Our Action Plan

Carbon footprint - Fleet Mileage

Fleet Mileage

Fleet mileage	2016/17 (result)	2017/18 (result)	2018/19 (result)	2018/19 v 2017/18 Progress	2018/19 v 2017/18 % change
Carbon emissions (tCO2e)	3,734	3,714	3,848	Declined	+4.71%
Mileage (miles)	3,255,494	3,307,554	3,463,415	Declined	+3.60%

 

The Council has seen a 3.60% increase in carbon emissions from its fleet vehicles from 2017/18 into 2018/19 – from 3,714 tCO₂e to 3,848 tCO₂e. Carbon-emissions factors can vary each year – hence, lower emissions in 2017/18 v. 2016/17 even though mileage was higher.

 

Actions

Condition/age of fleet

• As of summer 2020, PCC operates a fleet of approximately 450 vehicles and over 1,100 items of plant.  The fleet has an average age of five years – the oldest being a 20-year-old Land Rover, and the youngest vehicle being a one-month-old 3.5-tonne pickup.
• PCC has a seven-year vehicle renewal policy. During renewal, vehicle functions and use are scrutinised and, where appropriate, smaller vehicles that are more efficient and lower in cost are being procured. For example, where 3.5-tonne vehicles have been used in the past, these are now being reduced to 2 tonnes or lower if possible.
• The Council’s tyre policy is to fit premium brand tyres, to reduce pollution through better wear and rolling resistance.
• On average, PCC has an annual renewal of 40 vehicles, to the value of an estimated £1.5 million. Replacing a percentage of these vehicles with ULEVs each year is required to reduce the fleet’s overall CO₂ emissions.

Emissions/fuel

• Diesel-engine emission values are measured using European emission standards – ranging from Euro 1, introduced in 1992, to the most current Euro 6d (introduced in September 2019). PCC fleet vehicle engines range from Euro 2, introduced in 1997, to Euro 6d. Thirty-one Euro 6d vehicles are currently on fleet, making these vehicles the Council’s most emission-effective diesels. As vehicles are replaced, they are renewed to the lowest emissions standard.
• Last year, £1.4 million was spent on fuel – producing 3,848 tonnes of CO₂.

Tracking / limiters

• In order to optimise the use of fleet vehicles, 80% of PCC fleet vehicles are fitted with telematics (tracking). The existing telematics system has been in operation since 2010, and provides regular reports; a new system is currently being procured. Interrogating the telematics systems would aid the identification of vehicles that could be suitable for ultra-low emission replacements. New, up-to-date reporting systems can provide more detailed analysis on CO₂ emissions, and support the reduction of whole-fleet emissions.
• Vehicles are specified with speed limiters, restricting the speed to 62mph – and, where appropriate, engine rev limiters.

Battery power

• There are three BEVs on fleet: two cars and one van.
• Petrol-powered hand tools are now being replaced with battery-powered ones. The advantages of these include lower emissions, noise reduction and less hand-and-arm vibration. Newly procured vehicles are specified with battery-charging facilities, while older vehicles on fleet are being retrofitted with inverters to charge battery-operated hand tools.
• Walk-behind diesel sweepers are being replaced with battery-powered ones. Advantages of battery-powered sweepers include lower whole-life costs; reduced noise pollution, enabling PCC’s Maintenance Department to sweep from 6:00 am onwards in built-up areas; lower emissions; and less hand-and-arm vibration.

Buses

• Buses are now parked at optimum locations; historically, they were taken home and commenced from home. Vehicles – where and when appropriate, and if more efficient – are parked at Thornton.

Vans

• BEV small car-derived vans have a reported range of up to 240 miles, and could be a possible alternative to the existing diesel-fuelled small vans on fleet. Charging infrastructure would need to be installed at each depot and possibly other strategic sites across the County.
• PCC should consider installing home charging points, as a high percentage of its van-fleet vehicles are taken home at the end of the working day. Smart meters would need to be included here, directing all charging costs back to the Authority.
• Demonstrator BEV vans, which were trialled for a period of four weeks in 2019, received positive feedback from officers. The average framework price for these vehicles is £21,000, in comparison to an estimated price of £11,000 for an equivalent diesel model.
• Larger BEV panel vans are also available, and have a range of up to 225 miles per charge and a payload of nearly 2 tonnes. Research suggests that some vans will take a 60-mile charge in 30 minutes. Costing of these vehicles is still relatively high; they currently retail at approximately £75,000 prior to framework discounts, against a £16,000 diesel equivalent.
• PHEVs could be considered as a ‘quick fix’ alternative for the larger panel vans on fleet. PHEV vans are reported to have a 35-mile range before switching to petrol/diesel. Their main downside is that charging could be neglected, resulting in the vehicle continuously running on petrol/diesel. With strict management, PHEV vans would result in reduced emissions overall in comparison to diesel vehicles. PHEVs currently retail at around £30,000, prior to framework discounts, against £14,000 for diesel equivalents.

