During the debate “Socially responsible business in the light of public procurement” at the Poznań Public Procurement conference, held at the Poznań International Fair, Dariusz Terlecki, Regional Director Poland & EE at Webfleet, spoke about sustainable development, zero-emission transport, and how public organizations can reduce their carbon footprint.
– Reducing the carbon footprint is an important element of operational strategy, forced not only by regulations but also by the growing awareness of consumers and business managers. At Webfleet, we believe in the power of innovative telematics solutions that support companies on the path to zero-emission transport – says Dariusz Terlecki, Regional Director Poland & EE at Webfleet.
Zero-emission transport
Zero-emission transport is associated with the reduction of CO2 emissions, a reduction that companies must take care of. “Emission reduction can be achieved in many ways. The first is the optimization of routes and fleet utilization, which consists, among other things, of limiting empty runs and eliminating unnecessary kilometers. Next, fuel consumption should be reduced by introducing a more economical and environmentally friendly driving style. The third issue is maintaining the good condition and pressure of tires. Slow drops in tire pressure result in increased fuel consumption. Interestingly, about 20% of tires on commercial vehicles on the road still have insufficient pressure. On the scale of an entire fleet, these percentages can mean hundreds of thousands saved on fuel,” said Dariusz Terlecki.
However, it may turn out that controlling these factors requires managers and drivers to devote a huge amount of time and effort. The latest telematics systems for fleet management, which streamline these activities, come to the rescue.
– With a telematics system, it is possible not only to indicate the optimal route but also to optimize the sequence of order fulfillment, which allows for maximum reduction of travel time and fuel consumption. Thanks to telematics, one can also have a huge impact on this factor by using solutions to monitor drivers’ driving style, evaluate them, share tips, and teach appropriate driving methods – said Terlecki. –For example, the OptiDrive 360 solution provides ongoing monitoring of driving style in terms of 8 basic parameters defining efficiency and driving economy, such as speed, idling, harsh braking, maintaining constant speed, fuel consumption, eco-speed, or vehicle coasting. The system does not only measure and evaluate driving style. Through active coaching, it also enables corrective actions and effective learning of economical driving habits. We also have TPMS systems in our offer, which use sensors placed on each tire, identify potential problems, and provide ongoing information to the fleet manager and driver about the pressure and temperature level, which also facilitates control.”
Considering the above aspects, thanks to advanced telematics systems, it is possible to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, thereby saving time and resources. Telematics provides full insight into fuel consumption, vehicle usage, route planning, and much more. Data from Webfleet customers shows that thanks to such solutions, fuel consumption costs can be reduced by 20% very quickly and have a positive impact on the environment.
Fleet electrification
European law has set a mandatory climate goal: a reduction of CO2 emissions in the European Union by at least 55% by 2030. This refers to the “Fit for 55” regulatory package, which imposes strict CO2 emission standards on the transport industry for passenger cars and vans. Under the influence of these regulations, fleet managers are increasingly considering the introduction of electric vehicles.
– Electric fleets are the most important step on the road to zero-emission transport. This is the area on which we focus our activities. At Webfleet, we help companies transition from combustion vehicles to electric vehicles by providing an electrification report that assesses the current vehicle fleet and determines which of them can be converted to electric models. Supporting fleet electrification is one of our priorities – says Terlecki. Fleet electrification is not only an element of sustainable business but also fuel and maintenance cost savings, as electric vehicles have fewer parts.
In 2021, Webfleet conducted a study in the area of fleet electrification. Data analysis from 100,000 fleet vehicles belonging to 5,000 customers operating in most European markets (mainly delivery and passenger fleets) showed that 61% of commercial vehicles in Europe could be replaced by an electric alternative. According to the data obtained, the UK and the Netherlands are the countries with the highest electrification potential. In both of these countries, 70% of fleet vehicles could be electrified, followed by France (67%) and Germany (61%). However, it should be taken into account that the indicated countries with the highest electrification potential also have the highest availability of charging points.
– For Poland, this percentage is lower and amounts to 49% of vehicles. The current macroeconomic situation does not favor formulating bold, long-term fleet strategies, but that does not mean that companies are not thinking about it. We see this on our telematics platform. The number of electric cars connected to our platform has doubled over the past year, and the number of customers using fleet electrification readiness reports in the period from March to July (i.e., during the period of greatest pressure related to fuel price increases) has increased by 300%. – adds Terlecki.
Telematics solutions
Webfleet, as a leading European provider of fleet management solutions, is focused on utilizing the full potential of fleet data, with a mission and motto of providing sustainable solutions for mobility.
– The goal of the solutions we introduce is to help commercial fleets at every stage of the transformation towards zero-emission – from planning the introduction of EVs (electrification readiness reports), to daily management of vehicle operation and their optimization so as to fully utilize the potential of the owned fleet – emphasizes Dariusz Terlecki – Electrification, sustainable development, zero-emission transport are concepts that we encounter more and more often and which are undoubtedly the future of the transport industry. Telematics systems can help all commercial fleets – including public institutions, municipal transport companies, those involved in waste collection, or providing various services for urban communities.
Telematics is currently being used intensively in the TSL industry. According to Webfleet, effective company management starts with collecting data, processing it, and implementing optimal solutions.
– That is exactly what telematics is for. Constantly obtaining valuable information about vehicles in real-time provides fleet managers with the ability to make intelligent changes and significant improvements in operations. From the point of view of transport companies, this is the foundation on which an efficiently managed business can be built – concludes Dariusz Terlecki – Vehicles generate a whole mass of data every day about mileage, routes, driving style, stops, as well as usage, fuel consumption, etc. This is the basis for making effective business decisions.
Source: Webfleet