Tactics to Achieve 20% Reduction Target

Richmond has looked at its progress in recent years and is focused on the tactics that have proven successful in reducing GHG emissions. Key actions include:

1. Down-sizing & right-sizing vehicles

2. Buy best-in-class vehicles with improved emission & fuel consumption ratings

3. Make best use of electric & hybrid vehicles

4. Reduce demand for vehicle use overall

Overview of Tactics Identified for Reducing GHG Emissions and Fuel Consumption

Actions that Support Slowing Growth of Fleet	Status	Impact Assessments
Eliminating new growth in assets.	Priority	Eliminating new growth in assets could provide up to 16% reductions in fleet emissions, 2010 to 2020. Potential to reduce overall number of assets in some areas such as passenger cars. Targeted overall GHG reduction of 7%, supported by other actions to reduce demand.
Consolidate and eliminate trips through information technology and route optimization. Report all route optimization programs in order to share learning.	Priority	Reduces Vehicle Kilometers Traveled (VKT).
Increase employee public transit use for off-site meetings, or pay for taxis or use personal staff vehicle (with mileage reimbursement) when a passenger car with low VKT has been downsized out of fleet.	Priority	Supportive action for downsizing low use passenger vehicles.
Extend the Works Yard anti-idling program to City Hall.	Priority	Supports Richmond's community-wide anti-idling initiative, demonstrating leadership.
Expand driver training to include anti-idling and smarter driver reminders.	Consider	Up to a 10% reduction in emissions from driving when combined with anti-idling and maintenance.
Corporate car share program, e.g. with Modo.	Consider	Reduces the need for passenger cars in fleet, enabling downsizing and freeing resources for other service provision
Sustainable Commute: offer staff transit passes as an employee benefit.	Consider	Demonstrates leadership, reduces community GHG emissions, and enhances employee satisfaction.

Maintenance and Management Monitoring and Reporting	Status	Impact Assessments
Right-size vehicles for best use on an annual basis.	Priority	Fuel cost savings are maximized when higher capital green fleet vehicles are assigned to users with the highest VKT. Passenger car fuel savings of up to 18% may be possible, with a targeted overall GHG reduction of 1%.
Systematize preventative maintenance with the new Faster Asset management software.	Priority	Regularly scheduled vehicle maintenance saves fuel, ensures worker safety and prolongs vehicle life. Use of the Faster Asset software will ensure reduced vehicle downtime and ensure continued service excellence. Targeted GHG reduction of 5%, including anti-idling and smarter driving.
Monitor and report on: VKT annually Sustainable Green Fleet Actions Joining the E3 Fleet Program	Priority	Supports right-sizing and downsizing of existing assets. Mandatory requirement for E3 Fleet review and rating.
Provide a monthly fuel use report to all departments using fleet vehicles.	Consider	Supports departments in managing their use of fleet assets.
Integrate GHG measurement tools with asset management software.	In Process	Assures monitoring and reporting on Fleet emissions performance.
Make fuel costs transparent to departments in their leasing rates.	Consider	Provides an incentive for departments to reduce fuel use.
Provide additional human resources to Fleet during current critical renewal period.	Consider	Ensure implementation of sustainable actions during current renewal cycle.

Efficient Resource Use	Status	Impact Assessments
Continue best-in-class fuel-efficient vehicle procurement, with a focus on light-duty trucks. Replace older, low-usage passenger cars with best-in-class compact vehicles.	Priority	Targeted overall GHG reduction of 4.5%.
Reduce idling through better vehicle technology: continue the replacement of truck, van and SUV emergency lights with LEDs and auxiliary batteries; use solar panels where possible to run safety lights.	Priority	Supports anti-idling program. By 2020, 100% of vehicles that idle to run emergency lights should be outfitted with LED lights and auxiliary batteries. Older trucks that cannot convert to auxiliary batteries will be retired.
Add GPS units to vehicles to aid in route optimization, best use of vehicles and data collection.	Priority	GPS units support improved fleet management and demand side management ensuring fuel and GHG reductions from other actions.

Alternative Fuels	Status	Impact Assessments
Purchase electric vehicles for high use cars. Procure hybrid light-duty trucks when possible.	Priority	Fully electric vehicles have zero tailpipe emissions. Up to 5% additional modelled reductions in fleet emissions with high rates of electric vehicle and hybrid adoption in light-duty vehicles including trucks. Targeted overall GHG reduction of 2.5%.
Monitor emerging technologies in plug-in hybrid trucks, and adopt plug-in hybrid purchasing policies for light-duty trucks as soon as the technology is market ready.	Consider	Aim to have 10% of light-duty truck procurements plug-in hybrid or electric vehicles by 2017.
Pursue procurement of diesel-electric hybrids for medium and heavy-duty trucks and buses as the technology matures and becomes market ready.	Consider	No cost to monitor and assess.
Monitor and assess emerging technologies, particularly compressed natural gas vehicles. Depending on trends, pursue a feasibility study for establishing an alternative vehicles program that would shift medium and heavy-duty vehicles to compressed natural gas.	Consider	GHG reductions from natural gas vehicles may be as high as 25%, but depend on vehicle type and driving cycle. Full life cycle emissions are also impacted by upstream production and distribution emissions.
Monitor the advances in biodiesel fuels and consider switching to a higher biodiesel blend when full lifecycle emissions reductions are assured.	Consider	The GHG benefit of biodiesel is in the full lifecycle of the fuel, with estimated savings of 18% for biodiesel20.