Innovation UK > News > Innovation UK Vol4-1 > Fleet costs and carbon emissions

Over the last few months fuel prices have risen to the top of the news agenda with editorials and news features highlighting the impact of the problem across local, national and international media.

The Petrol Retailers? Association reports that the average unleaded petrol price is 118p per litre, up from 97p a year ago. And it has been reported that the cost of diesel rose to more than 138p per litre in some regions of the UK. In this climate, business car costs are rising fast and no one is predicting future reductions, so the real challenge is how to control and manage operating costs.

The good news is that the Energy Saving Trust offers free fleet advice to help businesses identify existing policies and practices that can be put in place to help reduce costs ? with the added bonus of cutting carbon emissions, and also improving duty of care and health and safety. With funding from the Department for Transport, the Energy Saving Trust provides a free one-stopshop to help organisations, irrespective of fleet size, to implement environmentally-friendly vehicle strategies.

For sub-50 vehicle fleets, free telephone advice is available and organisations can register to receive our monthly e-mail newsletter to keep themselves at the cutting edge on ?greener? fleet management topics. Organisations with 50+ vehicles under 3.5 tonnes can benefit from a free Green Fleet Review. Undertaken by EST fleet consultants, it provides organisations with an action plan to cut their transport carbon footprint and simultaneously save money.

Since 2001, hundreds of businesses have benefited from these services ? and many have reported impressive fuel savings. Following a Green Fleet Review, James McNaughton Group, a Kent based paper supplier reduced mileage by 107,000 miles. Implementing driver training, installing video conference facilities, capturing data to allow ongoing analysis of fuel usage and ensuring company car drivers choose vehicles capable of at least 37 mpg contributed to the overall annual fuel savings of £86,000. At North Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Trust Jug Johal, Transport Services Manager, is in the process of reducing annual mileage claims of £750,000 by £350,000 over three years by implementing his Green Fleet Review recommendations.

Over 1,200 staff were using their own vehicles while on duty, so the priority was to find more cost effective ways for staff to get around. Now shuttle buses have been introduced to transport staff between hospitals, public transport is used when travelling to conferences and events, and smaller, greener pool cars have been introduced. But making your fleet leaner and green doesn?t necessarily require big changes. Altering the way we drive is fundamental to keeping costs down.

Ensuring drivers implement smarter driving practices, avoiding harsh braking and acceleration, avoiding excessive speed, checking tyre pressures will guarantee better mpg and reduced emissions regardless of the number and size of vehicles on fleet. Organisations should also look at how mileage can be reduced by using public transport or introducing policies to support meetings via telephone and videoconferencing.

To find out more about the Energy Saving Trust?s free fleet advice services contact 0845 602 1425 or go to:
www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/fleet/organisations

To register for monthly transport advice e-bulletin updates visit est.custhelp.com/