MPG Marathon 2008

The real benefits of ‘smarter’ motoring came into sharp focus this week when competitors in the 2008 MPG Marathon proved beyond doubt that skilful eco-driving can dramatically reduce the cost of motoring and cut the amount of CO2 emissions produced by Britain's 30 million motorists.

The 40 teams taking part achieved an average improvement of 23 per cent over the manufacturer’s official combined figures and, if replicated by all of Britain’s car and commercial vehicle drivers, would save a total of £8.2 billion per year in fuel costs.

Eighty drivers and navigators took part in this national initiative, a round trip between ALD Automotive’s headquarters in Fishponds, Bristol and Shrigley Hall, Macclesfield to establish whether eco-driving can squeeze more miles per gallon (mpg) out of their vehicles than conventional motoring. The objective was to ‘save pounds and the planet’ as the drivers put the manufacturer’s own estimates of fuel consumption to the test – and won.

The achievement was all the more impressive as the drivers had to deal with the glare of publicity and congested roads during the two-day endurance trial. Twenty two manufacturers agreed to publicly have a variety of their hatchbacks, saloons and commercial vehicles put through their paces by automotive journalists, 'green' organisations and motoring safety bodies, including the AA, over this gruelling 400-mile round trip.

While seven vehicles achieved more than 70 miles per gallon, eight amazingly secured more than 80 miles per gallon, a record for the event which is in its sixth year, but the overall winning position went to the Toyota Yaris driven by Andrew Andersz which achieved a staggering 84.66mpg.

Second place went to Sue and Joanne Cooke in the Mazda2 1.4 Diesel with 84.58mpg. James Sutherland and navigator Richard Hill, who have won the last two MPG Marathons, failed to achieve their ‘hat trick’ in the Toyota Aygo Blue although it came in fifth place with 82.39mpg, a 34.18 per cent improvement over the manufacturer’s combined cycle figures, and using just 22.71 litres of petrol. This was the best figure achieved by a petrol-engined car in the event.

The MPG Marathon also sought out the drivers most capable of improving on the fuel consumption figures claimed by the manufacturer.

A Chevrolet Corvette Z06 with a manufacturer’s combined mpg of 19.2, managed to achieve 30.96mpg, an improvement of 61.26 per cent, despite its massive seven-litre engine. Driver and navigator Richard Hammond and Carla McAlpine proved that even so-called ‘gas guzzler’ sports cars can be driven more economically.

Second place in the percentage improvement class went to Christophe Duprat from ALD Automotive International and French motoring journalist Emilie Eyzat in a Honda Accord, with an MPG of 73.98, an improvement of 49.16 per cent.

Another entry of note was the Ford Focus driven and navigated by Devon and Cornwall police officers Martin Davis and Malcolm Curnow who achieved a fuel consumption of 62.43mpg against the manufacturer’s figure of 54.2mpg, an improvement of 15.18 per cent on the standard Focus, although more significant because the vehicle would be heavier with additional equipment. The force is attempting to cut its £2.3 million annual fuel bill because, with a fleet of 1200 vehicles, officers drive an amazing 29 million miles per year as a result of there being more miles of roads in the two counties than in the whole of Belgium. AA president Edmund King, sharing the driving with BBC Transport correspondent Tom Symonds, achieved 73mpg in a new Fiat 500, an improvement of 9.01 per cent.

It’s not what you drive, but how you drive that makes the difference and once again the combined efforts of all the participants and sponsors delivered a first class, educational event which has proved, if proof was needed, that skilled driving techniques work and can make a dramatic impact upon miles per gallon.

Related Articles
Biking Hype & Car Fuel Reduction Ideas
Sexy Green Car Show
Video: Eco Rally Brighton to London
Planes Trains & Automobiles
Smart Zero Emission Driving with The Smart Ed

2008 Fleet Hero Awards

Tonight will see the London Transport Museum host the third annual Fleet Hero Awards, organised by the Energy Saving Trust in association with the Department for Transport, and in partnership with Fleet News, Guardian and The Observer.

