8 Steps to Net Zero Emissions Every Diesel Fleet Can Take
Net zero emissions means that all man-made carbon emissions must be removed from the atmosphere through reduction measures. Once achieved, humanity will be carbon-neutral and global temperatures would stabilize. Here’s how you can play your part.
By Dr. Wolfgang Warnecke, Shell Chief Scientist
In most major markets, public concern about climate change has increased significantly over just the last year. This shift is likely to have an impact on commercial fleets.
In 2020, a Yale Poll reported nearly six in ten (58%) Americans are either “alarmed” or “concerned” about global warming1. Additionally, the 2019 US Retail and Sustainability Survey revealed that more than two-thirds of respondents consider sustainability when making a purchase, and are willing to pay more for sustainable products2.
This shift in public opinion poses a challenge for fleet managers. How can commercial fleets respond to legislative and consumer pressure to be more sustainable now, with their current vehicles?
Here are eight tips Shell learned when developing the next-generation Starship truck, an aerodynamic tractor-trailer that achieved nearly 2.5 times the average for freight hauling efficiency.
You can begin applying any or all these hard-won lessons to your fleet today to reduce your diesel emissions:
1. Cut rolling resistance
With the right tires, the right axle and bearing grease, and the right maintenance regime, you can improve fuel efficiency by reducing rolling resistance.
2. Reduce drag
Using add-ons, such as side-skirts and trailer tails, and reducing the gap between trailer and tractor can all help reduce drag, and improve fuel efficiency.
3. Use premium lubrication
High-quality, low-viscosity engine oil – with friction-reducing additives:
- cuts down mechanical loss
- improves efficiency
- and reduces emissions.
4. Use biodiesels
Add sustainably-sourced biofuels to your standard fuel. But only in consultation with your fuel supplier, who can help you complete the task safely and effectively.
5. Use vehicle automation
Automating even simple things, like optimal gear changes to operate the engine in the most efficient range, can help improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.
6. Maximize utilization rates
Use freight-brokerage apps and fleet management tools to maximize utilization rates, cut idling times, and eliminate empty miles.
7. Switch to integrated fleet management
Cut fuel consumption with the latest telematic fleet solutions. Use them to plan routes better, maximize utilization and dynamically re-route your fleet.
8. Tailor driving styles
Use information from a truck’s telematics and other systems to help coach drivers to become (much) more fuel-efficient in the way they drive.
The modern fleet manager is far from powerless in the face of demands to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. With the right combination of improved practices, modern technologies and premium consumables, we can all cut our emissions and fuel consumption.
And that isn’t just better for the environment, it boosts your bottom line too.
Related Videos
Towards zero emissions road freight, Sophie Punte
Title: Towards zero emissions road freight, Sophie Punte
Duration: {5:10} minutes
Description:
Sophie Punte, Executive Director, Smart Freight Centre, explores the three-step approach companies can take to act on freight and climate – report, reduce and collaborate. The presentation takes a deep-dive into the five areas companies should prioritise with suppliers, customers and peers when it comes to reducing emissions including - improving fleet efficiency, increased asset utilisation through load optimisation, and reducing the carbon content of energy – factors that have the most potential to directly influence efficiency in trucking fleets. This presentation was delivered at Shell Rimula Ultimate Stopover 2019, held in Barcelona.
Towards zero emissions road freight, Sophie Punte, Transcript
[Presentation title]
Towards zero emissions road freight
Sophie Punte, Smart Freight Centre
[Background music plays]
Bright, uplifting music plays as the video begins.
[Visual transition]
Transition to shot of Sophia at front of a room of people, in front of a yellow backdrop which reads “Collaborative Thinking to Power Fleets of Tomorrow”. There is a white podium at the front of the room, with a large Shell logo on the front. There are several audience members shown in the shot, all sitting at desks facing the front of the room. There are water bottles and papers on the desks. There are TVs positioned at both sides of the of the front of the room showing information related to the presentation.
[Text displays]
Sophie Punte
Executive Director
Smart Freight Centre
[Sophie Punte]
By 2050 freight will be more
[Visual transition]
Camera zooms in on Sophie, standing in front of yellow background. No audience members are visible.
[Sophie Punte]
in emission contribution than passenger transport.
[Visual transition]
Transition to a white slide with a diagram of emissions and red text on the right-hand side.
[Text displays]
2%
2%
6%
55%
2050
6,200,000,000
2%
3%
6%
27%
62%
2015
2,900,000,000
Inland waterways
Rail
Air
Sea
Road
Tonnes CO2
At the current pace, logistics emissions will more than double by 2050
[Sophie Punte]
At the current pace, we see a doubling of emissions by 2050. So what can companies do?
[Visual transition]
Transition to white slide with red text and three key points, numbered, and the Smart Freight Centre logo in the upper right-hand corner.
[Text displays]
How leading companies can act on freight and climate
[Text displays]
Smart Freight Leadership
1 Report credible emissions and set science-based reduction targets
2 Reduce emissions by implementing solutions as buyer and/or supplier
3 Collaborate and advocate for sector-wide uptake and supportive policy
[Sophie Punte]
We've defined it as Smart Freight Leadership. Companies can do three actions: First, they can report their emissions, and set targets.
