|  by Jack Kazmierski
January 26, 2010
Fleet Management
Green Math
Before you shun the mighty SUV in favour of a crossover, crunch the numbers to make sure you’re saving more than just face.
Whether you’re being pressured to “green” your fleet, or whether you’re thinking of doing so in order to save money on fuel and for environmental reasons, you’re likely looking at downsizing in one way or another. Smaller is greener, but not all downshifts in size will reward you with the same net green gain.
SUV to crossover
A few years ago, the term “crossover” crept into our vernacular. It’s almost as though manufacturers foresaw a future where SUVs would lose their coveted standing as prized modes of transportation, and where the public would demand all the benefi ts of an SUV, but in a more conscionable overall package.
The future is here, and the manufacturers were right. Public perception pegs SUV owners as the bad guys, and has many clamoring for more earth-friendly crossovers, which begs the question—are crossovers really the better choice?
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SUVs: Not the bad guys.
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Do the math
Let’s consider a typical SUV-shunning example and compare the GMC Yukon (the SUV from the dark side) with the GMC Acadia (one of those crossovers everyone wants nowadays).
According to Natural Resources Canada, the 2009 Yukon averages about 12.4 L/100km, whereas the Acadiaaverages just below 11L. True, consumption is better with the crossover, but is it dramatic enough to warrant selling off a fl eet of larger SUVs at a loss in order to either feel like you’re going green, or to make it look like you’re doing so to the outside world? Only your accountant can answer that question.
The same can be said for the now out-of-vogue minivan. Demand is way down as many prefer crossovers. But what about the fuel consumption numbers? You can get a Dodge Grand Caravan (4-litre V6) that burns an average of about 10L/100 km, or you can opt for a Dodge Journey crossover (3.5-litre V6) that averages 11L. Big difference? Not really, and the reverse of what you might expect.
Making a real difference
A dramatic fleet makeover like moving from a fleet of large SUVs or minivans to a fleet of compact hybrids or diesel-powered sedans would net you more significant savings, but isn’t necessarily realistic since some fl eets need the extra size and cargohauling capacity that a small sedan simply can’t offer. Moreover, although hybrids may make sense for fleets that operate in stop and go traffic conditions, if your fleet spends most of its time on highways, it may not gain you the fuel savings you’re hoping for.
What other options do you have? Perhaps you’d get more bang for the fuel-cutting buck by holding onto your existing fleet and educating your employees to drive with fuel-economy in mind. Perhaps you’d benefit from some of the new idle-limiting technologies available in the aftermarket. Or maybe all you need to do is limit the weight of all your vehicles by cutting down on the amount of gear they carry on a day-to-day basis. Race car drivers have long known that the best way to maximize performance while limiting fuel consumption is to strip their vehicles of all excess weight. Could greening your fleet be that simple to accomplish?
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