August 2008, Automotive Fleet - Feature
Reaching Out & Getting Green with AT&T's Fleet
By Shelley Mika
Choosing CNG Vehicles
Just as electric vehicles are suited to particular environments and roadway conditions, CNG vehicles demand their own requirements, too.
“You have to look at the infrastructure needed to support certain types of AFVs. We wanted to deploy CNG vehicles, but they require a refueling station infrastructure. That’s why we’re rolling out 25 vehicles in California, which has more CNG refueling stations than any other state in the country,” Webber said.
AT&T will realize several benefits beyond the bottom line with AFVs. “We recognize the importance of reducing our environmental footprint. It makes sense from both a business and environmental perspective,” said Webber. “To this end, there are three principal reasons why we’re investing in alternative-fuel vehicles, to reduce operation costs per vehicle, dependence on fossil fuels, and emissions. It’s the right thing to do for the environment and for our business.”
AT&T estimates overall use of alternative-fuel vehicles instead of conventional vehicles will cut its fleet fuel consumption by 34,395 gallons — a savings of $137,580 at $4 per gallon. Moreover, reducing fuel consumption will also reduce CO2 emissions by more than 300 metric tons each year, the equivalent of taking 56 passenger vehicles off the road for one year. Specifically, the numbers break down as follows:
CNG vans are expected to reduce CO2 emissions by nearly 30 percent compared to traditional gasoline vans.
Electric-hybrid OEM vehicles are expected achieve more than a 39 percent improvement in fuel economy, reducing CO2 emissions by 29 percent.
Electric-hybrid conversion work trucks are expected to get up to 38-percent better fuel economy and reduce CO2 emissions by 28 percent.
AT&T will track metrics such as fuel efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions, operating costs, performance, and driver satisfaction for each vehicle.
AT&T Van
Making a Difference For Staff
“One important, but often overlooked, benefit of sustainable business initiatives like this is that they boost employee pride. Many people want to work for a company that is a good corporate citizen and a responsible steward of the environment, and we’re working hard to live up to that promise,” Webber said. “Since publicly announcing our ‘green’ fleet initiative, our employees have become so energized that we are receiving unsolicited, innovative green ideas — including ideas that extend beyond the fleet side of our business.”
AT&T’s alternative-energy vehicles will feature a “Green Technology” logo, raising their profile in the public eye.
“We certainly hope the ‘Green Technology’ logo on our vehicles will draw visibility and inspire others to consider alternative-fuel and more fuel-efficient vehicles,” Webber said.
Reaching Out with ‘Green’
Webber offered some key pieces of advice for fleet managers considering investing in alternative-fuel vehicles:
Do your homework. “Industry research and consultation on available technology is critical to understanding different vehicle opportunities and costs and determining which vehicles will work best for your company,” Webber said.
Build internal support. Help management understand how greening the fleet can improve its financial well-being and sustainability.
Take small steps. “Develop a strategy and set goals that work for your company. It’s about taking steps in the right direction not determining a one-time, one-size-fits-all solution,” Webber said.
If fleets aren’t ready to invest in alternative-energy vehicles, they can look to Webber’s team for easy-to-implement initiatives that reduce fuel costs, fuel consumption, and emissions. For example, Webber’s team assisted in developing a Daily Best Fuel Price tool, which allows drivers to check the cheapest fuel stations within their assigned routes. Pricing information is updated every seven minutes so drivers get the most accurate pricing information.
Webber’s team is also developing an idling reduction policy and encourages drivers to heed well-known fuel-saving steps, such as avoiding fast acceleration and hard braking, keeping tires properly inflated, and reducing the weight of loads carried in fleet vehicles.
While AT&T has made significant progress in greening its fleet, the company’s initiative is likely to lead to further progress in the future. “We view our deployment of alternative-fuel vehicles as an important step in the right direction, and we’re committed to identifying other smart ways to improve the efficiency of our fleet down the road,” Webber said.