If any good can come from the global lockdown, it's the positive impact on the environment.
While we stayed inside, the environment began temporarily changing with wild animals photographed roaming the streets, images showing the water in Venice to be clear and, in places like Punjab in India, city residents saying they can now see the snow peaks of the Himalayas; a view that has been blocked by air pollution for decades.
During lockdown, Paul Monks, professor of air pollution at the University of Leicester said, “We are now, inadvertently, conducting the largest-scale experiment ever seen. Are we looking at what we might see in the future if we can move to a low-carbon economy?”
But will this bring about a new social conscience and change our attitude towards the environment permanently?
Lee Brown is the Grosvenor Group’s leading advisor on green issues, and heads up the company’s 0Zone solution. 0Zone is the innovative green solution that helps businesses with vehicle fleets make the smooth transition to ultra-low emission and electric vehicles.
Since its launch in 2017, 0Zone has helped many companies reduce their emissions, an example being at Tata Steel where plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles now make up almost 20% of the vehicle fleet, the total annual carbon emissions has reduced by 12.3% to 2040 tonnes, and the average CO2 is down to 98.99 gsm/km, a movement of -11%.
As a result, their annual fuel costs have fallen by over a quarter of a million pounds, a saving of 10.6%.
Most recently, the 0Zone proposition has been broadened to cover three key areas associated with operating a greener fleet. These are the environmental, financial and operational implications, with Lee and his team working closely with companies to find the optimum combination of all three.
“Moving to alternative fuels, and reducing emissions, isn’t as simple as just adding EVs and plug in hybrids to your vehicle choice list,” said Lee.
“There are ramifications across the business which need to be carefully considered and analysed.
“Take for example the financial impact. Electric vehicles generally have a higher on the road cost, however a lower whole life cost, and the true price forecasted across a number of years has to be mapped out.
“There is also the tax position, for both company and driver, as well as the operational implications.
“When Glenmorangie Whisky began striving towards a zero-emission fleet policy, because their drivers travel in the Scottish Highlands it can become more challenging in the winter months. We therefore looked at 4x4 off-road options for some vehicles. We also mapped out the availability of charging points in the key locations where their drivers travelled, and the number of servicing garages for ULEVs and EVs, before making our final recommendations.
“Getting your company vehicle policy wrong may also restrict where your drivers can travel. In some cities, higher emission cars won’t be allowed into the clean air zones or will be charged for entering. This has to be factored in from an operational perspective when reaching decisions so that companies do not find themselves ordering cars today that will be banned from key areas during their time on fleet.
“Prior to lockdown, we were already having these sorts of conversations with company directors and fleet managers, and we had particularly good feedback from drivers at Weetabix about their company car policy and future choices.
“Now that social awareness of the environment has never been higher, I am certain we will see a real surge in businesses looking more closely at implementing alternative fuel strategies for their fleets.”
Lee Brown is finance director of Interactive Fleet Management, as well as heading up the Grosvenor Group’s 0Zone solution. For more information about 0Zone, please call us on 01536 536 536.