Environmental Impact and Sustainable Fleet Management

This article discusses the environmental impact of commercial fleets and the benefits of sustainable fleet management. It includes a table for calculating fuel costs and CO2 emissions, as well as a discussion of pollutants caused by diesel and petrol vehicles. The article also explores the advantages and disadvantages of electric vehicles, and provides an overview of auditing for sustainable fleet management. Finally, it discusses the external costs associated with electric vehicles and the principles of multi-criteria decision analysis.

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1) a) Table to calculate the fuel cost and CO2 emission:
Fuel used per
1000 km
CO2 intensity
(kg/MWh)
Price Fuel cost
(£ per 1000
km)
CO2
emissions
(kg per 1000
km)
EV 150 kWh 280 13 p per
kWh
£ 19.50 42
Petrol 70 litres 260 £1.20 per
litre
£ 84 582.40
Diesel 56 litres 320 £1.25 per
litre
£ 70 645.12
To calculate the fuel cost:
Cost = fuel used × price/litre
To calculate CO2 emission:
Carbon dioxide emission = Weighted average net calorific value (NCV) of the fuel ×Weighted
average CO2emission factor of the type of fuel
The calorific values of petrol and diesel are 32 MJ per litre and 36 MJ per litre respectively
b) Pollutants caused by the commercial fleet:
There is a survey taken at the year 2016 that states 17% of the diesel vehicle has lost its sales due
to the extreme pollution that could be hazardous when compared to the petrol vehicle. The toxic
gases that are emitted by these vehicles are as follows:
Carbon monoxide (CO): Oxygen plays a key role in our body. With the inhalation of carbon
monoxide it could block the oxygen carrying capacity that could affect the most important
organs of our body (Archer, Fotheringham, Symmons and Corben, 2008). Extreme emission of

CO could be dangerous and should be controlled. But a limited emission could save the normal
people but could affect those people suffering from the heart disease (Baas and Latto, 2007).
NOx (oxides of nitrogen including nitrous oxide and nitrogen dioxide): This could extremely
affect the lung functionality causing illness in breathing. Extreme exposure to these gases could
cause asthma and other allergies to the lungs (Baas, Latto, & Ludvigson, 2007). Nitrogen dioxide
(NO2) could affect the environment that could cause acid rain and ozone depletion.
Particulate matter: According to Dr Matthew Loxham, a research fellow in air pollution
toxicology at the University of Southampton says that these fine particles are extremely
dangerous that could cause heavy respiratory disorders and cardiovascular disorders (Baas,
2008). More than 29,000 deaths have occurred in United Kingdom due to this fine particle
emission.
Hydrocarbons: This could be extremely carcinogenic and leads to death. In fact this could also
result in the formation of green house gases (Baas and Taramoeroa, 2008).
The above are the pollutants that could be caused by either diesel or petrol vehicles. Plug-in
Electric vehicles could save us money as well as reduce in the pollutants causing factors (Bomel
Ltd, 2004). There are many advantages of using EVs which could react quickly that the internal
combustion engines.
c) Boon and Ban of Electric Vehicles:
Certain advantages are caused due to the operation of fleet rather than fuel vehicle. These are as
follows:
 Electric vehicles react quickly. It has a very good torque and extremely responsive.
 EVs charging are really user-friendly. Just like plugging a smart phone the vehicles are
connected. Moreover, we can able to monitor the amount of charge taken by our vehicle.
 The cost of the fuel is highly controlled using EVs. Since we could charge the vehicle
using any form of renewable sources from solar and wind.
 Electric train: Considering an electrical driven train that seems to be simpler that the
conventional one. Since the components of the electric vehicle are reduced say for
example, it has only electric motor (Charlton, Mackie, Baas, Hay, Menezes and Dixon,
2010). They do not require any replacement of fuel. In fact features like regenerative
braking reduce wear and tear on basic vehicle components. Recent survey says that a
typical fleet that uses electricity reduces 50 percent of its cost for the maintenance
purposes.
 Sustainability maintenance: Moreover emission of certain toxic gases as mentioned
above could also be reduced thus providing an improvement to the environment (de Pont,
2010).