HGVs

• Renewing the Council’s HGV fleet with alternative fuel is more problematic due to demographics, infrastructure and cost:
• BEV trucks are being introduced onto the market, with a leading manufacturer recently launching a 26-tonne refuse-collection vehicle with a range of 60 miles, eight-hour charge and limited to a maximum of 1:20 gradient for a price of £400,000. PCC recently purchased three of these trucks in a diesel variant for £160,000 each.
• Hydrogen or CNG is another potential option, but local infrastructure is not available as yet to facilitate its use. There is an opportunity here for PCC to work with partners and other stakeholders in developing a hydrogen / CNG infrastructure in Pembrokeshire.
• Following the recent renewal of its refuse fleet, 49% of PCC’s HGV fleet are operating on Euro 6d engines, which are all under 12 months old. On replacement in seven years, technology and local infrastructure will have developed significantly, opening up further avenues of alternative fuel options.

Gritters

• Since 2012, the Council has procured stainless-steel gritter bodies. Despite being, on average, £10,000 more expensive than mild-steel equivalents, their 25-year body-corrosion warranty allows the body to be re-fitted to new chassis at least twice – thus saving CO₂ in the production process and realising a reduction in whole-life cost.
• PCC’s dedicated and existing gritter chassis fleet of four vehicles is approximately 15 years old. These vehicles are fixed gritter bodies, as opposed to gritter bodies being dropped into tipper trucks during winter months. They would be classed as ‘dirty engines’ (Euro 3) by today’s standards, but as they are relatively low mileage and high cost (£100,000 per chassis) they are kept on fleet for an extended life.  This is a compromise for PCC – vehicles can either change every seven years to keep up with engine technology at £100,000 per chassis or have their life extended.

ULEVs

• Welsh Government’s stated objective is for all public-sector road transport to transition to ULEV by 2030.
• PCC could give consideration to alternative ULEV options, or to setting emission levels for chief officers’ leased cars.
• To repair and maintain ULEVs, the workforce would need to be upskilled. This would need to be done prior to and during the introduction of ULEV vehicles.
• The Council has engaged (May 2020) with the Welsh Government Energy Service (WGES) to undertake a full review of fleet and business transport in order to ascertain the business and environmental case for switching to ULEVs. WGES aims to help organisations meet the WG’s stated objective of all public-sector road transport transitioning to ULEV by 2030 and to support the move to Net Zero.

Other sources

• PCC has installed a rainwater-harvesting system at its Thornton Depot automated vehicle washer, which recycles rainwater that has been captured from the roof of the vehicle workshop.
• LED lighting has been installed in the vehicle workshop.
• The Council is installing a hydrogen-vehicle refueller at Milford Marina under the Milford Haven: Energy Kingdom (MH:EK) project, whereby it is intended that two Riversimple Rasa Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (HFCEV) will be used by PCC and Port of Milford Haven staff for business trips. The aim of the project is to gather data to support the business case, and demonstrate usability and the demand for HFCEV vehicles.

 

Target

An appropriate carbon-reduction target is to be developed as part of the annual review of the Action Plan.

Actions to be undertaken

Ref: NZC - 12

• Action: Undertake a review to identify the most appropriate fuel-powered vehicles for each of the Council’s services and to identify opportunities for the introduction of ULEVs.
• Lead officer: Head of Infrastructure and Fleet Manager
• By when: Mar 2021
  

 

Ref: NZC - 13

• Action: Procure a new, up-to-date telematics reporting system and scrutinise to provide a more detailed analysis on CO₂ emissions; identify opportunities to support the reduction of whole-fleet emissions.
• Lead officer: Head of Infrastructure and Fleet Manager
• By when: Mar 2021

 

Ref: NZC - 14

• Action: Develop appropriate carbon-reduction target for the Council’s fleet mileage as part of annual review of Action Plan.
• Lead officer: Head of Infrastructure and Fleet Manager
• By when: Mar 2021