providing a powerful range of digital, on-road and workshop-based driver training products to help your drivers make better decisions behind the wheel for over 30 years. Drivetech’s suite of training products dedicated to electric mobility can help your business transition successfully to electric. Get in touch with us today to learn more about how we can support your fleet with green fleet management advice.
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