Transitioning to a sustainable fleet doesn’t have to mean going electric right away. Here are five practical initiatives you can implement to cut your fleet emissions.
When considering the move to a more sustainable fleet, most people put electric vehicles (EVs) top of mind. Running an electric fleet can help lower emissions to meet carbon reduction targets while also saving on fuel and maintenance costs over the vehicle lifecycle.
While a fully electric fleet might be the end goal, it might not be the right move for your organisation at the moment. The journey to EVs takes time, planning, conducting tests or pilots and refinement for success in the long-run. Instead of transitioning before you’re fully prepared, there are other strategies that can help reduce your carbon footprint in the short-term.
In this article, we share five fleet initiatives that focus on operational efficiency, technology, and maintenance, ultimately moving you towards your objective of a greener fleet.
1. Train your drivers
A successful long-term move to a low-emissions fleet requires cultivating a culture of sustainability across your organisation. Especially your fleet drivers. Implementing a driver training program can help you shape the culture you want to see by setting expectations and influencing driver behaviours and practices.
Consider incorporating the following driving techniques in your training modules:
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Accelerating smoothly – sudden take-offs burn more fuel than gradual acceleration.
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Maintaining a steady speed – constant speed changes use more fuel.
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Using cruise control – cruise control helps reduce unnecessary acceleration and braking, improving efficiency.
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Efficient gear use – shifting gears at the right time (and avoiding over-revving) allows the engine to operate more efficiently.
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Route awareness – planning routes ahead of time and avoiding high-traffic areas or steep terrain helps minimise idling and unnecessary detours.
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Limiting engine idling – encourage drivers to switch off their engines if stationary for more than a minute, to avoid wasting fuel.
These driving behaviours can help improve fleet vehicle carbon emissions, in some cases reducing fuel consumption by 10-27%1. But the benefits don’t stop there. Not only is driver training a low-cost and scalable solution for a more sustainable fleet, it also helps keep your drivers safe and compliant.
2. Manage your fleet with telematics
Improving your fleet’s operational efficiency is another way to lower emissions. Telematics can help with that – they are shown to help fleets reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 10-25%2.
Telematics is a system that monitors your fleet vehicles remotely, collecting data in real-time. Know where your vehicles are, how they’re being driven and what condition they’re in. This data can help provide useful insights on driver behaviour, vehicle performance and fuel consumption to flag areas to improve your fleet operations.
Track movements in data and integrate with other systems, like your fleet management platform, for deeper insights and greater impact. If you’re yet to implement a telematics solution for your fleet, the move towards a lower-emissions fleet may be a good reason to consider it.
3. Optimise vehicle routes
Less time on the road means using less fuel. Use data analysis from your telematics and fleet management systems to implement route optimisation and smart scheduling strategies to reduce unnecessary driving. Real-time data can identify inefficiencies in current routes to:
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Find optimal routes that consider various external factors such as weather, road conditions, and traffic congestion.
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Maximise a vehicle’s load capacity for fewer trips.
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Cut down fuel consumption by up to 20%, resulting in lower emissions.
Save time and money while also taking steps to minimise the environmental impact of your business. . Plus, by minimising vehicle travel distance, you might also help reduce driver fatigue.
4. Maintain your vehicles regularly
Poorly maintained vehicles consume more fuel and emit more CO2 than vehicles in good condition. For example, under-inflated tyres increase the friction on the road, causing what’s called rolling resistance. The vehicle’s engine must then work harder to keep it moving at the same speed, using more energy and releasing more emissions.
That’s why it’s important to ensure your fleet vehicles are well maintained with regular servicing – to help them perform better, improve fuel economy and control emissions. Again, this is where technology like your telematics system can help. Monitor data on engine performance, tyre pressure and exhaust and cooling systems to stay on top of vehicle maintenance. Regular maintenance can help your vehicle downtime drop thanks to less breakdowns, allowing you to maximise your fleet use and extend vehicle lifespan.
At Interleasing, we recommend our fleets use Fleet Inspect – our tool for documenting the condition of both driver allocated and pool vehicles throughout a lease lifecycle. Request a complimentary demo here.
5. Make a start – consider hybrid vehicles
If you’re not ready to move to EVs, you might consider powering your existing vehicles with alternative fuels.
Look into which alternative fuels are compatible with your existing fleet vehicles and take the time to weigh the benefits and costs before switching.
Once you’re ready to take your lower emission initiatives a step further, you might decide to introduce hybrid vehicles into your fleet. Hybrid vehicles can be a powerful move on the path to a more sustainable fleet, especially if a full EV transition isn’t an option yet. They’re a low-risk, high-impact way to start reducing fuel use, emissions and operating costs without needing to transform your entire infrastructure.
Map your own path to sustainability
Building a more sustainable fleet doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Taking smaller steps, like the ideas we’ve shared, might be a more practical approach for your organisation in the short term. And when you’re ready to think bigger picture and create a roadmap for your EV journey, our EV transition guide can help you get there.
As part of the McMillanShakepeare Group, we have converted 29% of our own fleet to EVs. Find out more in our 2024 Sustainability report here.
If you want to know more about reducing the environmental impact of your fleet without moving to EVs, talk to us today.
1. Transport NSW, Towards Net Zero Emissions Freight Policy, 2023
2. Business Outstanders, Fleet Telematics Statistics: Understanding the Impact, Feb 2025
Other resources
How Fleet Driver Training can help drivers stay safe and companies improve compliance
