Driving down business fuel costs

Picking the right vehicle, with the right fuel type, for the right job is important! Fuel types alone can be a tricky one, whether it is petrol, diesel, hybrid or electric – it really does depend on what your business car or van will be used. Whether your driver will be travelling long distance with large storage capacity or taking small city trips with minimum space required, our team of vehicle and leasing experts are on hand to help you identify the right vehicle, with the right fuel type for the right job to suit your business requirements.

Simple but effective, it may sound pretty straight forward, but if you want your drivers to get the most out of the business paid fuel, sensible driving is required. Harsh braking, accelerating and driving over 60mph will severely reduce fuel economy regardless of what vehicle is being driven and will ultimately cost your business more money.

Another simple, yet sometimes overlooked, fuel saving tip is to check the tyres of your company cars and vans regularly. Underinflated tyres make it harder for vehicles to manoeuvre and accelerate, meaning more power is needed and therefore more fuel. This is a simple and effective way of keeping costs down.

A lot of people, especially company car drivers who spend a lot of time on the road, will keep piles of books, sales literature, boxes of promotional merchandise and weekend golf clubs permanently in their boot. The more weight piled into a vehicle, the heavier it becomes and this will of course increase fuel consumption, using more fuel than necessary. The key is to travel light and remove any unnecessary items from the vehicle. You will be surprised at how much of a difference this can make.

A healthy car is a happy car. If maintenance checks are not carried out regularly this may lead to vehicle damage, subsequently costing your business money for repairs. It can also mean that the engine has to work harder than necessary increasing fuel consumption. Don’t get stung in the pocket; ensure that all vehicles get a little TLC every week.

One of the best ways of ensuring that your business is getting the most out of fuel expenditure is the use of Telematics. Amongst other benefits, this latest fleet management technology analyses driver behaviour, including acceleration, deceleration, speed and general handling as well as tracking mileage, providing you with enough driver data to identify driver training needs. Implementation of the ‘little black box’ is a quick and simple vehicle plug in. Available at several different levels, this online tool is not a one size fits all package, thus allows you to have as little or as much control as you require.

A fuel card will enable your business to track and analyse fuel expenditure, identify savings, reduce administration and pay a monthly invoice. Not to mention happier drivers that will no longer be out of pocket and spend time claiming back fuel expenses!

Call 0345 408 4047 to speak to one of our vehicle and leasing experts to find out how you can start driving down fuel costs today!