[Visual transition]
Transition to shot of Sophie standing in front of yellow backdrop. The heads of some audience members are visible in the shot.
[Sophie Punte]
People think; well that's obvious, companies are already doing so. Not quite. In 2015 we did a survey of 100 companies.
[Visual transition]
Camera pans out to show Sophie standing in front of yellow backdrop, with several members of the audience visible and the TV on the left-hand side of the stage showing a slide with information that she is presenting.
[Sophie Punte]
Big multi-nationals should really do it.
[Visual transition]
Transition back to white slide with red text and three key points, numbered, and the Smart Freight Centre logo in the upper right-hand corner. This time, the video zooms in on each number individually while Sophie addresses each point.
[Sophie Punte]
Only 33% were reporting emissions in their annual reports. Now we're heading closer to 60% so we are seeing a change, in a very rapid uptake in reporting. Setting science-based reduction targets. That needs to happen. Reducing emissions is by implementing solutions as a buyer (ie: H&M, or Ikea). Or a supplier (ie: Maersk or trucking company). Collaboration is the third one. If you're a true leader, you don't just look at what happens within your company, or supply chain.
[Visual transition]
Transition to shot of Sophie standing in front of yellow backdrop. A few audience members’ heads are visible at the bottom of the screen.
[Sophie Punte]
You're looking at how can you use your power as a brand, as a big company
[Visual transition]
Transition back to white slide with red text and three key points, numbered, and the Smart Freight Centre logo in the upper right-hand corner.
[Sophie Punte]
to make change across policy, across your sectors.
[Visual transition]
Transition to white slide with text at the top and five blue text boxes in a row across the middle of the screen, each with large text and simple diagrams within.
[Text displays]
Reduce emissions
[Text displays]
Solutions exist
A company action plan should consider solutions across all 5 areas
Some a company can do alone, for others they need to work with suppliers, customers or peers
Reduce Freight Transport Demand
Supply chain restructuring
Standardized modules/boxes
3D printing
Dematerialization
Consumer behavior
Optimize Freight Transport Modes
Modal shift
Multi-modal optimization
Synchromodality
Increase Asset Utilization
Load optimization
Load consolidation and asset sharing
Logistics centers and warehouse management
Improve Fleet Energy Efficiency
Cleaner and efficient technologies
Efficient vehicles and vessels
Driving behavior
Fleet operation
Fleet maintenance
Reduce Carbon Content of Energy
Cleaner and lower-carbon fuels
Electrification
Fuel management
[Sophie Punte]
So reducing emissions, five options. First, you can reduce the carbon content of energy. You can electrify the trucks, you can use a cleaner diesel you can look at LNG, CNG, and managing your fuel is part of it. Second, is improving the fleet energy efficiency. So, using cleaner and more efficient technology. Think about low rolling resistance tyres and better aerodynamics. It can also include a transport management system making use of ICT so you can improve the driver's behaviour and change your routing later. How your fleet is operated is part of that, and the maintenance of fleet.
[Visual transition]
Transition to shot of Sophie standing in front of yellow backdrop. A few audience members’ heads are visible at the bottom of the screen.
[Sophie Punte]
In developing countries, fleet maintenance is the single thing that's hurting the efficiency of fleets.
[Visual transition]
Sophie points to the TV to her right (audience left-hand side) and shot transitions to same slide with blue text boxes across the middle.
[Sophie Punte]
Next one is increasing asset utilisation. So, optimising loads. Now we even have software that allows companies to pre-package inside the trucks
[Visual transition]
Transition to shot of Sophie standing in front of yellow backdrop. A few audience members’ heads are visible at the bottom of the screen. Sophie is referencing the slide on the TV to her right (audience left-hand side).
[Sophie Punte]
in such a way that you make the best use of your trucks. Also, that you start matching the type and size of truck to deliver your goods to your customers. You may actually be able to use smaller trucks to go more frequently
[Visual transition]
Camera pans out to show Sophie standing speaking in front of yellow backdrop. More members of the audience are now visible.
[Sophie Punte]
or to use one bigger truck and go once a week, instead of 3 times per week with smaller trucks. That's the type of idea.
[Visual transition]
Transition to same white slide with text at the top and five blue text boxes in a row across the middle of the screen, each with large text and simple diagrams within.
[Sophie Punte]
Load consolidation and asset sharing is happening, more and more. We see Procter & Gamble and Tupperware working together.
[Visual transition]
Transition to shot of Sophie standing in front of yellow backdrop. A few audience members’ heads are visible at the bottom of the screen.
[Sophie Punte]
Procter & Gamble has heavy shampoos. They can't fill the truck because they've hit the weight limit. Tupperware, with all these boxes of plastic, they've got the truck full and it doesn't weigh anything. By combining the two, you have the best combination of weight and truck filling and they're all both going from Belgium to Greece. So, you see that type of collaboration happening more and more
[Visual transition]
Camera moves to side angle, showing Sophie’s left side and the screen to her right.
