For fleet managers, reducing GHGs starts with an accurate understanding of how much their fleet emits in the first place. This is where GHG reporting comes in. Utilimarc’s GHG analytics takes data from different sources to help fleets measure and report their emissions. This could be at a higher level or down to the details of which vehicles, classes, and fuel types are contributing the most.

Fortunately for fleet managers today, BI is an easy-to-implement tool that converts data sources into new opportunities. Using these key insights, managers can cut out ineffective guesswork and instead, strategize with informed, data-backed decisions. In this article, we explore the top five reasons why every fleet striving for total optimization should be using Business Intelligence for their data analysis needs.

Many fleets today have their own reasons for needing accurate GHG reporting. It could be to monitor the implementation of EVs or alternative fuels, or simply to understand which vehicles are contributing most to their overall emissions. Regardless of the reason, there are several ways a fleet could benefit.

The start of a new year brings a new set of objectives and reflection on last year’s goals for most fleet managers. Did your fleet performed as you hoped it would? Do you have what you need to work toward goals for 2023? Business intelligence is a great tool for helping fleets prepare for these changes and create a forward-thinking management strategy.

When it comes to fleet management, the E in ESG can carry a bit more weight. With transportation being one of the greatest contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions, environmental preservation is becoming increasingly important across the industry. The practice of ESG at a higher level helps fleets to stay accountable for their negative and positive impacts.

An emissions profile is a powerful tool for supporting fleet sustainability initiatives. The profile closely details a fleet or organization’s total carbon emissions within a certain period of time. This profile includes emissions from activities ranging from energy generation, fuel consumption and other daily operations.

BI helps fleets to futureproof by creating a reliable and repeatable management strategy that is flexible to change. With the fleet industry changing so rapidly today, this helps managers look toward long-term success, focusing on cost-reduction opportunities and sustainable resource management.

One of the greatest benefits of implementing business intelligence is the ability to turn disconnected data systems into actionable insights. Once fleet data is streamlined and cleaned, BI bridges the gap between the initial point of data collection to seeing data-driven results.

The common goal of fleet sustainability is twofold. First, to adopt practices that protect the wellbeing and future of the world around us. Second, to ensure the future success of your organization. This is appealing for organizations striving to be more conscientious with their practices while still reducing waste and costs internally.

Sustainability is interwoven into futureproofing for many reasons. At its core, the idea and goal of sustainability is to carry out our actions and meet our needs without jeopardizing the ability of future generations doing the same. This is essentially the same goal as futureproofing, no?

For fleets that have kept waiting patiently, this year has brought an exciting onset of “firsts” in the EV market. This is great news for different types of fleets, from emergency services to shipping to utilities, who now have one more option to help future-proof operations and meet long-term sustainability goals.

Nuclear power suppliers today face a challenge that has remained unresolved for decades: nuclear waste. This waste can remain radioactive for hundreds of thousands of years and can contaminate the environment if not disposed of properly.

While fleets are concerned with the procurement of EVs, energy suppliers are concerned with ensuring the grid can even support such a large increase in demand. The US Department of Energy estimates that electricity consumption could go up by 38 percent by 2050 due to the transition to EVs. The challenge now is generating enough clean energy to support this change.

CNG is an alternative fuel that has been used in fleet for decades. There are over 175,000 CNG-powered vehicles in the US today. Many are wondering, however, is investing in CNG worth it if electrification is the end goal?

Alternative fuels are on the top of many fleet managers’ minds these days. Fleets are exploring new ways to get the job done while remaining operationally efficient, cost effective and sustainable. As a result, many managers are introducing a mix of electric, hydrogen, and natural gas-powered vehicles into their fleet to work alongside traditional gas and diesel ICEVs.

As EV production struggles to keep up and delivery dates keep being pushed back, many fleets are left wondering whether their sustainability goals are even feasible in the immediate future. One potential solution is the use of natural gas to power light- to heavy-duty vehicles.

