Proper vehicle set-up and maintenance; it's all part of keeping your organisation lean, mean and green. It;s straightforward, easy to implement, part of good compliance, and helps keep your workers safe. Simple things like:
- Use the petrol that's recommended by the manufacturer. The Australian Department of the Environment's website states that "if you use regular unleaded in a car that's designed to run on premium unleaded you can expect slightly less performance and fractionally higher consumption. Using premium unleaded in a car designed for regular unleaded may give better fuel consumption is some newer vehicles but is unlikely to offset the extra cost of the fuel".
- Ensure vehicles are regularly serviced; maintenance experts claim that up to 25% of horsepower is lost to internal friction - engines, transmissions, differentials/final drives. So it's easy to comprehend how keeping parts and lubrication in peak condition can have a significant impact on fuel consumption.
- Keep tyre pressures at the recommended level; properly inflated tyres can increase fuel efficiency by 3.3%.
- Remove unnecessary weight, and that includes roof racks (unless they're an everyday necessity). The drag generated can cost as much as 25% extra in fuel usage.
- Limit the use of air-conditioning; we're not suggesting you turn it off completely and fry yourself, but don't crank it up too far. At external temperatures of 35°, air conditioning can increase fuel consumption by 38%.
Robust fleet management & maintenance is a key pillar of your organisation's efforts to reduce carbon emissions. Another key element being how your workers drive the vehicles; eco-driving. For more information on Eco-Driving see the blog article 'mmm'.
Please feel welcome to contact me to discuss the above article and/or how operational efficiency and safety intersect.
Duncan Ferguson
Head of Fleet & Human Factors, Mercurien.
