Extending the van operating cycle also helped to offset unfavourable market dynamics.

A change in the sterling-euro exchange rate saw a significant rise in prices.

BT Fleet has also extended its car operating cycles. It runs a twin replacement policy depending on the category of car.

Perk cars are replaced at four years; job-need at five. Both cycles increased from three years, but Webb has no plans to extend further.

“Car technology moves quicker than van technology but our cycle is about right,” he says.

“It doesn’t move enough for a three-year cycle and I believe the big step-change in safety technology has already happened. Fuel efficiency is less important because we use the AFR.”

Fuel efficiency on vans is another matter and it’s here that BT Fleet is enjoying arguably its greatest success with an initiative that will be offered to the company’s external fleet managed clients as well.

BT Fleet began trials of an engine control unit (ECU) remapping project in partnership with Viezu Technologies last year. After the initial findings revealed fuel savings of 10-15%, it began rolling it out across the fleet.

All vans have now been re-coded with a blend of tuning solutions to suit individual models, incorporating throttle, rev, speed and power limiting.

The changes result in better performance lower down the rev range. Past 3,500rpm, engine power drops off quickly so drivers tend to change gears sooner.

“It takes the vagaries out of the driving style because we have changed the parameters of where the torque kicks in,” explains Webb. “It manages their style.”

BT Fleet expects the fuel savings to run into millions of pounds. Payback on the cost of remapping, including vehicle downtime, is working out at just three months.

Improved fuel efficiency also means significantly lower CO2 emissions. BT Fleet was hoping for a 25% reduction, but its data shows a 22% drop.

Even so, that will see 25,000 tonnes of carbon reduced from the fleet’s annual 114,000 tonnes output – equivalent to removing 1,300 taxis from the road.

What did drivers think about the rev restrictions? “We took some drivers to Millbrook to test the re-mapped vans. We sent the first batch of 200 out without telling them what we’d done, then got their feedback,” says Webb.

“Half said they couldn’t tell any difference; the rest thought it went quicker – they thought we’d performance chipped them rather than for economy!”

The trials gave drivers the reassurance that the remapped vans still offered the power if they needed it from a safety point of view. All the vans remain speed limited at 70mph, although future replacements will be limited to 60mph.