For those opting to phase out ICEVs, the go-to alternative is typically electric vehicles. However, another technology being explored and invested into is hydrogen-powered vehicles (FCEVs).

Creating a charging strategy is an essential step of electrification that many do not realize should be done well in advance of receiving new EVs. Fleets looking to build an entire charging station with several ports for fleets can be looking at months of installation time.

Santa Monica’s Zero Emissions Delivery Zone is the first LEZ in the country. The initiative targets last-mile delivery vehicles and is pushing for electrification and micromobility in last-mile delivery.

There is more internal and external pressure than ever before for organizations to make their practices sustainable and to find different ways of doing so. This can mean something different for each distinct organization, especially when it comes to how they approach it.

Last month, Utilimarc released the results of a survey on Greenhouse Gas Reporting. The survey was created to understand how leading North American fleets were track and reporting on their progress towards goals set on emissions reduction – of which the commercial fleet industry makes up 35 percent of GHG emissions worldwide.

Natural gas is the fastest growing fossil fuel of the past decade and is becoming an increasingly popular alternative to diesel and gasoline.

Greenhouse gas reporting –also known as carbon accounting– is becoming more common at organizations, whether by requirement or done voluntarily for transparency. These reports measure how much emissions the organization emitted in a period, breaking it down into which activities contributed what amount and exactly which GHGs were emitted.

Electric vehicles tend to be the go-to green solution due to their zero-emissions claims. It is worth questioning, however, just how environmentally friendly EVs are.

For EV drivers, the main concern from the day the vehicle is driven off the lot is battery degradation. A degraded battery suffers permanent damage that reduces the energy capacity of the battery and the amount of power it can deliver.

The benefits of connecting a fleet with telematics are pretty much indisputable. With such a deep collection of vehicle and driving insights, managers can dig into data to identify waste reduction opportunities and optimize performance. However, as many switch to electric vehicles they are wondering, are telematics just as useful for EV fleets?

Greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere, keeping Earth at habitable temperatures. However, with GHGs at an all-time high due, this leads to out-of-control climate conditions that threaten life across the planet.

With a major lack of electric vehicle options to replace medium- and heavy-duty ICE trucks, EVs are unfortunately not viable for many utility fleets yet. This doesn’t make ICEV fleets a lost cause for sustainable practice though.

Just as with any battery-operated item, there is an optimal operating temperature for EVs. Because of this, fleets operating in areas with extreme weather must keep this in mind during the peak of harsh winter and summer months.

With such a major shift away from internal combustion engine vehicles, consumers and fleet managers must rethink how they are powering their vehicles. Fueling will no longer be just a gas station away, with a thoughtless five-minute refill until you’re back on the road.

Low emission zones are common throughout Europe and the UK, with over 250 protected European cities as of 2019. Though not as common in the United States, these EU cities provide a blueprint for the future of LEZs around the world.

There are many factors to consider when it comes to making EVs more sustainable at every life stage. When broken down from raw material extraction to vehicle disposal, is clear to see that EV’s zero-emissions claim is really only true in operation.

With so many short- and long-term environmental and economic benefits of a large-scale switch to electric technology, more businesses and governments on all levels are pledging to achieve net-zero emissions in the upcoming few decades.

The ability to collect so much valuable data also allows data management teams to identify areas for improvement that could greatly reduce a fleet’s carbon footprint. Observations regarding waste reduction, fuel consumption and idling time can help managers identify where and how they can do better.

Most people tend to associate electric vehicles with smaller, lighter duty models that are not designed for heavier work loads. However, with Ford’s new F-150 model, they are setting themselves apart from their competitors by pushing the boundaries and setting the standard for other brands to pursue fully-electrified models that can get the tough jobs done in the future.

“Fleets cost organizations so much money, but the ROI of a successfully run fleet can add tremendous value and help build the brand of the organization.”