Beyond words:
Managing our transition to a green transport future
By David Savage, associate vice president, UK and Ireland, Geotab.
With the commitments of world leaders, multinationals and not-for-profit organisations to fight climate change now laid out in the COP26 Glasgow Climate Pact, the question becomes how to go about achieving those pledges. Commitments alone will not bring change. Whether it’s a promise to reduce a country’s net-zero emission targets, the phasing out of coal, or new alliances to end fossil fuel reliance – real action is required.
You can’t manage what you don't measure. Actionable insights are great, but you need to understand what you are achieving and how you go about it. Geotab uses data to drive everything it does. The company’s advanced data analytics can help to create smarter sustainability pathways and measure progress towards climate objectives.
Telematics is the source of these insights in the transport industry. Overall, the transport sector is responsible for contributing more to greenhouse gas emissions than almost every other industry (only construction has a higher emissions burden). Nearly one quarter of emissions across Europe can be traced back to transport.
We all have a responsibility to reduce our impact. This has been recognised by 24 countries, alongside major automotive manufacturers, who pledged to end the production of fossil-fuel powered vehicles by 2040. Meanwhile, the UK and Ireland have committed to the widespread adoption of EVs as a means to reach their emission targets.
For organisations with vehicles under management, the move to electric can be greatly enhanced by telematics. Tools such as Geotab’s EV Suitability Assessment analyse each vehicle’s distinct driving profile and identify those best suited for EV replacement – enabling a data-driven and strategic approach to replacing fleets. In many cases, EVs are also beneficial to a company’s finances as well as contributing to its climate efforts. Many have an overall lower total cost of ownership (TCO), when factoring in fuel costs and maintenance, over an eight-year lifecycle.
Most companies will run a mixed fleet of vehicles before they can transition to a totally EV future. But telematics can still play a helpful role in reducing emissions even for conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. Capturing data from across a fleet in a core dashboard, telematics solutions provide insights into how to reduce fuel and energy consumption, instil eco-friendly driving behaviour and optimise the most efficient routes. Even simple tricks such as switching off the engine when stuck in traffic can make a significant impact on saving money and reducing emissions.
Telematics is also incredibly useful for those seeking to manage an EV fleet. A telematics platform presents an overview of all the vehicles in the fleet and their locations. It also suggests the most efficient charging times and methods, highlights the range and optimum route for EV journeys, monitors battery health and performance and much more.
As with any new technology, learning how to get the most from an EV can take time. Integrating data analytics eases the learning process, delivering digestible insights to help drivers get the most out of this new way to drive. At the same time, it also provides transparent and tangible evidence of a company's progress towards its climate commitments.
Geotab recognises the need for immediate climate action. Its inaugural Sustainability Report highlights the sustainable actions the telematics and transport industries can take towards a greener future. As well as committing to net-zero emissions by 2040, Geotab can facilitate emissions reduction and eco-friendly practices across the transport industry at large.
With more than 50,000 customers worldwide, the company can make a big impact by prioritising sustainable driving practices and energy consumption habits. A reduction of as little as 5% in Geotab’s customer fleets would save approximately 1.25 million tonnes of CO2 from being emitted.
Geotab’s mantra – you can’t manage what you don’t measure – especially holds true for setting and achieving climate targets. Telematics and data are essential tools in the battle to reduce carbon emissions in the transport sector. Offering the required insight to quickly and efficiently transform the makeup of fleets, telematics can help those seeking to move from mere words, to actions and results.
Now the conversations in Glasgow are over and the commitments signed, it is time to move from promises to reality by working together to bring about a greener future.
