Corporate fleet management: how to optimize fuel consumption
For those responsible for corporate fleet management, fuel is one of the most significant expenses to keep under control.
Efficient fleet management starts right here: consistently monitoring fuel consumption makes it possible to identify waste, reduce operating costs and make the daily operations of your corporate fleet more sustainable.
Why fuel consumption monitoring is central to fleet management
Monitoring fuel consumption is not simply a matter of achieving immediate savings.
A corporate fleet with high fuel consumption often hides deeper issues, such as vehicles that are unsuitable for their intended use, inefficient driving habits or neglected maintenance. Regularly monitoring consumption helps to:
- reduce operating costs associated with refuelling;
- identify potential mechanical issues at an early stage;
- improve the company’s environmental footprint;
- make more informed decisions regarding vehicle purchases and replacements.
Vehicle fleets: how to calculate fuel consumption
Understanding how to calculate fuel consumption is the first step towards finding ways to optimize it.
It may seem like a simple calculation, but there are actually two different ways to calculate the fuel consumption of a vehicle fleet. Let’s take a look at them:
- the first formula is: fuel consumption (km/l) = kilometres travelled ÷ litres of fuel used. It indicates the distance that can be travelled using one litre of fuel;
- the second formula reverses the calculation: fuel consumption (l/100 km) = (litres of fuel used ÷ kilometres travelled) × 100, measuring the amount of fuel required to cover a fixed distance.
In short, the objectives are different.
For those managing refuelling operations or manually monitoring consumption, the unit expressed in kilometres per litre may be more intuitive. On the other hand, the format showing litres consumed per 100 kilometres is more useful when preparing reports or comparing different vehicles.
It is important to note that calculating fuel consumption is only truly valuable when repeated over time, making it possible to identify variations and trends. Consistency is key.
What affects corporate fleet fuel consumption?
Corporate vehicle fuel consumption depends on several factors, which are often interconnected:
- driving style: sudden acceleration, high speeds and harsh braking can increase fuel consumption by as much as 20%;
- maintenance: underinflated tyres, dirty filters or delayed oil changes can increase consumption by up to 10%;
- routes: urban journeys with frequent stops generally consume more fuel than motorway routes;
- vehicle load: the heavier the vehicle, the more fuel it requires;
- powertrain type: petrol, diesel and electric vehicles offer different levels of efficiency under the same driving conditions.
Corporate vehicle monitoring: digital tools for fleet management
Today, corporate vehicle monitoring relies primarily on telematics systems and fleet management platforms. GPS devices, sensors and digital dashboards make it possible to monitor fuel consumption in real time, compare historical data and receive notifications when anomalies occur.
These tools transform monitoring from a manual activity based on receipts and Excel spreadsheets into an automated and predictive process, capable of identifying technical issues or driving behaviours that need to be corrected at an early stage.
A more efficient fleet: practical strategies to reduce fuel consumption
Once the main issues have been identified, targeted action can be taken.
Some measures are based on simple behaviours that can easily be incorporated into a fleet management strategy. The main ones include:
- driver training focused on efficient driving techniques;
- regular and timely maintenance;
- route optimization using historical data and GPS;
- and, finally, the gradual renewal of the vehicle fleet with hybrid or electric vehicles, which generally have lower energy costs and reduced maintenance requirements.
Effective corporate fleet management cannot overlook the constant monitoring of fuel consumption. Whether calculations are performed manually or through dedicated software, the goal remains the same: turning data into concrete decisions that can reduce costs and make the entire fleet more efficient and sustainable over time.
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