Transportation and logistics companies around the world are under increasing pressure to reduce their environmental impact. Trucks, a cornerstone of the supply chain, contribute significantly to CO₂ emissions. A single heavy vehicle can emit about 1,000 grams of CO₂ per kilometer. This makes it necessary to find solutions for greener, more efficient operations (source: COo2emissiefactoren).
Rietveld’s EasyDrive offers a comprehensive solution to this challenge. It enables fleet managers to improve driver behavior, reduce fuel costs and achieve sustainability goals. This article discusses the role of driving behavior in reducing CO₂ emissions and how EasyDrive is driving an improvement in sustainable transportation.
CO₂ emissions from trucks
The transportation sector is one of the contributors to global CO₂ emissions. Trucks play a significant role due to their reliance on diesel fuel and heavy loads. On average, trucks emit between 800 and 1,200 grams of CO₂ per km, depending on factors such as vehicle maintenance, load weight and driving habits.
Although advances in vehicle technology, such as Euro 6 engines, have reduced emissions, a Euro 6 truck’s CO2 emissions per km are still highly dependent on driving habits. To comply with environmental regulations such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), corporate companies must use innovative tools to monitor and report their trucks’ CO2 emissions.
Why driving behavior matters
Driving behavior has a significant impact on a vehicle’s fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Poor driving habits can increase fuel consumption by up to 10%, resulting in higher costs and environmental impact. These behaviors not only affect operational efficiency, but also undermine efforts to meet sustainability goals and regulatory standards. Driving habits that contribute to inefficiency include:
- Hard acceleration and braking: Frequent and abrupt accelerating and braking unnecessarily consumes fuel.
- Speeding too fast: Driving at excessive speeds greatly increases drag and fuel consumption. An optimal cruising speed is more economical.
- Unnecessary idling: Long engine idling consumes unnecessary fuel.
- Shifting gears at the wrong times: Shifting gears too late or too early reduces fuel efficiency.
- Inadequate use of cruise control: Cruise control provides a more constant speed and reduces unnecessary acceleration and deceleration….
Tools such as EasyDrive allow companies to analyze this behavior in detail. For example, a manager can track patterns such as acceleration speeds or average time idling and identify drivers who need further coaching. Companies can also use these insights to create reward systems that motivate drivers to adopt greener habits.
Improving these driving habits provides immediate benefits. Tools such as systems to calculate CO2 emissions per kilometer from trucks validate the correlation between better driving practices and reduced emissions. Simple behavioral changes, such as maintaining a constant speed and idling less, can lead to noticeable fuel savings and environmental benefits. Companies that invest in driver training and monitoring solutions often see a significant return on their investment.
Rietveld’s EasyDrive: A sustainable solution
Fleet management is at the heart of operational efficiency, especially in the logistics sector. For companies looking to combine environmental responsibility with cost effectiveness, Rietveld’s EasyDrive offers an innovative approach to achieving these goals. By optimizing driving behavior, companies can realize significant savings while contributing to sustainability initiatives.
EasyDrive is an advanced driving behavior analysis tool tailored to provide fleet managers with actionable insights. The system collects real-time data from vehicles, allowing companies to make informed decisions. The focus is not only on identifying inefficient practices, but also on encouraging drivers to adopt green and cost-saving habits. The result? A system that optimizes performance while actively helping to reduce carbon emissions.
Key features of EasyDrive
- Real-time control: EasyDrive allows fleet managers to monitor driving behavior in real time. Alerts for speeding, idling or hard braking allow for immediate intervention.
- Comprehensive reporting: Detailed reports track fuel consumption, CO2 emissions per truck mile and driver performance. This insight enables targeted coaching and long-term improvement.
- Integration with EasyTrack: EasyDrive integrates seamlessly with Rietveld’s EasyTrack system, providing a complete platform for fleet management and CO2 emission calculation.
Benefits of EasyDrive for businesses
- Lower fuel costs: Optimized driving behavior can lead to fuel savings of up to 20%. For large fleets, this means significant annual savings.
- Reduced carbon emissions: Improved fuel efficiency directly reduces greenhouse gas emissions and helps organizations meet environmental targets.
- Regulatory compliance: EasyDrive supports regulatory compliance such as CSRD by accurately calculating truck CO2 emissions per km.
- Improved driver safety: Safer driving habits reduce the risk of accidents and associated costs.
Case study: Van Vulpen achieves sustainability with EasyDriveEasyDrive
Van Vulpen is a contractor specializing in installing cables and pipes. With a fleet of more than 100 large machines and 160 vehicles. With an annual fuel consumption of over 1 million liters, sustainability is crucial to their operations.
Their results with EasyDrive:
Van Vulpen achieved an impressive 8% reduction in fuel consumption within six months. The company even expected to reach the target of 10-12% fuel savings (and thus CO2 reduction) within the first year.
In addition to EasyDrive, Van Vulpen also uses other products from Rietveld BV, such as the Efficio on-board computer. In addition, the fleet is equipped with EasyTrack, which gives the company full insight into its operational processes.
Learn more about Van Vulpen’s partnership with Rietveld.
Sustainability that goes beyond compliance
Reducing CO₂ emissions is not just about meeting legal requirements – it is also a key driver of customer loyalty. Consumers and businesses increasingly prefer companies that prioritize sustainability. By implementing solutions such as EasyDrive, companies can improve their brand image and attract environmentally conscious customers.
Summary:
Rietveld’s EasyDrive offers fleet companies a powerful tool to reduce their carbon footprint. By focusing on driver behavior, companies can realize significant cost savings and align with global sustainability goals. At a time when environmental responsibility is paramount, solutions like EasyDrive pave the way for a greener, more efficient future.
Want to know how EasyDrive can transform your fleet? Contact one of our specialists today.
