Who hasn't heard the term "Going Green in 2011"? By now it is
common knowledge that "green" is the new black, and fleets could be
one of the biggest targets for critics in the near future. You
don't have to go very far to hear about how to go green, reduce
your carbon footprint, and save energy. You simply un-plug
electronics, carpool, and recycle, right? But what about the
alternative fuel messages filling the airwaves? Are the solutions
for going green on the road just as easy to grasp?
"Increases fuel economy" "Reduces carbon foot print" "Increases
energy independence" "Reduces tailpipe emissions"…These phrases are
becoming just as commonly discussed as the price of fuel itself.
But they often leave fleet mangers asking, 'what does it all really
mean?' and 'aren't these solutions just for the future?'
The energy world and the politics involved can be a confusing
and scattered mess of conflicting messages. The only message all
the fuel alternatives seem to agree on is their claim to be the
"best" sustainable long-term solution.
FleetLocate GPS, and our team of industry experts, did some
research and broke down some fuel alternatives for those of you who
are ready and willing to do your part to "go green". Below are the
most common options along with some pro's and con's, so you can
make the best decision for your fleet.
Electric and Battery
Pros: no tailpipe emissions, domestic
Cons: suffers from grid and battery quality, upstream methods
for producing electricity (coal burning and nuclear plants) have
pollution that isn't detected at tailpipe
Compress natural gas (CNG)
Pros: clean, domestic, abundant
Cons: expensive to deploy (infrastructure and vehicle hardware
cost mean high price of entry)
Hydrogen
Pros: clean, domestic, abundant
Cons: low on power, requires added compression and featured low
fuel economy
Propane autogas
Pros: clean, domestic, abundant, affordable to deploy
Cons: non-renewable fuel source, decrease in energy content.
Overall, every domestic source of energy is good - in it's own
way. For true energy independence, the first step is for fleet
operators to adopt a green attitude, do their research and educate
their team.
Allowing fleet managers to thread the needle of which fuels work
for them will ultimately achieve the reduction of operating costs,
freedom of dependence on imported oil and most importantly a
cleaner environment.