The five organisations; Addison Lee, Cyclone Couriers, Green Tomato Cars, Qdell & LHR Express Cars, and Trident Logistics has worked closely with the Energy Saving Trust to gain a better understanding of their carbon footprints and how they might reduce them. The scheme provided invaluable benefits to all involved.

Addison Lee, the UK’s largest private hire company, was the first of the five to join Motorvate.  The company recently became a Certified Motorvate member having provided Motorvate with robust auditable data on fleet mileage. This will now form the company’s baseline from which any further CO2 emission reductions will be measured. The company has striven for some years to reduce ‘dead mileage’ - the distance a cab travels to get to a customer - and so developed  a unique auto-allocation software that provides real-time management of the company's fleet of over 2,600 vehicles. This not only saves money and emissions but also gives the customer a better, speedier service.

Corporate social responsibility manager, Lee Wickens says “We have cut our average distance to pick up in half, saving on emissions and fuel costs as well as providing a more efficient service for our customers. Sustainability often goes hand in hand with efficiency. This is really important to us.”

Cyclone Couriers was the first courier/cab firm in England to undertake an Energy Saving Trust Green Fleet Review. Better focus on reducing its fleet’s mileage has enabled Cyclone to gain ISO14001 certification, the internationally recognised standard for controlling and improving an organisation's environmental impact.

Green Tomato Cars became the first operator to use exclusively low-emission hybrid vehicles when it started with its Toyota Prius-only fleet in 2006.  Having won the Energy Saving Trust’s Industry Leadership Award in 2008 and the City of London Sustainable City Award (Overall Winner) in 2010, the operator is now a leading part of the mainstream private hire business. “While it is important for us to stay ahead of the competition in terms of sustainability, our membership of Motorvate provides a valuable benchmark and serves as a constant reminder of the sort of steps we must take on an every day level to keep living up to our ideals. The scheme also provides a great sounding board for new ideas” says Pete Biss, fleet manager.

West London-based, Qdell & LHR Express Cars has been commended for its proactive steps to mitigate its carbon impact. By enhancing its data systems, Qdell & LHR Express Cars can now track individual clients’ footprints, a challenge which not all cab companies can rise to. This has put much of its focus into the use of cleaner fuels, by using 100% bio-diesel from recycled cooking oil whenever possible. Julie Fitzell from Qdell & LHR Express Cars commented, “Through staff awareness, and strict management systems we aim to implement and maintain procedures demonstrating dedication to environmental issues. Being a member of Motorvate supports us in what we are trying to achieve.”

Trident Logistics are also taking the path of cleaner fuels and are working towards establishing comprehensive mixing and dispensing facilities of locally sourced bio-diesel at their Ickenham HQ. Like the others, Trident is aware that in an industry where their core business is driving, reducing your carbon footprint is not easy. But, being a member of Motorvate helps them in their efforts and demonstrates that they are committed to making a difference.

fleetnews.co.uk