 Employee maintenance: A report estimates that the electric vehicle drivers of the trucks
are more satisfied in their job by having a smooth ride and they appreciate in the non-
emission of gasoline thus encouraging a cutting-edge technology (Hattie and Timperley,
2007). This also encourages in recruiting new employees for transportation.
Although some advantages overflow, certain drawbacks that tends to reduce the efficiency
 Normal commercial fuel vehicles could run more than 300 miles in a full tank. But
it’s impossible for EVs that could run only 100 miles when the fleet runs out of
charge (Issling & Coyle, 2008).
 Full recharge of the electric vehicle could last for 8 hours. Hence the driver who runs
out of charge definitely gets trapped.
2) a) Audit for Sustainable fleet management:
Auditing, in common, is a disciplined assessment that involves analyzing, testing and
affirmations of events and disciplines whose objective is to confirm if the organization obey
with authorized necessities, interior policies and established practices (Lawson, Michaelis
and Waldron, 2008). The main purpose of the audit was to decide whether the Department of
Energy) has successfully as well as resourcefully reorganized its fleet vehicles to execute
sustainability creativity at preferred venues. Certain principles are followed by the
sustainable fleet management that tries to reduce the environmental impacts by confirming
the usage of cleaner vehicles, fuel-efficient process and driving as well as it sustains its task
by controlling the traffic caused by the vehicles. In doing these activities the fleet tries to
reduce the usage of fuel and the cost of the vehicles and enhances the safety and benefit of
workers. It also minimizes the troubles that could cause a blockage to the fleet (Maxwell,
2004). These typical strategies could help us in maintaining the policies and certain
conditions within the organization. For instance, efficiency of the business administration,
safety as well as healthy, equal opportunities as well as enclosure, and community social
responsibility (CSR) could be maintained. Moreover the organization comes forward to
report the amount of carbon emission from their vehicle during the time of transportation that
could be reported in the form of Scope 3 (McKenna, Waylen & Burkes, 2009). The
sustainability fleet management could be followed based on three main strategies:
Demand management in the transport: This particularly aims in the distance the fleet has
to travel. Moreover the weather condition of the route could also be noted so that the
responsible person could nominate a vehicle sufficient for the transportation thus saving in
the cost as well as efficient delivery of goods. In fact for a shorter distance and less
transportation goods size of the fleet could be reduced which involves in saving the fuel
effectively.
Sufficient technology and fuel usage: this particularly aims in reporting the lowest emitting
fuel vehicle (Hattie, and Timperley, 2007). Vehicle which is highly maintained that could

consume less fuel for miles and miles of distance could be preferred. In this case the Electric
fleet could be used that could be more economical and in fact usage of bio-fuel for this
purposes is also appreciated.
Measuring the efficiency of the fleet: This aims in testing the effectiveness of the vehicle.
The key role players of this domain are the drivers who are in-charge of that particular fleet.
They should maintain the fleet that involves in cutting the fuel emissions and running costs.
Certain principles couldn’t be followed as per the desired requirement. But when an audit
enters into a fleet industry these reports should be necessarily maintained. The Key role
played by the sustainability audit manager in certain criteria is shown in the figure given
below.
Figure 1: Key areas concentrated by the sustainability audit
b) Environmental auditing:
Environmental auditing is necessarily a management tool for the environment that could rely on
purely monitoring the environment with the certain basis of standards and criteria. Based on the
classification of the standard and the audit’s focus area they can be classified widely. Every
industries and organizations have understood the real necessity of environmental impact and they
understood that the particular report could be checked out by various concerned parties.
The key role played by an environmental audit involves the following key factors
 Investigation
 Understanding and finally
 identifying

With the help of these reports the existing activity performed by the person or an individual
could be reduced with the report generated and this could be very helpful for increasing the
ambience of the nature. The audit is responsible for making a clear documentation and report in a
systematic manner regards the impacts caused by the fleet due to the environment. The reasons
due to the audit are that people could understand the issue and also legislation could take
necessary action when the happening goes out of the control.
Both the audits work for the welfare of the environment. Only certain variations could be found
in both. The documentation done by both the audit could be publically revolved. Sustainability
audit finds in its place in the maintenance of the fleet. They play different role in analyzing the
fleet that could be sent for different transportation purposes with their complete documentation.
But this is not bothered regarding an environmental audit who adds just an impact of the
environment by the fleet.
3a) Commons and cutting External cost:
As an environmental manager I could thoroughly appreciate the use of electric vehicle. But
travelling 200 km a day in the electrical vehicle could be quite difficult since at times we could
run out of charge. Popularly Mahindra Reva e20 could travel at a distance of 120 km per single
charge. EVA created through TUM create project, a collaboration between Germany and
Singapore could travel a distance of 200 Km with the operation of the air conditioner. Let’s
consider the commons that could be found in using the Electrical vehicles.
At the year of 2009, the UK government launches a new rule of using Electric vehicles and other
vehicles that greatly supports in the decarbonization process. High quantity of emission of
substance for example, carbon monoxide that has been in a high rate of about 1.0 g/km for petrol
and 0.5 g/km for diesel could cause severe health hazard. Moreover the loss that could be caused
was about 85£/ ton as provided by the appendix 1. According to the estimation this results in the
heavy economical loss. The Commons BEIS (business, energy & industrial strategy) choose
committee has declared that the committee involves in launching an investigation into electric
vehicles (EVs). This is being operated according to the norms of the government that tries to
phase out the petrol and diesel vehicle within the year of 2040.
Meanwhile the external costs that could involve in this decision involve the degradation of
certain natural resource that could result in the production of electricity (Maxwell, 2004).
Company has to be aware of certain criteria that could help them in maintaining the financial
savings and also it could improve the quality of the organization.
b) External costs:

