Time to gear up for info on CO2 emissions

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our or .

| Sourced From |

Although information on CO2 emissions for cars has been available since just before 2002 (when the benefit-in-kind system was changed from being based on mileage to emissions), this data is currently conspicuously absent from a commercial fleet manager’s arsenal.

Without it, they are facing a tough time of improving the environmental operation of their commercial fleets.

The provision of commercial CO2 emissions data is imminent though with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), Department for Transport (DfT) and the VCA currently working on a joint project to get this information into the public domain.

The plan is to launch a database similar to the one already available for cars on April 29 via either the VCA website or a Government-run business development site. So, should companies be starting to gear up for the changes?

What’s the problem?

When it comes to calculating the emissions of commercial vehicles, there are other factors to consider that don’t really apply to cars.

For instance, it is difficult to calculate the total emissions of a fully-laden vehicle compared to an empty one (understandably, extra weight will result in higher CO2 emissions).

However, basic information will give commercial vehicle operators the ability to improve vehicle loading strategies.

Advice on emissions might even influence their choice of vehicle.

Some vehicles, due to the nature of the jobs they are required to do, inherently consume more carbon than others, so a decision cannot be made purely based on emissions data, like it could with a company car.

The use of specialist commercial equipment such as cranes and tail-lifts poses another significant challenge to emissions calculations, but experienced commercial fleet leasing providers will be able to advise customers on these issues.

The SMMT admits that it is still ironing out a few minor issues and is currently in the final stages of agreeing exactly what information manufacturers will have to supply, although it does not expect this to cause any delay to the planned launch at the end of April.

One thing is for sure: some vehicle makes are more efficient than others, which means that highlighting the worst CO2 offenders could result in serious drops in sales for certain manufacturers.

The costs involved in redesigning or engineering greener vehicles from scratch isn’t going to be small either.

What’s the solution?

With impending pressure from customers and Government bodies for this information, it seems that manufacturers will inevitably have to make improvements – however costly – and make all the information they possibly can widely available.

The good news is that CO2 emissions information will allow fleet managers to make more informed choices and reflect the environmental costs of their business more accurately.

Ultimately, it will give businesses the tools to save money and improve the environmental impact of their fleets.

What’s the future?

It is, without a doubt, encouraging that the SMMT, DfT and VCA are taking steps towards making vehicle CO2 information more visible to people before they invest in new commercial vehicles (it is currently available only in a van’s log book after purchase).

Commercial fleet managers would do well to ensure each vehicle currently in their fleet is fit for purpose and analyse current mileage routing/journey planning to reduce unnecessary journeys.

Some in-vehicle telematics systems are also able to provide this kind of information.

It is important that fleet managers do their research – whether it is with the help of this forthcoming database or not – or ask their fleet leasing provider for advice before investing in new vehicles which could be more damaging to the environment – and costly – than they think.