The awards ceremony looks to recognise the achievements by organisations large and small in reducing their energy consumption and carbon emission in business travel, through a variety of categories;

• Best Large Fleet
  Addison Lee
  Amey
  Ocado
  
  
• Best Medium Fleet
  Centre Parcs
  James McNaughton Group
  London Borough of Islington
  
  
• Best Small Fleet
  Commercial Group
  Green Tomato Cars
  The Royal Parks
  
  
• Grey Fleet Champion
  Arval
  Inchcape Fleet Solutions
  VT Education and Skills
  
  
• Business Mileage Champion
  Addison Lee
  Environment Agency
  Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council
  
  
• Leadership Award
  Commercial Group
  Government Car & Despatch Agency
  Green Tomato Cars
  Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Trust
  
  
• Industry Supplier Award
  Arval
  BMW
  Masternaut Three X
  
  
• Smarter Driving Award
  Arval
  Gateshead Council
  Government Car & Despatch Agency
  
  
• Innovation Award
  Centre Parcs
  GreenRoad Technologies
  Modec

Previous winners include BSkyB, Saninsburys Online and London Borough of Islington.

There is a real message to all the glitz and glamour, whether you manage a fleet of over 500 vehicles, or have a small fleet of 10 or 20 cars or vans, the Energy Saving Trust can help turn your transport operations green.

With funding from the Department for Transport, the Energy Saving Trust provides public and private organisations of all sizes with free, expert and tailored advice to help reduce running costs, cut carbon emissions and enhance corporate social responsibility.

If your organisation has a fleet of 50 or more cars and vans under 3.5 tonnes you are eligible for a Green Fleet Review - an independent, environmental review of fleet operations providing a comprehensive report on the following:

• Fleet carbon footprint
• Vehicle allocation policy
• Fuel economy
• Mileage reimbursement policy
• Driver education
• Mileage reduction strategies
• Best practice grey fleet (business mileage in private vehicles) principles
• Latest health and safety and duty of care issues

Since 2004 over 300 organisations from every industry sector have benefited from this service.

In all cases decreasing environmental impact of your fleet equates directly to cost saving. Your potential savings depend upon your fleet size, the type and size of vehicles you operate and the number of miles travelled.

To find out how much you can potentially save, access the Energy Saving Trust's online Green Fleet calculator.

I'm still awaiting my invite to tonight's proceedings in the post, how could they possibly have failed to send me an invite. Tonight's event however is highlighting how business can and are willing to implement change to reduce their impact on the enviroment and save on costs concurrently. Every penny saved on fuel is a penny more in profit.


Related Articles
Tesco Ireland Opening First Eco Store Next Month
30kW Hydro Electricity Site Reduces CO2 by 100t a Year
Milk Sludge Fertilising Willow
Get EnviroWise About Water!
Diageo Invests £65m in Renewable Energy

Picture: Modec Continues To Deliver

John Menzies, have introduced according to Transport News Network, a Modec designed in a custom-livery sponsored by the Guardian – aimed at creating maximum impact on the road, whilst highlighting the vehicle’s environmental credentials.

If the trial proves successful more electric vehicles could join the company’s 500-strong commercial vehicle fleet, which operates across the UK and Ireland and is responsible for delivering a significant volume of the shortest shelf life product to a higher number of consumers than any other supply chain. This includes more than 5 million newspapers and 2.5 million magazines each day.

It features bespoke-designed bodywork manufactured by Glasgow based Tekbo which includes a rear roller-shutter door and entry doors on both sides of the vehicle, accessed via a corridor immediately behind the cab. This arrangement affords drivers maximum flexibility for entering and exiting the vehicle safely. It also uses a sliding door to separate the corridor from the load space, with a series of low voltage LEDs to light the interior.

It has been specified with the latest lithium batteries, giving the vehicle a range of up to 60 miles on a full five-hour charge. This new battery technology has the advantage of allowing Menzies Distribution to part-charge the battery where necessary – with each hours’ charge replacing 20 per cent of the battery’s power.

The Modec will be making up to 30 deliveries each morning throughout the Westminster area, starting its run at 4.30am from the company’s depot close to the Old Kent Road – one of three Menzies Distribution facilities serving Greater London. It will travel through the heart of the Congestion Charging zone and also be used during the afternoon to transport express parcels to a central sorting facility bound for overseas locations on behalf of sister company Menzies Aviation.

