The Australasian Fleet Management Association is asking its members to contribute their organisation’s fuel consumption data to a pool which will help inform policymakers.
AFMA managing director Mace Hartley is asking for real-world fleet fuel-use data to help inform fellow members and rally governments about how much cost and fuel waste is burdening businesses, community organisations and governments themselves.
“We’re seeking members to fill out surveys about how many vehicles are in an organisation’s fleet size, and potentially the number of fuel litres used in 12 months.”
“It’s going to capture some detail, and will show support for clarity and transparency in the real world.”
Hartley says fleet management is a due diligence expertise but is undermined by inaccurate data.
“We do our fit-for-purpose analysis, we do our whole of life calculations, and to find a fleet can be out by as much as 59%, such huge distortions means the problem is amplified,” he says.
“It would be okay if it was just one car, but fleet managers don’t buy just one car. You make that choice of fleet car for the next three years – it’s a long-term commitment,” Hartley explains.
AFMA indicates the exercise is not to persecute carmakers which are essential to fleet management relationships in the automotive industry, it’s about better-informing purchase decisions.
“These vehicles aren’t doing anything wrong, they’ve met all the regulatory requirements, this is just about understanding how they’re really performing so we can make that informed choice,” Hartley concludes.
“What’s better for the consumer is better for fleet managers because we amplify the market.”
Australian Automobile Association (AAA) chief executive Michael Bradley who presented to Australasia’s fleet community this morning, says the half-million dollar Portable Emissions Measuring System (PEMS) testing has given procurement teams a better understanding of their fleets’ true habits.
“Consumers deserve more accurate information about emissions and fuel consumption,” he begins.
“We think our test, with a broader scope, should be made as standard, testing 60 new cars per year.”
Bradley says a national new-car emissions testing program can be done out of Canberra to the tune of $3 million per year, adding a $3 levy on every new car sold in the Australian market.
“This is not to replace laboratory testing, it’s not to be a regulatory mechanism – it’s a consumer information piece like ANCAP which provides consumer information,”he explains.
“When we talk to governments and carmakers tell us they’re not surprised about the results because there’s an accepted ‘fudge factor’, but the reality is only three out of 30 vehicles performed as they said they would on the sticker,” Bradley continues.
On average in the PEMS testing program, AAA found test vehicle fuel use and emission figures were on average inaccurate by 23% based on the ABMARC protocol. But Bradley says some could be out by up to 60% – one plug-in hybrid used four-times the amount of fuel than it indicated it would.
“To your business, I’m assuming this is an important fact as you try to work out what the real cost of your fleet is going to be,” he says.
Bradley says as the emissions regulations tighten, the gap between real-world results and static lab figures widens from Euro 4 to Euro 6.
“If you overlay the Green Vehicle Guide with real-world emissions results, you can see for yourself and vote with your feet which vehicles you procure.”
“As emissions standards are becoming more stringent, carmakers are getting better at engineering their vehicles to meet those targets in the lab, but the technology or strategies they’re developing do not deliver the fuel economy or environment gains your company is signing up for,” Bradley concludes.
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