How to reduce the carbon footprint of your commercial vehicle fleet
When it comes to the environment, every little gesture counts.
Lowering carbon dioxide emissions is no longer an option. It's a necessity if we hope to overcome environmental challenges and satisfy customer expectations.
Where to begin? Your vehicle fleet's carbon footprint is a good place to start.
Drive greener thanks to ecodriving
Ecodriving is way of a driving that minimizes fuel consumption and reduces emissions, which promotes energy efficiency and environmental sustainability.
Good driving habits will not only save money, they will extend the useful life of vehicles and improve road safety.
Here are a few things drivers can do to reduce their vehicle’s emissions by 10 to 25%:
- Practice smooth acceleration and braking
- Slow down
- Maintain a steady speed on highways with cruise control
- Gently release the clutch when changing gears
- Avoid idling
- Don’t overdo it with the air conditioning
Proper vehicle maintenance
Vehicle maintenance plans suggest regularly checking tire pressure, changing air filters, changing the oil according to manufacturer's recommendations, etc.
Regular maintenance can prevent minor mechanical problems from becoming major headaches. It can also extend the life of your vehicles, reduce the risk of unexpected breakdowns, avoid delays and keep productivity high.
Plus, reducing the wear and tear on brakes and the engine will result in lower maintenance costs.
Vehicle fleet tracking
Keep track of the fuel costs and costs per mile using fleet tracking software and GPS geolocation.
You'll get important data on:
- Fuel consumption
- Real-time location tracking
- Vehicle diagnostics
- Driver behaviour (speeding, tight turns, acceleration and braking patterns, etc.)
This information will enable you to assess the efficiency of your vehicles and determine when to replace them.
Goodbye gas-guzzlers… Hello hybrid vehicles and EVs!
As of 2035, it will no longer be possible to buy new gas-powered passenger cars or light trucks in Canada.
Is it time to change to electric or hybrid vehicles? It all depends on the size of your fleet and your needs.
Electric and hybrid vehicles offer several advantages: reduced GHG emissions and savings on fuel and maintenance.
However, questions remain on the range of such vehicles, their higher sticker price and the availability of charging stations.
Before switching, conduct a feasibility analysis. Analyze your daily routes. Do your vehicles cover long distances? Be sure to check the purchase and maintenance costs as well as available subsidies. Finally, make sure you have access to a recharging network that can meet your needs.
You might not want to convert your entire fleet to electric overnight.
En route with technology
Planning an optimal itinerary has never been easier, thanks to online planners. Whether to plan deliveries, roadside assistance services or daily commutes, these tools analyze traffic in real time, suggest the most efficient routes and help you avoid unnecessary detours.
By reducing unnecessary mileage, you can cut fuel consumption and operating costs. Fewer trips also mean lower CO2 emissions, which results in greener transportation.
Integrating technology to drive smarter makes sense. It will save your company time and reduce its environmental footprint.
In it together!
Getting your drivers to adopt ecodriving habits starts by raising awareness. A well-trained team will better understand the effects of their driving and be more willing to adopt habits that benefit both the environment and your organization.
By training your staff, you promote a sustainable and responsible corporate culture. These small gestures, when done on a daily basis, will have a huge impact on your company and the planet.