Transportation accounts for 26% of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, making vehicles a primary source of air pollution. Going “green” with your fleet can be good not only for the environment, but also for your company’s bottom line by helping you save considerably on annual fuel costs. In addition, “greening your fleet” will benefit your brand’s image and generate positive PR.

One of the biggest hurdles many businesses encounter when considering hybrid vehicles are the changes involved in caring for them. It’s true: going green does require special considerations. Routine maintenance for alternative fuel vehicles, or AFVs, is different than for conventional vehicles and special safety precautions may need to be taken as well.

However, there are fleet management companies, including Amerit Fleet Solutions, that specialize in helping clients “green” their fleets through alternative fuel conversions and ongoing AFV maintenance.

When considering “greening” your fleet, there are several key points to consider:

• Understand your various options: “Green” encompasses a range of different vehicles and fuel types. One might be perfect for a given task, while a different vehicle might be best suited for another. These options include hybrid, clean diesel technology, liquid natural gas (LNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG).
• Converting vs. purchasing: Converting in many cases is the most cost effective option because you can keep all of your vehicles. These changes can be implemented by a specialized fleet maintenance company, such as Amerit Fleet Solutions. Alternatively, several states offer strong tax incentives for purchasing AFVs for fleet use. For example, Kansas provides a tax credit of up 40% for an AFV. So, if you’re planning to purchase new vehicles, consider adding AFV’s to your fleet.
• Necessary changes to your shop: The changes you need to make to your shop may play a large part in the types of AFV’s you choose. Shops that house vehicles that run on natural gas, for example, need to comply with special state regulations, including having adequate ventilation systems.
• Savings to your annual fuel costs: While more of an upfront investment, LNG and CNG vehicles can help make big cuts in annual fuel expenditure (upwards of 40% when compared with diesel vehicles). With the price of gas on a seemingly never-ending incline, the savings will only get better.

To learn how Amerit Fleet Solutions can help you explore which options may work best for your company, contact us here.