Beyond EVs: What ‘Sustainable’ Really Means for Utility Fleets
Fleet electrification can make a big impact on emissions reductions.
Yet the journey can be long and arduous – and it’s just one piece of the larger sustainability puzzle.
To gain a deeper understanding of how today’s utilities are truly defining fleet sustainability – and the work they’re doing to achieve and improve upon it – UFP recently spoke with industry insiders from Con Edison, Holman and NTEA – The Work Truck Association.
Balancing Act
A balanced approach to fleet electrification, rather than a heavy-handed focus, can open doors to far more sustainability improvement opportunities.
Natalia Saldarriaga, Con Edison’s vice president of facilities and field services, put it this way: “A sustainable fleet is a set of vehicles that are managed, operated and maintained in ways that minimize environmental impact while supporting operational needs. For Con Edison, that means more than just electrifying the fleet. It’s about making choices that are about smart planning, efficient operations, responsible procurement and a commitment to continuous improvement across every aspect of vehicle management.”
Ed Powell, director of consulting services for Holman (www.holman.com), agreed that fleets must strike a balance between reducing environmental impact and supporting business operations, noting that incurring exorbitant costs isn’t a requirement to do so.
“Generally speaking,” Powell said, “any fleet that considers its environmental impact and seeks to mitigate that impact to the extent possible should be considered a ‘sustainable fleet.’ There are many cases of ‘win-win-win’ when balancing operational needs, cost and sustainability.”
As Christopher Lyon sees it, sustainability is a result of long-term focus on operational efficiency.
“At its core, sustainability is about getting more work done with fewer resources, whether that’s energy, fuel, labor or capital,” explained Lyon, who serves as director of fleet relations for NTEA (www.ntea.com). “It is not a single fuel or technology choice or a one-time initiative, but an ongoing, evolving mindset to optimize and increase vehicle efficiencies that starts with leadership and carries through management and day-to-day operations.”
Practical Next Steps
For utility fleets considering new sustainability initiatives, it’s likely that there are plenty to choose from. Kevin Koester, managing director for NTEA, recommended process improvement as a strong starting point.
“Many sustainability gains come from a longer-term commitment to applying principles similar to Lean or Six Sigma thinking – reducing waste in all forms.”
Following are five other ideas to consider.
1. Data-based decision-making. Data is an invaluable tool that fleets can leverage to identify underutilized and overutilized assets, routing and idling inefficiencies, and mismatches between vehicles and their assigned duty cycles.
2. Vehicle and fuel selection. Evaluate vehicle and fuel options, ideally after making process and data-based efficiency improvements. These options include “optimizing traditional internal combustion engines; considering alternative fuels such as CNG or propane where operationally viable; deploying hybrids; and introducing EVs where they make sense,” Lyon said. “Different drive and duty cycles require different solutions – there is no one-size-fits-all approach to sustainability.”
3. Asset management. Con Edison optimizes vehicle replacement cycles to retire older, less efficient models, according to Saldarriaga. The utility focuses on preventive maintenance to keep assets running efficiently and extend their useful lives.
4. Driver behavior. Saldarriaga recommended training drivers in fuel-efficient techniques like idle reduction, using telematics to monitor and encourage them.
5. Sustainable procurement. She also shared that Con Edison sources vehicles and parts from manufacturers that engage in strong sustainability practices.
In addition, don’t forget that sustainability “extends beyond the vehicle platform itself,” as Lyon pointed out. “For many fleets, it becomes an operational mindset that influences everything from maintenance practices to facilities and shop operations. Opportunities may include reducing waste; selecting lower-VOC products; evaluating extended-life or bio-based lubricants where appropriate; and improving day-to-day efficiency.”
Taking the Leap
So, with all these possibilities, where’s the best place for utility fleet professionals to start?
Powell offered this guidance: “A fleet’s approach to sustainability should closely align with the goals of the company and the technology and solutions available. Start with the basics. Sustainability generally comes down to consuming less fuel to do the job. The good part there is that consuming less fuel is also an immediate and calculable savings on operating expenses. A culture that focuses on reducing idling, optimizing routes and choosing the most efficient vehicle specs can make significant progress on improving sustainability while reducing costs.”
About the Author: Shelley Mika is the owner of Mika Ink, an Omaha, Nebraska-based branding and marketing communications agency. She has been writing about the fleet industry since 2006.