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19^th June 2008 (Source: Northgate )

Van fleet operators have called on all commercial vehicle manufacturers to publish fuel economy and emissions figures on their models to enable companies to reduce their carbon footprint.

The call came from an overwhelming 80% of 501 fleet owners surveyed by Northgate Vehicle Hire, part of Northgate plc, the UK's largest light commercial vehicle rental operator with a fleet of more than 68,500 vehicles available for rent from 86 rental locations across the UK.

Ironically, while the call for official data to be published underlines the environmental concerns of corporates, the same survey also revealed that more than a third of firms (36%) intended to do nothing over the next six months to go 'green'.

However, the majority of those quizzed have either implemented a range of initiatives or plan to take action during the remainder of 2008 to reduce emissions from their fleets.

Since January 1 this year all van manufacturers must by law produce fuel economy figures and carbon dioxide emission figures for vans for the first time - but they don't have to publish them.

While, fleet decision-makers operating company cars can study official emissions and MPG data from all manufacturers to help them compile vehicle choice lists, the same is not true for businesses running vans. Currently some van manufacturers are revealing the data, others are not.

Consequently with climate change and the reduction of greenhouse gases top of the political agenda and organisations anxious to exhibit their corporate social responsibility and cut their carbon footprint, there is a widespread belief that some manufacturers are hindering 'green' fleet moves.

Northgate Vehicle Hire managing director Phil Moorhouse said: "Fuel economy and CO2 data should be published by the van manufacturers and be available to all fleet operators.

"There are issues around both sets of figures being affected by whether vehicles are laden or unladen and their actual specification - factors that influence such data on commercials far more than in relation to cars.

"However, unless the vehicle manufacturers publish official data then more and more websites will spring up publishing their own figures that may or may not be accurate.

"I'm not surprised by the survey results because we are being increasingly asked by our customers to help them work out their carbon footprint and manufacturers would do the industry a huge favour by agreeing a standard for both sets of figures and publishing them."

Commenting on the fact that a third of companies plan to take no action this year to trim their carbon footprint, Mr Moorhouse said: "Given that many of our customers are asking for help to reduce fuel costs and cut their carbon footprint, it is therefore worrying that around a third of the sample questioned were taking no action.

"We must therefore work with them to advise them of the options available, which include our Vehicle Monitoring telematics system which has the potential to reduce fuel bills by up to 20% and therefore cut emissions."

Fifteen per cent of those surveyed said telematics to improve journey management had either been introduced or would be utilised in vehicles over the next six months. Other options highlighted included: employee driver training (18%), alternatively fuelled vehicles (17%) and vehicle downsizing (15%). Meanwhile, 24% of those surveyed said they had yet to decide what 'green' actions would be taken this year to cut emission levels.

Northgate Vehicle Hire is presently offering to any business hiring a new vehicle on Norflex, the option of trialling a Vehicle Monitoring unit completely free of charge for three months. This free trial of Vehicle Monitoring allows vehicles to be tracked by satellite while they are out on the road.

The system benefits both companies and drivers by helping them to become greener and safer, but it has the added benefit of reducing costs. Benefits can include reduced fuel use, which can help offset the 35% increase in fuel prices since June 2005.

And, since the turn of the year, average UK diesel prices have risen from 109.2p a litre (£4.96 a gallon) to 130.5p a litre (£5.93 a gallon) adding more than £17 to the cost of filling a Ford Transit panel van with an 80-litre fuel tank.

Mr Moorhouse said: "Utilising telematics is just one solution to helping commercial fleets cut their carbon footprint. As the survey highlights, there are a number of other options that are being adopted by businesses. As Britain's leading commercial vehicle rental company we are proactively working with numerous customers to optimise the environmental-friendliness of their fleet."

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