Panasonic’s drive to cut its fleet emissions is motivated by its ambition to be the greenest innovation company in the world. The company uses CO2 as its key performance measure for its worldwide fleet, and each territory is expected to reduce vehicle emissions every year.

This has created an informal competition among its local fleet managers to achieve the most progress: it is a challenge UK fleet manager Jason Plummer has met head-on.

He evaluates emissions using a combination of manufacturer figures and calculations from Panasonic’s mileage capture process, which last year gave its UK fleet of 160 cars an average CO2 of 106g/km, falling from 119g/km in 2015.

Average real-world fuel economy across the fleet is 68.4mpg. Plummer leads by example here: in 2015, over 9,231 miles, he achieved fuel economy of 337mpg from his company plug-in hybrid, equating to CO2 emissions of 20g/km. He spent just £129 on fossil fuel.

Plummer is one of many company car drivers operating an alternatively fuelled vehicle, with nearly 20% of Panasonic’s UK drivers operating PHEVs or standard hybrids.

Those who do drive plug-in hybrids can recharge their vehicles at the company’s head office in Bracknell via solar panels.

This generates up to 50kWh – enough charge for up to 25 cars a day. Four cars at a time can hook up to the charging system.

Panasonic’s commitment to reducing emissions goes much further than vehicle choice. For example, the company has extended its video conference systems and has also installed them at some key customers and suppliers.

This has reduced mileage, given staff better communication tools and given them back time, as has an ‘agile working’ policy which allows office-based staff to consider working from home: removing the journeys to and from the office has made a big difference to mileage for some employees.

Picture caption: Panasonic Europe senior manager Jason Plummer (right) receives the award from Steve Oliver, general manager, corporate sales, BMW Group UK

Finalists

• Britvic
• London Fire Brigade
• Panasonic Europe
• Speedy Hire
• Z-Tech Control Systems

 

Highly commended

•  Z-Tech Control Systems

Judges’ comments

A range of environmental initiatives in a well thought-out policy. The judges praised Panasonic’s travel plans, home working policy, active buy-in from drivers and the clever use of solar panels – it’s not just about running low emission vehicles.

Awards video