Technology To Make Your Fleet Greener

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If you run a business that includes a fleet of vehicles, you might want to consider retrofitting a hybrid system into your vehicles. A study conducted by Protean Electric predicts that half a million vehicles will be hybrid retrofitted by 2020, so you won’t be the only one considering the environment when thinking about your fleet. The idea of going greener may seem like a giant task, especially if buying a whole new fleet is not an option, but there are alternatives to this costly outlay. 

Retrofitting your fleet to run on hybrid electric technology is not only a great way to do your bit for the environment; it will also reduce the expenditure your company pays out on fuel. The price of diesel and petrol is constantly fluctuating, but it is still quite high, so saving money on fuel is an extra advantage.

Retrofitting your vehicles so that they run on a hybrid electric engine is not the only way to reduce your carbon footprint, there are numerous other possibilities, especially if the bulk of your fleet currently run on diesel:

  • Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC): A DOC serves as a catalyst for the oxidization of  hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide coming from a vehicle’s exhaust into carbon dioxide and water — it’s similar to a regular catalytic converter. It is installed ahead of the existing muffler, or it can come combined with a muffler. A DOC requires very little maintenance, and when combined with a cleaner running engine, fuel emissions will be reduced instantly.
  • GPS Fleet Tracking Systems: This is a product some companies may neglect or forget about. By monitoring the location of all your vehicles, picking the right vehicle for a job is made easier; the closest vehicle can be sent, reducing fuel wastage as well as allowing drivers to plan their route, avoid traffic, and reduce idling times.
  • Closed Crankcase Filtration System (CFS): A CFS filters engine blow-by gases and returns these exhaust gases back into the combustion cycle. Engine oil consumption is reduced significantly and the air quality in the cabin is also improved, which is great for your drivers. A CFS will need changing after being in use every 500 hours, or with every oil change — no other maintenance is necessary.
  • Diesel Particulate Matter Filtration System (DPF): Particle matter in the exhaust stream is oxidised into less harmful products using the high temperature of the exhaust and the ceramic DPF. The reduction of emissions by a DPF is the greatest of all the listed products, yet they require a high level of maintenance and cleaning by specialised machinery.
  • Diesel Multistage Filtration System (DMF): Diesel particulate matter, hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide are reduced by the DMF using a two-stage metallic filter. The filters are made from alternating layers of a corrugated metal and a porous sintered metal fleece. A DMF is designed to be maintenance free, but it is only effective when working at a minimum exhaust temperature.

 
Keeping the carbon emissions of your fleet low is important for many ethical companies within the current ecological condition, and can be done using numerous pieces of technology. Many of these products will save money too, which is an added bonus in the current economic climate. 

Author Bio: Simon Howarth is writing on behalf of Remote Asset Management, suppliers of vehicle tracking systems for fleets across the UK.


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