More than three-quarters (78%) of survey respondents now have average CO2 emissions of 130g/km or lower on their car fleet, compared to 59% last year. And around two-fifths (42%) have an average of 120g/km or less.
The majority of new car orders are 110g/km.
It is not surprising then, that three-quarters of respondents believe the average emissions of their car fleet will be sub-100g/km within two to five years.
On the van side there is more work to be done.
Around half of respondents did not know their van fleet’s average CO2 emissions or the average CO2 for new van orders.
This can partly be explained because 57% of the respondents operate mainly car fleets with some organisations having separate fleet managers for cars and vans.
A car fleet manager is unlikely to know the emissions of the van fleet.
However, some respondents who didn’t know their average van fleet emissions were responsible for both cars and vans.
Danny Alborough, deputy group facilities manager at Gratte Brothers, which has a fleet of 120 cars and 80 vans, tracks the emissions of his vans using the CO2 figure published on the V5 certificate.
Emissions did not used to be included on the V5 certificate for vans, which can make it harder for fleet operators to know the average emissions of their vehicles.
However, with vans expected to be taxed through CO2 in the future, this is something fleets will have to get to grips with.
Ford continues to be seen as the greenest van manufacturer (in terms of models). Respondents point out that Ford’s new models are “very low CO2”.
One fleet manager says that Ford’s light commercial vehicles “seem to realise fuel efficiencies, as well as maintain reliability – more so than some manufacturers I have used”.
Another fleet manager recently added the Ford Fiesta Van to their fleet, owing to its low emissions.
Like last year, Renault is seen as the next greenest van manufacturer (due to its range of pure electric vans), followed by Citroën. One fleet operator says Citroën has “consistently provided low CO2 options”.
However, some respondents are keen to point out that it is more important that a van is fit for purpose than what emissions it has.
Sarah Tooze is a former managing editor of sister title Smart Transport. Prior to joining Smart Transport she worked on Fleet News for more than 10 years, latterly as deputy editor, and won the ‘automotive business journalist’ award in the 2017 Newspress Awards.
Siemens Minion - 12/11/2013 10:28
Not in our company! our policy used to financially punish essential drivers for choosing something higher than 160g/km, the latest revision moves that down to 130 in one jump, meaning the choice is a now a 1.6D weedy car or a BMW 320D, not everyone wants the BMW 'image' thank you. The same revision also REMOVES restrictions on bosses perk cars and frees them to have big petrols - Range Rover can no doubt expect some increased orders very soon. Average fleet CO2 is dropping whilst the high mile minions subsidise the perk guzzlers. Remind me.. it is 2013 and not 1913?