[Sophie Punte]
between basically non-competing companies who are looking, "How can we put this together?"
[Visual transition]
Transition back to front-facing shot of Sophie standing in front of yellow backdrop. A few audience members’ heads are visible at the bottom of the screen.
[Sophie Punte]
And they're saving tens of percentages. I think this one was 10% of emissions and cost. Cause there's a combination.
[Visual transition]
Transition to same white slide with text at the top and five blue text boxes in a row across the middle of the screen, each with large text and simple diagrams within.
[Sophie Punte]
And then, logistics centers and warehouse management. The industry is changing. You're getting more and more players investing in logistics warehouses that can be used by many
[Visual transition]
Transition back to front-facing shot of Sophie standing in front of yellow backdrop. A few audience members’ heads are visible at the bottom of the screen.
[Sophie Punte]
rather than every company having their own warehouses.
[Visual transition]
Transition to same white slide with text at the top and five blue text boxes in a row across the middle of the screen, each with large text and simple diagrams within.
[Sophie Punte]
Optimising freight transport modes. It's really about modal shift. So, taking freight from the trucks onto rail and barges. Or in urban freight, trying to get more freight into bikes.
[Visual transition]
Transition back to front-facing shot of Sophie standing in front of yellow backdrop. A few audience members’ heads are visible at the bottom of the screen.
[Sophie Punte]
And in Amsterdam into little boats. I see the DHL boat there.
[Visual transition]
Transition to same white slide with text at the top and five blue text boxes in a row across the middle of the screen, each with large text and simple diagrams within.
[Sophie Punte]
Multi-modal optimisation is about using the right combination because, even if you use a train or ship you're still going to have the first and last mile delivered somehow by truck. So, it's impossible to eliminate it.
[Visual transition]
Transition back to front-facing shot of Sophie standing in front of yellow backdrop. A few audience members’ heads are visible at the bottom of the screen.
[Sophie Punte]
But how do you make the match?
[Visual transition]
Transition to same white slide with text at the top and five blue text boxes in a row across the middle of the screen, each with large text and simple diagrams within.
[Sophie Punte]
Synchromodality means that when you go home from your work, you might think "Do I take the car?"
[Visual transition]
Transition back to front-facing shot of Sophie standing in front of yellow backdrop. A few audience members’ heads are visible at the bottom of the screen.
[Sophie Punte]
"Do I take the Metro?" "Do I take the bus?" "Do I take a taxi?" "Do I take a combination?" You have the option at that moment to decide.
[Visual transition]
Camera moves to side angle, showing Sophie’s left side and the screen to her right.
[Sophie Punte]
For freight, that is coming.
[Visual transition]
Transition back to front-facing shot of Sophie standing in front of yellow backdrop. A few audience members’ heads are visible at the bottom of the screen.
[Sophie Punte]
That flexibility of which combination of modes you might use at that given moment given traffic, weather, price, conditions. It might work.
[Visual transition]
Transition to same white slide with text at the top and five blue text boxes in a row across the middle of the screen, each with large text and simple diagrams within.
[Sophie Punte]
And the last one is, reducing the freight demand. This is about, how do you restructure your supply chain? How do you start standardising modules in boxes, so you can combine your stuff with that of others?
[Visual transition]
Camera moves to side angle, showing Sophie’s left side and the screen to her right.
[Sophie Punte]
3D printing.
[Visual transition]
Transition back to front-facing shot of Sophie standing in front of yellow backdrop. A few audience members’ heads are visible at the bottom of the screen.
[Sophie Punte]
Adidas is now printing the soles of their sports shoes in Germany instead of having them made somewhere in Asia and then shipped to Germany which massively reduces freight demand.
[Visual transition]
Transition to same white slide with text at the top and five blue text boxes in a row across the middle of the screen, each with large text and simple diagrams within.
[Sophie Punte]
Dematerialisation. Thinking about what materials you use. And, of course, customer behaviour.
[Visual transition]
Camera moves to side angle, showing Sophie’s left side and the screen to her right.
[Sophie Punte]
This is where, if you're looking at trucking fleets, they have the most potential
[Visual transition]
Transition back to front-facing shot of Sophie standing in front of yellow backdrop. Several members of the audience are visible.
[Sophie Punte]
to directly influence efficiency.
[Visual transition]
Transition to same white slide with text at the top and five blue text boxes in a row across the middle of the screen, each with large text and simple diagrams within. The shot is zoomed in on three of the boxes, outlined with a yellow border.
[Background music plays]
Upbeat tune plays during final transition from Sophie’s speech to concluding slides.
[Visual transition]
Transition to white screen with large red and black text.
[Text displays]
Shell Rimula
Heavy Duty Diesel Engine Oil
For more information visit:
www.shell.com/rimula
[Visual transition]
Transition to white screen with Shell logo centered and black text at the bottom of the screen.
[Background music plays]
Light, digital-sounding tune plays to end the presentation.
[Text displays]
Copyright Shell International Limited 2019
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