Start with the 'here and now'
Our 2026 industry report found that 60% of transport and logistics organisations recognise environmental impact as a top priority. But recognising its importance and knowing what to do next are two different things.
You might be exploring your options or putting a plan into practice. Perhaps you’ve already made changes and are asking what more you could achieve.
And it was this range of starting points that was reflected during GREENFLEET’s recent HGV, Bus & Coach: A Decarbonisation Strategy webinar.
Among those responding to the live poll, 34% were already running a mixed fleet, while 44% were either investigating feasibility or trialling EVs. Just 6% planned to replace all conventional vehicles within three years.
Wherever you sit, the next step needs to make sense for your operation.
Understand what will work for your fleet
Electrification is one part of the sustainability conversation, but there’s unlikely to be one single answer for every fleet.
In fact, when GREENFLEET asked webinar attendees which approach they expected to play the biggest role in fleet decarbonisation over the next three to five years, 46% chose a mix of fuels and technologies, ahead of battery-electric vehicles at 30%.
Because, making the right choice involves more than choosing a new vehicle. It’s about looking closely an your operation, your drivers and your routes to understand what will work for you.
For example, which journeys could an electric vehicle handle? When would it charge? How would it work alongside the conventional vehicles you’re still running?
Chris Williams, Microlise’s Technical Product Director joined the expert panel on the webinar and rightly said, that range isn’t just about distance. Load weight, temperature and geography all have an influence, as does driving style. Understanding those factors helps operators assess which vehicles are suited to which journeys.
That’s where data becomes valuable. Looking at your vehicles and journeys gives you a clearer basis for planning the transition. Comparing electric and conventional vehicle performance also helps you understand the implications for operating costs, rather than relying on assumptions.
Keep the operation moving
Once electric vehicles are in service, the question becomes how to make the best use of them.
Of course, making the transition stack up commercially is just as important. 61% of webinar respondents said the cost of vehicles and infrastructure was their biggest concern when looking at electrifying larger vehicles, while a further 25% pointed to having enough energy capacity.
Once electric vehicles are in service, the question becomes how to make the best use of them. And charging needs to fit around the work those vehicles do. Understanding charging patterns can help operators make better use of depot capacity and plan off-peak charging, reducing reliance on costly public charging.
Visibility matters, too. Knowing how much charge vehicles have, with alerts when charging fails, can help operators address problems before they disrupt the working day.
Chris Williams also shared that this is where software and data have an important role: helping operators manage the complexities of electrification and make more informed decisions.
“Electrification needs to work for the operation, not the other way around. Understanding your journeys and charging needs gives you a clearer picture of where electric vehicles fit. From there, you can measure how they perform and see whether you’re getting the benefits you expected,” Chris adds.
Progress also needs to be visible. Reporting on vehicle utilisation and emissions helps operators understand what their investment is delivering and demonstrate progress against their sustainability targets.
Give your next step some thought
The next step is different for every fleet. Understanding your operation gives you a clearer basis for deciding where to focus, then measuring whether those changes deliver what you need.
Explore the topic further
Hear more from Chris and fellow industry experts by tuning into GREENFLEET’s HGV, Bus & Coach: A Decarbonisation Strategy webinar, exploring the realities of moving towards a more sustainable fleet.
From different fuels and technologies to electrification, infrastructure and the role of data, watch the discussion On Demand and explore what your next step could look like.
👉 Or get in touch to see how you can learn more form your data to drive the right decarbonisation options for your fleet.
