How to Improve the Energy Efficiency of your Business Vehicle Fleet

Becoming energy efficient is a growing priority for businesses, what with rising fuel prices and the looming consequences of climate change. In fact, over half of the UK’s largest businesses have committed to eliminating their contribution to carbon emissions by 2050. 

And why wouldn’t they? Becoming energy conscious not only helps limit your environmental impact but can reduce costs and improve efficiencies across departments. One method of energy efficiency that businesses are looking at is improving their fleet efficiency systems. By choosing lower-emission vehicles and using the right fuel, you could save money and help the planet.  

Here is everything you need to know about improving the energy efficiency of your business’s vehicle fleet: 

Choose efficient vehicles

Depending on the scale of your business, you could have a large number of vehicles in your fleet, so it’s important to use the most efficient vehicles and the right fuel. Older and inefficient vehicles are generally more heavily pollutant for air quality. They will also cost you more in the long run due to more frequent maintenance and repairs needed on older vehicles. 

The Energy Saving Trust advises that organizations can reduce their energy impact by switching to diesel engines due to their lower Co2 emissions and better fuel consumption. Also, companies should purchase vehicles based on whole-life costs as it accounts for all costs of running a vehicle through its lifetime in the fleet.

Vehicle maintenance

Having poorly maintained vehicles means your fleet runs less efficiently and does not reach a good MPG, so regular maintenance is key. You should conduct weekly tests on all vehicles to make sure that all lights and electrics are working and check the condition of the vehicle tires for damage, air pressure, and tread. 

A good practice is regularly using greases on your vehicles can help to improve their efficiency and functionality of them; this will delay the premature wear and tear of car components and reduce squeaking from inside the car. You should also prepare your fleet properly for extreme weather conditions to prevent damage.  

Set Co2 targets 

Setting attainable Co2 targets or caps allows all departments in your business to take responsibility for fleet improvements. It provides a clearly defined pathway for companies to follow to reduce their carbon emissions and identify additional future reduction opportunities.

It also can help increase funding for internal greenhouse gas reduction projects, which can secure your brand reputation. This can then improve employee morale and encourage innovation within your team. 

Management

Ensuring that you are managing your fleet properly means you can keep vehicles at optimum efficiency. You can do this by installing fleet management software which provides real-time information about your fleet’s performance. It can also be used for route planning, driver management, and vehicle cost analysis.