Businesses are unclear and confused about the range of environmental options available to them – including hybrids, says Edward Pigg from the UK’s fourth-largest vehicle leasing supplier, Lombard Vehicle Management.
The Green Fleet exhibition has just happened at Rockingham race circuit in Corby, Northamptonshire.
It was a chance for business car managers to drive some of the green cars available.
We were busy all day with enquiries and test-drives of the Lexus GS450h petrol-electric hybrid we had brought along.
It was apparent that few business car managers had driven a hybrid. And many had failed to register that the hybrid option is available in prestige vehicles as well as lower-priced cars – such as the Honda Civic Hybrid and Toyota Prius.
More importantly it was also obvious that businesses want to operate greener fleets. But there is confusion about the most important issues to tackle; the multitude of possible solutions; and the cost benefits.
What engine technologies are there?
There is no consensus among vehicle manufacturers about the best engine and fuel types. But these are the current range:
- Leaner-burning petrol and diesel units;
- Increasing availability of hybrids;
- Bio-fuel vehicles more readily available in flex-fuel form – this overcomes the lack of E85 ethanol infrastructure by allowing engines to run on petrol when necessary;
- Electric power units are making a case for urban cars and local delivery vehicles; and
- Gas is re-emerging as viable option for commercial vehicles.
What is a truly environmentally motoring policy?
Businesses should consider emissions other than CO2 as part of their environmental transport plan. It should address the following issues:
- Vehicle procurement and usage
- Vehicle maintenance
- Tyre usage and recyclability
- Driver behaviour
- Vehicle tracking technologies to understand fleet efficiency
- Alternatives to using vehicles such as public transport and communication technologies
It’s a daunting prospect but businesses need to gain a comprehensive understanding of the issues and solutions, relate them to their specific operations and plan for the coming years right now.
