Careful driving can reduce CO2 emissions by 7%
Disciplined driving and car care can reduce global warming carbon dioxide (CO2) exhaust emissions by up to 7% or a third of a ton per car a year...
That is the initial fi nding in new analysis of Fleet Support Group's RiskMaster occupational road risk protection programme.
In addition to reducing fleet car running costs by an average £300 a year each, a cleaner exhaust is a challenging spin-off with valuable potential.
For if, as seems possible, a tax on business CO2 generated is to be off-set by 'carbon credits' then vehicle CO2 savings could acquire negotiable value.
Now, FSG procedures are being developed to assist client companies in compiling CO2 tax credits with RiskMaster users well placed to benefit.
Risk management specialist Drive & Survive, has recorded mpg/CO2 savings by RiskMaster drivers.
Business car and van drivers identifi ed as requiring professional tuition to perhaps safeguard their licenses and/or enable them to acquire an employer 'Permit to Drive' under RiskMaster accreditation, are undertaking Drive & Survive courses.
Drive & Survive spokesman Steve Johnson said: "Typically car drivers' mpg economy is 7% better and van drivers' 12% better when they leave us than when they arrive. That means similar cuts in CO2 emissions.
"Significantly RiskMaster ensures that vehicle and driver are right for purpose. Safety and effi ciency of both produce right conditions for high mpg, which lowers CO2 emissions.
Former Cranfield University environmentalist Dr Steve Cousins, now heading Axon Automotive, a specialist in fuel efficient vehicle design in Wellingborough, said: "The average business fleet car covers 15,000 miles a year emitting nearly fi ve tons of CO2.
"So, a 7% fuel efficiency saving is signifi cant because it is a CO2 saving of almost a third of a ton."
Dr Cousins adds that working car and van drivers traditionally run-up 15% higher fuel consumption than vehicle makers' claim is possible. So there is 'a lot of scope' for improvement - that RiskMaster happens to be showing is possible.
FSG technical director Julian Bailey-Watts said: "FSG has an electronic solution that makes it very easy for client companies to accurately record their vehicles' mpg. It could now be assuming special signifi cance."