Smaller fleets need help to go green

Smaller businesses say it is important to have a green fleet but most won’t allocate any budget to achieve one.

That’s the finding of a survey by Lombard Vehicle Management.

Most small businesses over-estimate the cost of offsetting a vehicle’s carbon emissions. For a panel van covering over 20,000 miles per year, the true offset cost is about £7 per month.

Three-quarters of smaller businesses would be willing to pay up to £4 per month to offset a vehicle’s carbon emissions. However, many said they would want public recognition for doing so, for example, through sign-written vehicles.

Lombard Vehicle Management boss Rob Bailey, said: “For a small business, cost is always paramount. It is perhaps unrealistic to expect them to adopt green fleet policies on a widespread basis.”

Bailey added that it will be necessary to “educate the business community about the true cost of going green” and “perhaps for them to be incentivised”.