The U.K. is ramping up its net-zero goals, especially for fleets. Switching to eco-friendly fuels and expanding electrification are some of the major shifts. However, more opportunities exist that only emission audits can reveal.
Whether you’re a shareholder or driver, it’s vital to advocate for thorough evaluations to decarbonise and reduce pollution from fleets so the U.K. can exceed its low-emission climate objectives.
What Is the Importance of an Emissions Audit?
Beyond helping maintain compliance, engaging in emissions audits increases climate awareness throughout companies while identifying the most high-impact factors to prioritise. Numerous other benefits reveal themselves in the long term after repeated audits, including but not limited to:
- Heightened safety because of sustainably informed shifts in driving habits.
- Greater cost savings from reduced fuel waste and route optimisation.
- Boosted fleet longevity from better care and maintenance.
- Enhanced fleet productivity by discovering vehicle and performance inefficiencies.
Many companies use fleet management software to collect and store data for emissions reporting. Some of these platforms can reduce maintenance costs by 48%.
What Is the Current State of Global Emissions Control?
Nations like the U.S. have recently withdrawn from the Paris Agreement due to a change in administration. Shifts like this foretell how much a country will focus on emissions control.
As political motivations drive interest away from climate action, the activities of U.K. fleets become all the more important to enforce. That’s why experts have warned fleet managers to anticipate emissions standards revisions and stricter targets.
These are some of the regulations and legislative movements the U.K. has introduced to incentivize and guide the country to zero-emissions fleets:
- Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate: Requires automakers to sell a percentage of ZEVs in the coming years.
- Road to Zero Strategy: Requires heavy goods vehicles to be net-zero by 2040.
- Clean Growth Strategy: Sets a standard to reduce emissions by 34% compared to 2010 levels by 2030 with a heavy emphasis on low-emissions or electric vehicles (EVs).
- Low-emissions and clean-air zones: Establishes locations in the U.K. where air quality is enforced to support greener transportation.
All of the initiatives contribute to the nation’s grand objective of net-zero emissions by 2050.
How Do You Conduct a Fleet Emissions Audit?
Discover the most effective, straightforward way to execute your fleet reviews for significant results.
1. Gather Data
You’ll need some foundational information to start the audit to use for comparative analysis later, including:
- Mileage
- Model specifications
- Efficiency and downtime
- Maintenance records
- Fuel costs and invoices
- Insurance details
- Telematics and routing behaviours
- Internal fleet policies
- Compliance and inspection documents
- Employee credentials
Put your numbers against competitive market data and what regulatory expectations anticipate for low-emissions fleets. See which areas are underperforming, finding the cause of each inefficiency. You can also pair these efforts with quantitative research by interviewing drivers about their strategies and insights into low-emissions fleets.
In addition to internal information, you need to know your region’s fleet sustainability regulations, which could be at both the local and national levels.
2. Establish High-Emissions Concerns
Your familiarity with the fleet’s impact can inform low-emissions goal-setting. Engage with the most environmentally damaging concerns first, whether excess fuel usage or mechanical waste from surplus maintenance. Order and report the company’s objectives to stakeholders so everyone can contribute to swift green action and identify implementation concerns.
You should also look for compromises like fuel contamination. Diesel is known for its ability to attract water, leading to inefficiencies that make a fleet audit look even worse. With diesel costing 54% more than it did in the past and the contamination diminishing the fuel’s advantageous qualities, choosing a greener fuel source may be the best choice. Reporting inspires switching to cleaner assets.
3. Refine Budgets to Implement Strategies
Fleet values have changed with the newly informed low-emissions priorities. Accounting teams must collaborate with numerous departments, including procurement and supply chains.
This is when companies begin sourcing assets for sustainable improvements, such as EV chargers, nonpolluting tyres or emissions-tracking software. Some strategies may require less financial management, such as editing maintenance policies and schedules.
4. Measure Progress
Every operational change equals greenhouse gas reductions. Fleet operators and leaders are equally responsible for tracking these cuts so agencies can continually improve.
Most of this process is automatable with sensor-based equipment embedded in vehicles and peripherals. Manual data entry is also valuable, especially when performing regular inspections and repair reports. Only 42,4% of Europe monitors fleet emissions, so this is critical to implement.
Environmental consultants and auditors are another valuable resource in this phase. You can contact them to observe what the fleets have done so far, and based on their insider knowledge, they can tell you what they still need to accomplish.
The Future of Fleets
Corporate transportation has some of the most immediate and long-lasting impacts on the planet. While other nations are wrestling with changing administrations and shifting climate commitment, the U.K. can remain grounded. Fleet audits are an accessible yet meaningful starting point to contribute to the nation’s greater cause of emissions reduction.
Author: Evelyn Long, Editor-in-Chief of Renovated Magazine
