Top five environmental challenges for van fleets

1 Balancing fit for purpose with lowering emissions

Making sure a van is suitable for the job takes priority for van fleets – this can make it difficult to choose low CO2 vans.

One van fleet operator’s challenge is to cut CO2 “without compromising payload and functionality”; another fleet’s issue is to “reduce CO2 but keep vans a useful size”.

Fit for purpose can mean electric vans are not viable, especially if they are not depot-based and carry lots of equipment so need a high payload.

2 Lack of choice

Fleet operators claim that there are not enough low carbon options available.

One respondent says: “The manufacturers have not progressed the environmentally-friendly options extensively.”

Another is focusing on “encouraging manufacturers to drive down emissions on vans like they have
done on cars”.

One fleet operator would like “more choice of affordable electric vans” while another points out: “There is no hybrid in sight yet.”

3 Government support

Several respondents believe the Government is at the root of their environmental challenges.

“The major challenge is Government inconsistency in how they perceive alternative fuels, favouring one type and providing subsidies and then changing their mind to a different type making long-term investment difficult,” a van fleet operator says.

Another says: “It would be more helpful if the Government considered biofuel an option.”

4 Fuel economy

A number of van fleet operators say that fuel consumption is a challenge, particularly as the weight of equipment carried by some vans can increase fuel consumption.

For others it is the way the vehicle is driven which present a challenge with fuel economy.

A public sector fleet operator comments: “As an emergency service fuel economy is very hard to reduce.

“Ambulances and response cars are driven hard.”

5 Mileage

Trying to reduce mileage is the main environmental challenge for some van fleet operators.

One respondent that operates in a service environment says his challenge is: “Controlling vehicle mileage but maintaining a call pattern to suit customers.”

The issue at another company is “increased mileages die to a net increase in business”.

Another respondent says the van fleet’s “total mileage” is his environmental challenge.