Fuel Efficient Vehicle Purchasing Strategy

WHAT

  • Investing in Tomorrow’s Fuel Savers.

    A fuel efficient vehicle purchasing strategy prioritizes the buying or leasing of fuel efficient vehicles, equipment, and components during new asset acquisitions and replacements. It helps you select vehicles that are able to meet the needs of the task at hand and takes technical and financial feasibility into consideration. [1]

    Optimal fuel performance with minimal GHG emissions is the primary goal. Life cycle costing is used to evaluate options based on capital costs, operating and maintenance costs, reliability, warranties, depreciation, and resale value alongside commitments to fuel efficiency. An output of the strategy should be a detailed vehicle purchasing policy.

    Toronto’s vehicle purchasing strategy led them to purchase 25 ultra-fuel-efficient Smart Cars. / City of Toronto, 2008.Toronto’s vehicle purchasing strategy led them to purchase 25 ultra-fuel-efficient Smart Cars. / City of Toronto, 2008.This policy is the most important output of a fuel efficient vehicle purchasing strategy. It is the essential tool that provides vehicle and equipment purchasing standards and procedures to ensure the best possible vehicle is purchased. They inform purchasing practices by providing guidance or regulation on what should and should not be used by the fleet. [1]

    The City of San Jose in California has developed what may be the most comprehensive and effective green fleet vehicle purchasing policies in North America. The Dawson Creek green vehicle policy provides another good example. Both will be important tools in ensuring the fleets are effectively replaced over time.

    Benefits

    A fuel efficient vehicle purchasing strategy helps fleet managers:

    • Reduce GHG emissions and related pollutants.
    • Acquire the most appropriate vehicle and equipment.
    • Minimize fuel consumption.
    • Improve driver satisfaction and equipment life.
    • Reduce operating costs.

    [Use the tab above to learn HOW to reduce emissions with this tool.]
    [1] E3 Fleet. (2006) Fraser Basin Council. www.e3fleet.com

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HOW

  • A fuel efficient vehicle purchasing strategy ensures the best vehicles for the job are selected.

    A fuel efficient vehicle purchasing strategy covers the new acquisition and replacement of vehicles and related equipment. As part of your purchasing strategy, you should define the life cycle costing steps that your fleet will go through when purchasing a vehicle and ensure that purchasing is centralized. The strategy should be designed to fully support a detailed vehicle purchasing policy. Once the policy is defined, you simply need to ensure that steps follow and enforce the purchasing strategy.

    Hamilton has taken steps to green its entire fleet, including these biodiesel SUVs. Notice the ‘No Idling’ sign on the wall. / Clean Air Hamilton, 2005.Hamilton has taken steps to green its entire fleet, including these biodiesel SUVs. Notice the ‘No Idling’ sign on the wall. / Clean Air Hamilton, 2005.The City of Hamilton and City of Toronto both have purchasing strategies that have resulted in the purchase of numerous hybrids and a greater push for alternative fuel distribution in Canada. In general, these are part of a larger fleet plan.

    First and foremost, you must ensure that vehicles are right for the job they need to do. This means identifying functional and operational requirements, such as:

    • Cargo characteristics.
    • Driver capacity.
    • Costs of ownership.
    • Average monthly distance traveled.

    As with preventative maintenance, understanding manufacturer suggestions and tips for fuel efficient operation is important. Fuel efficiency policies should be developed to support a green fleet action plan and coincide with key learning points of driver awareness and training programs. [1]

    A fuel data management system will be a particularly powerful tool in understanding, reviewing, and managing an effective fuel policy.

    Developing the policy

    Developing vehicle purchasing policies is very similar to developing idling reduction policies and should fall out of a fuel efficient vehicle purchasing strategy. They should also align with vehicle and fleet right-sizing to be most effective.

    First, develop a fuel efficient vehicle purchasing strategy. Spend time analyzing and understanding yourThis excerpt from San Jose’s Green Fleet policy demonstrates their commitment to purchasing fuel efficient vehicles. / City of San José Green Fleet Policy, www.sanjoseca.gov/esd/This excerpt from San Jose’s Green Fleet policy demonstrates their commitment to purchasing fuel efficient vehicles. / City of San José Green Fleet Policy, www.sanjoseca.gov/esd/ specific vehicle and fleet requirements and then more time investigating the more fuel efficient options to meet those needs.

    Consider using the City of San Jose policy as a guideline document. It will help you understand what to consider and include in your policy. The City has also created a Green Fleet Team to develop and monitor policies and procedures related to the purchase of city vehicles, metered equipment, and sustainable maintenance products and services to achieve program goals and objectives. The Team includes representation from Fleet Management, Environmental Services, Finance, and the City Manager’s Budget Office and rotating involvement of selected operating departments.

    [1], (2006). E3 Fleet. Fraser Basin Council. www.e3fleet.com.

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