“We want to be at the forefront of learning about this new technology and the Modec allows us to experiment with operating an electric zero-emission vehicle in the heart of central London. It’s the perfect environment to really put the Modec through its paces, whilst enjoying a range of additional benefits including a 100 per cent discount from the Congestion Charge. The delivery of the Modec forms part of a wider project within Menzies Distribution aimed at further reducing the carbon footprint of the business. To support its arrival in the fleet we are assessing the feasibility of installing a photovoltaic recharging system at our depot, which will allow us to provide much of the electrical power needed for the vehicle through solar energy. The Modec test follows the introduction two months ago of 10 Mercedes-Benz Eco-Start vans, which automatically cut the engine whenever the vehicle is stationary for more than two seconds, then automatically start it again when the driver depresses the clutch pedal. We are also in discussion with Isuzu about bringing a hybrid electric / diesel commercial vehicle onto the fleet too,”
Stuart McLean, Logistics Manager at Menzies Distribution

Menzies Distribution is part of John Menzies plc, one of Scotland’s largest companies, and makes daily deliveries across the UK to more than 23,000 customers. Its fleet of commercial vehicles covers nearly 100,000 miles each day, operating from 19 hub depots and 18 satellite depots supported by a team of approximately 4,000 employees.

The AA Trial Electric Bikes

Chronic congestion has reached record levels in some cities, so the AA is introducing patrols on electric scooters and motorbikes to tackle the problem.

The UK's biggest breakdown organisation will use Vectrix electric bikes to cut through traffic and reach breakdowns in central London up to 25 per cent quicker, getting members and other traffic moving again with minimum delay.

The trial is in central London, where traffic speeds in the morning peak are at their lowest in 40 years. If it is successful, the bikes could be rolled out to other major cities revealed today by the AA, in conjunction with Trafficmaster, in a "City Speed League Table";

The average traffic speed across London is 16.9mph. But during peak periods in central London this slows to just 10mph – the same speed as horse-drawn carriages a century ago.

City & Speed

Bristol 16.8
Glasgow 17.3
Southampton 17.8
Liverpool 17.8
Manchester 18.3
Cambridge 18.8
Birmingham 19.4
Sheffield 19.6
Cardiff 21.8
Newcastle 24.0

"On busy city roads, one flat tyre can delay thousands of motorists and further aggravate congestion. By cutting through traffic, AA bike patrols will reach breakdowns more quickly and get our members and other drivers back on the move with the minimum delay. We need radical action to beat record slow traffic in our cities and decided that two wheels are quicker than four. By fixing breakdowns more quickly, we will improve service to our members, and help reduce congestion and emissions. Our analysis of traffic speeds in major cities shows that congestion is not just a London problem with Bristol bottom of the league, and Glasgow, Southampton and Liverpool less than 1 mph quicker than London."
Edmund King, President, The AA

The bike patrols will target 'quick fix' breakdowns such as flat batteries, wheel changes and simple electrical faults. These problems cause over a third of the 3.6 million breakdowns attended by the AA each year, often causing lengthy traffic jams.

The new bikes – which include environment friendly zero-emission electric scooters – are expected to cut up to 25 per cent from peak time breakdown wait times, which average around 50 minutes in central London. The AA's response times are already market-leading as supported by a recent Which? survey.

The AA is making significant investment in further improving its response times and fourteen experienced AA patrols have been selected to ride the motorbikes, supported by a dedicated motorcycle recovery van in London. This will be supplemented in the coming months by five dedicated motorbike repair and recovery vans. They join a fleet of over 500 AA van patrols who cover central London and inside the M25.

Whilst I oppose the thought of supporting car use, the AA provide a service which assist motorists and reduces congestion, congestion itself is a major contributor to increased transportation CO2 emissions, and may be responsible for over 9m tonnes of CO2 annually in the UK. Compounded with the statistics from the AA on average speeds in our major cities, it seems that now is the time to get out of the car and search for an alternative to the gridlock. Getting on your bike you wouldn't be hard pushed to exceed 10mph for central london, and with a bit of effort 16.9mph for all of london. Switching to public transport, you can somewhat relax, sit back and enjoy the ride, and if this wasn't proof enough see my next post about Top Gear.

Darling, It's Too Little Too Late

Chancellor Alistair Darling unveiled his first budget yesterday, however, many environmental groups have called on the inadequacy for environmental protection contained within the announcement.

