New company cars across Europe´s major markets reduced their CO? emissions by 7.2% between 2008 and 2010, according to the Key Solutions CO? Assessment published today by GE Capital.
Based on data from GE Capital´s 250,000 vehicle pan-European fleet, the report reveals that between 2008 and 2010 emissions fell by an average of 11gCO?/Km per car. When extrapolated to represent all new company cars in the eleven markets assessed, the findings show that the industry´s output has been slashed by more than 1.28m tonnes of CO? over the three-year period, which is equivalent to the energy used by 354,000 3-bed apartments for one year.
The report was produced by GE Capital´s Key Solutions consultancy team and is available for download from GE Capital´s European fleet website at www.gecapital.eu/fleet.
The study also examines the financial benefits generated from adopting a "˜green´ car policy. In addition to saving substantial sums by minimising CO?-related liabilities, companies stand to save considerably as CO? output is directly correlated to fuel consumption: GE Capital´s Key Solutions team estimates that, on average, a 2010 company car saved €162 in its first year when compared to a 2008 model. On 300 vehicles, such reduction in fuel consumption represents a potential saving in excess of €160,000 over the next three years at current fuel prices.
"Our findings confirm that when it comes to company cars, businesses can take a position that is beneficial to the environment and that also improves the bottom line. Reducing CO2 emissions should be a top priority for every fleet manager" said Arthur Mathysen Gerst, Managing Director of GE Capital´s Fleet Services division in EMEA. "Fuel already represents 21% of a fleet´s total cost of ownership and we expect this value will soon reach 25%, making the financial benefits of a greener car policy even greater in the coming years."
For more information please visit our European website at www.gecapital.eu/fleet