Fuel is
probably the largest single cost in
running your
vehicles – in many cases it can be higher than the leasing or
rental cost, or the depreciation or servicing on outright purchased
vehicles. And yet many companies do know how much they are spending, or
are unaware of the opportunities to minimise this cost. The main
factors which can help you reduce your van running costs are:
- Vehicle & Engine Choice
- Alternative Fuels (LPG)
- Driver Training
- Route Planning
Vehicle & Engine Choice
Engine choice is an important factor in the
operating
cost of vehicles, especially vans. When selecting a new van
don’t
simply go for the cheapest monthly cost, as there is often a more
fuel-efficient alternative which although it may have a slightly higher
monthly rental will offer a net saving once annual fuel costs are taken
into account.
Diesel
Diesel is by far the most popular fuel for vans.
Although diesel is on average 3 pence per litre more expensive than
petrol, diesel engines achieve much higher mpg figures and are
therefore cheaper to run. This saving is especially significant for
vans, which tend to cover much higher mileages than cars. There is also
an operational advantage. Diesel engines generate greater torque
(pulling power) than their petrol counterparts and they are therefore
better suited to driving a laden van.
Normally aspirated and turbo diesel engines work
by
injecting the fuel into the cylinders as a liquid, which is ignited by
pressure as the piston closes. This is not a very efficient process and
can cause a percentage of the fuel to be emitted and a percentage to
only partially burn - leading to the dark smoke often associated with
diesel engines.
Many manufacturers have now added common rail
diesel
engines to their van ranges. Fuel is pressurised in the
“common
rail” prior to injection, which occurs as a vapour, resulting
in
more efficient fuel burning at higher temperatures. Common rail diesel
engines offer significant fuel savings alongside increased power.
Emissions are also reduced, as are noise levels.
Petrol
Petrol vans exist primarily to convert to LPG.
Very few
petrol-engined vans are run by businesses because typically they are
significantly less fuel-efficient than diesel. However, certain small
vans, such as the Ford Ka, are only available with a petrol engine as
these are the only engines available in the cars on which they are
based. Due to their lack of popularity, second-hand values of petrol
vans are low. This means that not only are the running costs higher
than diesel, but depreciation is also higher.
Alternative fuels
Alternative fuels can offer significant cost
savings,
especially to high mileage users. LPG is the most popular alternative
fuel, with an average price around 40 pence per litre thanks to reduced
fuel duty. An additional benefit is that so long as emissions are 40%
better than the Euro IV standard, alternatively-fuelled vehicles are
eligible for 100% discount on the London congestion charge.
Other alternative fuels include compressed natural
gas
(CNG), electricity and hydrogen fuel cells, though operational
limitations make them unsuitable for most van applications.
MPG Figures for Vans
As there is no legal requirement for manufacturers
to
publish fuel economy figures for vans as with cars, reliable MPG
figures are hard to gather. An added complication is the wide variety
of load weights and journey variations (including the number of stops
per day) from user to user, which can result in large differences in
the real world MPG figures achieved by different operators in the same
vehicle.
Driver Training
Driver training has become increasingly popular
with
fleet operators seeking to reduce accidents and thus control rising
insurance premiums. But driver training such as that offered by RAC/BSM
and other consultants can offer the van operators a number of
additional benefits:
- Lower fuel consumption
- Reduced wear & tear on the vehicle
- Less vehicle down time And remember that your
vans, signwritten with your company logo, are a mobile advertisement
for your business - aggressive or discourteous driving could damage
your customers’ perceptions of your company. The typical cost
of
hiring a training consultant for a day is approximately £300.
Professional training can lead to improvements in fuel economy of up to
10%, with minimal effect on journey times.
Route Planning
Efficient route planning can also help reduce your
fuel
spend, and is especially important where vehicles are carrying out
multiple drops. To help you in planning the most efficient routes there
are a number of web and software-based tools available, which allow
detailed directions to be printed out and handed to drivers. For
example the RAC website has a free route planning service which will
give the fastest or shortest route between 2 points, even travelling
via a number of other locations along the way if required. The RAC
website address is Rac.co.uk
Need advice on choosing the
right engine and fuel - just call us for a free consultation.
Tel: 0845 643 0137
Email: sales@vantastec.co.uk
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