How to reduce car emissions should be a key question for any fleet manager today. Firms that don’t minimise fleet emissions will spend more money and contribute to climate change, which is unsuitable for their balance sheet and their business’ reputation.
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As such, you must have a plan for tackling your fleet’s emissions. This is especially important for larger businesses with many vehicles, but smaller firms can also benefit.
One way in which any company can reduce its carbon footprint is by having quality eco fleet solutions through a telematics software.
You can use online tools or services provided by the government or regulatory bodies to check a car's emissions by its registration number.
In many countries, such as the UK, you can visit the official vehicle registration website or the Department for Transport's emissions checker tool. Simply enter the vehicle's registration number (also known as the license plate number) into the search box, and the website will provide detailed information about the car, including its emissions rating, fuel type, and environmental impact.
This service is often free and helps fleet driver managers understand their vehicle's carbon footprint, ensuring they meet emission standards for things like road taxes or low-emission zones.
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If your fleet vehicle has failed its MOT on emissions, there are a few steps you can take to address the issue.
First, it’s essential to identify the specific reason for the failure, which is usually related to the exhaust system, fuel system, or engine performance. Common causes include a faulty catalytic converter, worn-out spark plugs, or a dirty air filter.
You can start by getting your car inspected by a mechanic who can diagnose and repair the problem. Sometimes, a simple fix can solve the issue, like replacing a sensor or cleaning the fuel injectors.
A more serious problem, such as a failing catalytic converter, may require a more costly repair.
Once the necessary repairs are made, have the car retested for emissions. If you're unsure, consider using a diagnostic tool to check for error codes or consulting with an expert who can guide you through the best course of action to get your car roadworthy again.
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The UK’s transport industry is still a significant source of greenhouse gases. According to government figures, the sector was responsible for 34% of the UK’s carbon emissions in 2019. It also noted that the “large majority” comes from road transport.
Therefore, the government has pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 68 per cent by the end of the decade and be net carbon zero by 2050. However, this won’t be possible without significantly reducing vehicle emissions.
Cutting carbon emissions is a vital part of any corporate social responsibility (CSR) plan for businesses. Customers expect firms to take a proactive attitude to this area and increasingly factor environmental performance into their buying decisions. For instance, research by the Carbon Trust suggests that two-thirds of people (66 per cent) feel more positive about companies that can demonstrate they are making efforts to reduce emissions.
In addition, lower emissions go hand in hand with reduced petrol and diesel costs. Reducing carbon dioxide naturally means using fuel more efficiently, which is also good for your bottom line.
There are a number of methods firms can use to help reduce their fleet’s emissions, such as adopting more fuel-efficient vehicles or even switching to hybrid or full-electric power. But these solutions often require major investments. However, there is a way any business can cut its emissions without large-scale changes to its fleet, and that’s by adopting telematics.
Telematics tools are increasingly popular among business fleet managers for many reasons, and making operations greener and more efficient is a key consideration.
They work by monitoring the performance and status of your vehicles in real time, using various technologies.
For instance, GPS tracking provides an accurate picture of where your cars and vans are at all times and helpful information such as their speed.
Meanwhile, sensors in the vehicle that connect to the central computer can record a range of detailed data. This can include diagnostics to alert you to any potential maintenance issues, but it can also monitor control inputs to build a picture of how your employees are driving.
These are all sent back to the business wirelessly and in real time. This means fleet managers always have complete insight into where their vehicles are and how they’re being used.
You may be able to compile accurate reports on miles per gallon and exhaust emissions, which will allow you to see the impact any steps will have.
Discover how our telematics services can help here.
With this information in hand, you can take some steps to reduce your fleet’s emissions. Here are three benefits you should be able to see quickly from car telematics.
Expand your knowledge by checking out our sustainable transport with telematics guide.
The fewer miles you drive, the less emissions you’ll release into the atmosphere. In this regard, a good telematics system can be highly valuable.
When coupled with a smart routing system, this can spot any inefficiencies and suggest improvements.
For example, vehicles that have to stop and start frequently will create large amounts of emissions. Therefore, tailoring routes to minimise this can have a significant impact.
Similarly, reducing the amount of backtracking vehicles have to do between stops not only makes operations more efficient but also reduces carbon output.
Another effect of this data will be to reduce the amount of time vehicles spend idling. This is one of the most significant contributors to carbon emissions and air pollution.
It’s already an offence to leave a vehicle idling unnecessarily, with drivers liable for a £20 fixed penalty notice if they keep their engines running while parked on public roads.
Telematics can help with this by helping drivers avoid traffic jams, roadworks, and other occasions when they may be sitting stationary for long periods. It can also help alert you to drivers displaying poor practices.
For example, if an employee turns on the engine and leaves their car to warm up for ten minutes on a cold morning, you can see this and step in. The same is true if drivers leave engines running while making deliveries or any short stops.
This can make a real difference. For instance, one Motia Telematics customer, JJ Food Service, reported reducing idling time by 70 per cent since adopting the technology, which helped cut its carbon emissions by two per cent.
Changing driver behaviour isn’t limited to reducing idling, however. Vehicle telematics systems can also measure inputs such as throttle and brakes, how much a driver revs the engine and steering actions. Hard accelerating and braking use more fuel, which in turn means more emissions.
By monitoring this closely, you can spot the worst offenders for these poor driving techniques and arrange education and training.
With easy-to-use reporting tools, you can create league tables that rate your employees’ performance.
At the same time, this data can be used to crack down on problems like speeding. As well as being a safety issue; higher speeds mean more significant emissions, so tackling this has several benefits. With systems that give real-time alerts if a driver breaks speed limits, you can act quickly and stop bad habits from forming.
None of this is possible without detailed telematics tools and effective fleet emission reporting software. But with these solutions, you can track emissions in real time and gain insight into exactly what impact your efforts have. This can also prove helpful when compiling CSR reports or demonstrating your commitment to going green.
If you want to know more about how Motia Telematics can help reduce your carbon footprint and provide you with sustainable fleet management, get in touch today!
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