Statistics from the Alphabet Fleet Management Report (AFMR) 2012 indicates the number of firms that have set green fleet targets has dramatically increased in the last 12 months. The number of organisations to consider environmentally-friendly fleet targets has increased from 45 per cent in 2011 to 79 per cent in 2012. The report also compares the number of green fleet targets set in both private and public sector fleet operations. Figures suggest the private sector is narrowing the gap with 83 per cent of public sector companies now boasting green targets compared to 79 per cent of private firms. Cost remains the greatest barrier for many firms seeking to 'go green'. Over half (52 per cent) of fleet managers surveyed were concerned that it would be beyond their means to work with environmental sustainability in mind. Paul Hollick, sales and marketing director of Alphabet, said: "Pursuing green fleet policies will deliver cost savings in a number of areas for companies, especially fuel." Around half of fleets see the cost of changing vehicles as the main barrier to attaining these goals however. The suggestion is that many would like to bring forward the replacement of existing vehicles with lower-CO2 models but have not done so because of the additional up-front costs for the early termination of contracts. "Those companies that are concerned should switch to Whole Life Cost calculations, as opposed to lease-cost-based choice lists, as a more effective means of identifying whether vehicles should be changed and think in three or four year 'blocksî rather than focusing on first-year savings." Switching to lower CO2 vehicles is the easiest means of reducing a vehicle's environmental impact, as well as ECO driving courses and tracking fuel data via fuel cards. Fuel cards are growing in popularity, with a 14 per cent year-on-year increase between 2011 and 2012.
