Greening Camden's vehicle fleet

We operate a 'green' fleet of approximately 250 vehicles comprising of a high proportion of low emission vehicles including electric (2%), hybrid (2%), biomethane gas (6%) and liquid petroleum gas (65%).

90% of our diesel fleet meets the Euro 4 emission standard. We have introduced a fuel additive, Chemecol, that reduces diesel fuel consumption leading to lower CO2, PM10 and NOx emissions. In addition our diesel vehicles use Ad Blue, an additive that reduces NOx emissions.

'Smarter driver' training

We will soon be undertaking 'smarter driver' training, to raise awareness about fuel efficient driving to our fleet staff. This will help reduce fuel consumption and therefore lower our fleet's CO2 and air pollution emissions.

We will be using an innovative monitor which displays changes in fuel consumption and exhaust emissions as our staff drive our training vehicle.

Cleaner and cheaper commercial fuels

Vehicle trials

Compressed Biomethane Gas

Camden commissioned research to investigate the life cycle environmental impacts of road transport biofuels to inform our fleet procurement policy. Three biofuels (biomethane, biodiesel and biofuel) were compared to conventional diesel and petrol vehicles. Biomethane was shown to have the lowest overall environmental impacts, based on air quality and green house gas emissions.

Biomethane is also a renewable transport fuel as it is derived from methane gas released during the decomposition of organic waste. For more information on this research please visit life cycle analysis of transport biofuels

Following the results of the LCA analysis Camden embarked on a biomethane vehicles trial in partnership with Veolia Environmental Services Ltd, Iveco and Gasrec to trial a biofuel known as biomethane gas in 2009. Biomethane gas was used to fuel one of Veolia's compressed natural gas refuse collection vehicles an Iveco Daily.

The trial investigated the performance of biomethane fuelled Iveco vehicle in comparison with existing vehicles running on compressed natural gas, and compared air pollution emissions. The project demonstrated that biomethane gas is a commercially competitive and environmentally sound fuel that can be directly substituted for natural gas.

The results revealed that biomethane gas improves fuel consumption by 6% compared to natural gas, reduces PM10 and NOx emissions by 90% of the Euro 3 emission limits, and well below the Euro 6 emission limit. Lifecycle CO2 emissions revealed a reduction of 56%.

The report summarising the trial and key outcomes in provided below:

• download: Biofuels research report trial results - report (PDF 821KB)

As a result of the positive outcome of the trial and research project, Camden introduced 15 compressed biomethane vans in December 2010 manufactured by VW Caddy and Mercedes Benz.

Case studies

You can find out more information about Camden’s biomethane refuelling station and commercial electrical vehicle charging point in the case studies below:

• download: Camden commercial vehicle electric recharging point and biomethane gas refuelling station (PDF 1.7MB)

Electric and hybrid technology

We are involved in the Department of Transport's Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme. This is a grant funding initiative aimed at trailing low carbon vehicles in public sector fleets. Camden used their grant to purchase three electric vans and one hybrid assist van in 2010.

We will trailing a new type of retrofit hybrid assist technology to a number of their diesel and compressed biomethane gas vans in 2011. This technology has been demonstrated to reduce fuel consumption by between 15-20% resulting lower CO2 and air pollution emissions.

Use of the commercial vehicle charging point

This is part of Camden helping businesses to try electric and open up the market.

• Gnewt electric truck trial begins - In May 2011 Gnewt (London's purely electric 'last mike' logistics service) started a two week trial of a 6.5 tonne electric truck. The aim is to see if they can scale up their operation to include delivering pallets of paper while remaining 10% electric. Gnewt wouldn't have been able to complete the trial without the charging point at York Way Depot. Further information on Gnewt Cargo.