With so much proof on the effects climate change has on our planet, business owners may feel conflicted between balancing the demands of business and ongoing calls to save the environment.
The world around us is under environmental threat and urgent action is needed to make changes. Here's how your fleet affects the environment.
To put it into perspective - South Africa is the 14th largest emitter of CO2 emissions in the world. Research shows that in 2015, our total carbon dioxide emissions from fuel combustion was 427.57 (million metric tons).
The International Energy Agency reports that global transportation is responsible for a quarter of combustion emissions, and road transport alone accounts for most of these.
Vehicle pollution contributes approximately half the carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides and almost a quarter of the hydrocarbons emitted into our air. Pollutants are released when fuel is burned in the internal combustion engine of trucks and cars and the petrol and diesel residuals are emitted through the exhaust. When heat causes fuel to evaporate throughout the fuel system - hot, sunny days and engines warmed by running - provide heat to vaporise fuel into the air and petrol and diesel vapors escape into the air when vehicles are refueled.
With all this in mind let’s unpack some of the ways your fleet is affecting the environment.
1.The vehicle selection
Hazardous air pollutants (toxins) are emitted from cars and trucks and have been linked to birth defects, cancer, and other serious illnesses. The Environmental Protection Agency in the USA estimates that the toxins emitted from cars and trucks — which include Benzene, acetaldehyde, and 1,3-butadiene — account for half of all cancers caused by air pollution. Motor vehicles also emit greenhouse gases which are pollutants such as carbon dioxide that contribute to global climate change.
- The choice of vehicle, including its weight, can affect the environment. With the direct correlation of weight and mass, the heavier a vehicle is, the greater its fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
- Often, businesses send out the wrong vehicle for the job – there is no need to send out a 10-ton truck to deliver a bouquet of flowers.
- Regarding fuel specifically, a diesel fleet – although more expensive initially, will consume up to 30% less diesel on average than a petrol engine.
- While electric cars may seem like a viable option for a sustainable future – it is important to note that SA’s current dependence on coal power and lack of sufficient electric infrastructure are significant hurdles to the adoption of electric cars.
2.The roads and traffic
Did you know your businesses fleet is contributing to the 12.1 million vehicles already on South Africa’s road?
Traffic congestion increases vehicle emissions and degrades ambient air quality, and recent studies have shown excess morbidity and mortality for drivers, commuters and individuals living near major roadways.
3.Your drivers
Driver behaviour has a major impact on fuel efficiency and bad habits such as excessive idling can greatly impact emissions. Research shows that heavy-duty vehicles burn up to four litres of diesel fuel for each hour of idling!
Few drivers are aware that driving speeds directly affect fuel consumption. A study by the US Department of Energy showed that a midsize petrol car increased fuel consumption by 20% when the speed increased from 72km/h to 121 km/h. In comparison, driving between 80-90 km/h provided the best fuel economy.
4.Your day to day operations
Sulphur dioxide is created by motor vehicles which burn sulphur-containing fuels, especially diesel. Sulphur dioxide can react in the atmosphere to form fine particles. Young children and asthmatics are particularly vulnerable to sulphur dioxide. Something as simple as under-inflated tyres can lead to higher fuel consumption. A car with under-inflated tyres (1 bar less than the recommended tyre pressure) will lead to as much a 6% increase in fuel consumption.
In addition, a vehicle that isn’t properly maintained burns as much as 30% more fuel than one that is properly maintained.
Why a fleet manager can help your fleet go green
Reducing your carbon emissions will not only help the environment, but also cut back business costs. Idling and abrupt acceleration or braking are the biggest culprits of wasting fuel and producing excess emissions. Through GPS logging, these can be avoided, as feedback is provided to fleet managers and drivers in real time, allowing active awareness for better driving habits. In addition, by working with a fleet manager partner, businesses will be able to use more environmentally friendly technologies. In the cold chain for example, our recent design of a cold trailer that runs 80% to 90% of the time using power from the truck engine, has significantly reduced a truck use of diesel! Cutting down on your carbon emissions isn’t just good PR from a reputational point of view and for the health of those around you; it also makes business sense because it will help cut back on overall business expenses.
Tips to help reduce air pollution and cut down on carbon emissions:
- Where possible, shorten the routes and reduce the kilometres driven by your fleet vehicles.
- Avoid excessive idling.
- Drive at steady, moderate speeds.
- Avoid over-filling of the petrol or diesel tanks
- Ensure the petrol cap fits properly.
- Make sure tyres are properly inflated.
- Replace oil and filters at recommended intervals.
- Watch the colour of exhaust emissions – black smoke means too much petrol in the fuel mixture; blue smoke indicates too much oil is being burned.
- Fix fluid leaks in air conditioners immediately. Leaking chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s) harm the earth’s stratospheric ozone shield.