 According to the question 1 it has been estimated that £19.50 will be the total cost for the
expenditure of electricity where £84 and £70 for the consumption of petrol and diesel for
travelling a distance of 1000km. This estimation seems to be extremely cheaper when
using electric vehicle for travelling.
 We use batteries for the storage capacity and this could be reported in terms of
kilowatt/hours. Generally commercial EVs are provided for a steady driving of about 3-6
hours. This timing could change depending on the driving. Batteries are generally packed
in that could be composed of individual cells. This could include several wirings and
certain electronic tools (Issling and Coyle, 2008). These batteries vary in their shape
based on the power consumption. This could be an external cost making factor.
 Another one to be considered is that typical charging of the vehicle needs time for
electric vehicle where else this is not required for either petrol or diesel type vehicles that
involves just filling the tanks.
These are certain factors that could be considered in using EV.
c) Cutting of coal and natural gas:
Electric vehicles generally depend on the coal and natural gas. When there is a low amount of
production at any cost could result in the decline of EVs. When the government of UK tries to
reduce the usage of coal and gas for electricity production then that could be a greatest impact.
However, the next upcoming list of fuel is the nuclear source. This could be leveled with the
nuclear resources. According to the estimation of the year 2015, 2016, 2017 usage of nuclear fuel
for power production has been in the same state. Nuclear energy could produce a greater amount
of electricity when compared to the coal and natural gas. Moreover, solar and wind energy for
power production could also be encouraged in a highest rate.
6) a) Principle of Multi-criteria decision analysis:
The MCDA is a new method of decision making and analysis purpose for particular selection of
project that exerts difficult socio-economic benefits. This could also be stated as multi-criteria
decision making that concerns with the structuring and decision solving as well as planning
problem that leads to multiple decisions. In this analysis the individual judgment could be taken
individually and it could be evaluated in the fitting dimensions. These criteria have to be
prejudiced between each other since they are given with the equal priority. Obtaining the
weightiest decision could need maximum liability as well as proficiency from the decision-
makers since the decision has substantial authority on the consequence of the assessment.
MCDA could deals with the extensive field of research operations and the developers of MCDA
should understand it as being different in evaluation approach compared with the economics-
based CBA. This analysis criterion have been evolved as an idea at the year of 1988 since there

continued a circumstance where market price played a key valve and the involvement of
evaluation criteria was not under establishment. This involves in combination of two aspects that
added market price with the effective resource allocation. But this idea did not work well since
there was no proper plan made for the evaluation which resulted in the market failure. This
problem was well satisfied and solved with the help of multi-criteria decision making that made
a theoretical evaluation (Maxwell, 2004). Their major concentration and consideration involves
in the problem solving as well as finding out the problem causing factors. This is an engineering
approach but not economic approach. Thus, methods proposed in MCDA/MCDM supported a
preference structure showing favorites on the different criteria.
b) Criteria of Decision making in MCDA:
The following steps are to be considered in the MCDA which are of the following:
 Determining the objective of decision making process
 Selecting appropriate parameters for the decision
 Alternative selection
 Representation of important weighing methods
 Aggregation method
 Result of aggregation based decision-making
Determining the objective of decision making process:
First the general statement should be given to the decision-making. Here our objective is to
replace the petrol and diesel vehicles with the electrical vehicles. As an environmental
consultant, this should be clearly stated to the client
Selecting appropriate parameters for the decision:
The decision that we chose should be consistent with other decision. Moreover it should be
extremely independent. It should fall under the same category and the decision selected should
be feasible (McKenna, Waylen, & Burkes, 2009). The main focus is that it should not mingle
with the other alternatives.
Alternative selection:
When the particular criteria are not feasible then an alternative should be taken as an backup
element. This alternative should satisfy the following criteria:
 It should be readily possible
 It should be a real one but not ideal
 Possible alternative has to be chosen
Representation of important weighing methods:

The methods adapted under these weighing criteria could be either compensatory or outranking.
The example that comes under compensatory involves Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP),
Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision Making Process (FDM) etc. The outranking methods could
include certain elimination process such as ELimination and Choice Expressing Reality
(ELECTRE), Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment of Evaluations
(PROMETHUS)
Aggregation method:
The process of aggregation will select the best alternative option from the obtainable options
(Office of Energy Efficiency, 2007). According to a fleet management, it could be a product or
an average or a function that highly involves in improving the alternative option.
c) Panel members Selection:
According to a decision making analyst he should primarily consider the client’s decision
otherwise he should come forward to teach his clients hoe to make the decision. The question
arises “what is the proper balance among the two situations”? Possibly does it bother when the
client does not abide to the model of Multi-criteria decision analysis? A client might be satisfied
with the basic model since he will not be aware of certain situations like eliciting and
synthesizing judgments. He may even powerfully support the result established to be greatest,
uninformed that a wealthier arrangement as well as improved information and communication
can create a superior decision. This could add a complexity (Ministry of Transport, 2008). The
panel members have to be chosen in such a way that he supports the client entirely with this
decision making. He should have the knowledge to guide them in a proper way.
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