The key announcements contained in the budget are;

Environment

• 2p increase in fuel duty is postponed until October this year, and rise by 0.5p per litre in real terms in 2010
  
• £950 "showroom" tax from April 2010 for the most polluting vehicles
• £800 million environment fund to work with the United States, Japan and other countries as well as the World Bank to fund clean technologies in developing countries
• First Carbon budgets to 2022 will be announced alongside the Budget next year
• Energy Bill will allow the tripling of renewable electricity by 2015
• Introduce legislation to impose a charge on single-use plastic bags, if we have not seen sufficient progress on a voluntary basis. Legislation would come into force in 2009 and based on other countries' experience, it could lead to a 90 percent reduction, with around 12 billion fewer plastic bags in circulation. The money raised should go to environmental charities
• Cavity wall insulation for nearly three million homes. Loft insulation, more energy efficient appliances and light bulbs
• £26 million funding next year for a Green Homes Service to help people cut their carbon emissions and their fuel bills
• Smart meters to medium and large companies over the next five years
• Non-domestic buildings will become zero-carbon from 2019
• Biofuel duty differential will be replaced by the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation
• Reforming capital allowances for business cars to increase the incentive to move to lower emitting cars
• Air passenger duty scrapped in favour of flight tax

Energy

• Increase in Social Energy Tariff from Energy Companies to £150m, up from £50m
• 5m Customers on PrePay Meters to be given fairer Energy Pricing
• Increase in Winter fuel payment for over 60s from £200 to £250 and for the over 80s from £300 to £400

Whilst some of the efforts of the chancellor are certainly welcomed, it is a disappointment that he has not chosen to implement these changes immediately, with some measures not being introduced for over two years.

The additional resources for improving energy efficiency in homes and business and increased revenue for the Green Homes Service provided by the Energy Saving Trust will also assist reduce energy use. However with the assistance provided to those on social energy tariffs and Winter fuel payments, energy use may increase. I believe that to ensure that these are paid or reductions given to the householder, they must have had a free home energy inspection. This will highlight the need for loft and / or cavity wall insulation or other energy saving methods, those who meet specific criteria should (as already happens) have these installed for free, those that do not fall into these categories should have the measures installed for free in place of the fuel payment.

I hope the threat to impose charges on plastic bags is followed through as this is what is needed to dissuade their use to levels which otherwise through voluntary methods would be unattainable.

What do you think about the budget?

Dirty Polluting Lorry ... £200 Please

Each year in London, approximately 1000 people die prematurely as a result of poor air quality. From today any vehicle in excess of 12t entering the Low Emissions Zone, covering 610sq miles, which is not certified as meeting EU exhaust limits will be required to pay a £200 fee. Failure to make payment will result in a fine of £1000.

By July the scheme will be extended to include coaches and buses, and by 2010 will include some vans and lorries (trucks).

The LEZ is in operation 24 hours a day, unlike the Congestion Charge which operates from 0700 to 1800 each day. According to TfL, traffic in the original central congestion charge zone fell 20% since the scheme began in 2003, expexted a further fall of 15% when it expanded the zone size and increased the fee in 2007.

All lorries made after October 2001 automatically comply with the EU standards of particulate emissions of 0.05g per km. Older vehicles can be adapted to comply with the rules.

TfL has identified 120,000 lorries of over 12 tonnes inside the zone during the previous six months of monitoring and estimates that approximately 10% do not meet EU standards.

"Despite significant improvements in recent years, London's air pollution is the worst of any city in the UK and among the worst in Europe. The LEZ aims to reduce traffic pollution by deterring the most individually polluting diesel-engine lorries, buses, coaches, minibuses and large vans from driving within our city."
Nick Fairholme, Operations Management, Low Emissions Zone (London)

A further 70 LEZ are planned or currenly implemented across the EU. This new legislation will not only serve to improve air quality with non compliance vehicles being forced with a retrofit, it may also ensure commercial vehicles are replaced with newer, more efficient vehicles. With the inclusion of small lorries / vans in 2010 could see more companies switching to alternative commercial vehicles like the Modec, which is exempt from LEZ, Congestion Charge, parking fees and also offers free charging at some points in London. These measures should also reduce CO2 emissions in the areas they are trialled.

Separately this weekend, the ex-chairman of oil giant Shell, Sir Mark Moody-Stuart told BBC News that EU should ban the sale of cars that do under 35 miles to the gallon.

"We need very tough regulation saying that you can't drive or build something less than a certain standard. You would be allowed to drive an Aston Martin - but only if it did 50-60mpg. When we eliminated coal fires in London we didn't say to people in Chelsea you can pay a bit more and toast your crumpets in front of an open fire - we said nobody, but nobody, could have an open fire."

Read more from Sir Mark Moody-Stuart at the BBC Green Room.


Picture Reference Only