How green is your company car policy ?
Running a company car fleet in today ’ s market is more challenging than ever . Fuel prices continue to rise and we are seeing tighter emission targets being set by the Government . As a consequence many car manufacturers are doing their best to reduce emissions to remain competitive in the company car market .
Through its EfficientDynamics programme , BMW in particular has strived to reduce emissions across their model range with the aim of halving their average fleet CO2 emissions by 2020 which is no mean feat .
However , there are further challenges ahead with the Government target of halving the level of greenhouse gas emissions ( relative to 1990 ) between 2023 and 2027 . To meet this target , there is a need for ultra-low emission vehicles to take their place alongside traditional combustion engines on company car fleets . Not only will this have a positive impact on the environment , but it will also financially benefit both companies and drivers .
You may think that the advent of electric vehicles ( EVs ) and hybrid cars are a relatively recent thing but the first battery electric car was thought to have been invented in Scotland by Robert Anderson in around 1832 and the first hybrid car in 1903 . You may also be mistaken for thinking that electric cars lacked performance . In fact until 1900 all land speed records were held by EVs and they outsold petrol ones at a rate of ten to one .
After WWI the production of EVs virtually stopped and it wasn ’ t until the late 60s that interest returned prompted by concerns about air pollution and the OPEC oil embargo . At the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich the BMW support fleet included two electrically-powered test vehicles . The converted BMW 1602 models served as a means of transport for the members of the organising committee , and were also deployed as camera cars in various longdistance events . However , lead batteries weighing 350 kilograms and with a range of around 37 miles were a non-starter for a production car so BMW then launched a series of research and development projects designed to bring more efficient electric drive systems onto the road . These projects eventually led to the recent MINI E and BMW ActiveE Concepts which both use lithium-ion batteries . The public trials for the MINI E were received positively with 96 % of participants saying they would now consider buying an EV .
The BMW Group has been recognised as the world ’ s most sustainable automotive manufacturer for the last eight years by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and BMW i concept will set a new benchmark in this ever-increasingly important area . BMW i is a comprehensive and groundbreaking concept for sustainable mobility . It represents visionary electric vehicles and mobility services , inspiring design and a new understanding of premium that is strongly defined by sustainability . And it thrills with its innovative vehicles : the allelectric BMW i3 , a locally emission-free car for city driving that is sustainably designed throughout , and the BMW i8 as the most progressive sports car .
The production of BMW i models has a focus on using sustainable , recycled and lightweight materials designed to help achieve maximum range for the vehicles . This translates into cost and tax benefits for your fleet , as well as lower running costs for the driver .
These vehicles are the first premium purpose-built electric vehicles on the market , built from the ground up . Designed around electric power , they are very different from EVs based on conventional car architecture with added batteries . The vehicle structure is constructed from carbon fibre reinforced plastic , which is more resilient than steel but 50 % lighter . These cars mark a landmark in
the automotive industry as it is the first time this material has been used in series production . As a result of the revolutionary design and the use of these pioneering , lightweight materials , the BMW i3 offers outstanding efficiency , safety and sustainability without compromising driving dynamics .
The production techniques for these cars are also efficient and use 50 % less energy , 70 % less water and 100 % renewable energy during the manufacturing process making them a great choice for those businesses with a green CSR policy too .
The corporate market has always been a major focus for manufacturers , as fleets have always had more of an incentive to adopt the latest technologies than retail customers . Furthermore , with 50 % of new cars in the UK being company or pool cars , I believe the fleet sector has the power to drive awareness and uptake across the rest of the market .
Don ’ t think for a second that taking a greener approach means that performance takes a back seat , the BMW i8 can do 0-62mph in 4.4 seconds .
By Andy Belton chandlers-bmw . co . uk
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