Challenge
In Australia, trucks represent a significant portion of the country’s transport emissions. In 2012, trucks accounted for 20 percent of transport emissions, or 208 billion tonne-kilometers of transport activity, which could increase as road freight grows to an expected 357 billion tonne-kilometres of transport activity in 2030i.
Bis Industries is a leading provider of specialist logistics solutions to the resources sector in Australia. The company is a member of Australia’s Green Truck Partnership and is focused on reducing fuel use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from its vehicle fleet.
Responseii
As part of its work to manage fuel efficiency, in 2014, Bis Industries implemented the following actions:
- Completed an internal benchmarking process to reveal particularly energy efficient equipment and behaviors to replicate, or inefficiencies to manage.
- Began implementing best practices learned from pilot programs on the following technology and activities:
- Investigated auxiliary power systems.
- Implemented trials for low rolling resistance tires.
- Conducted driver training.
Results
In 2014, Bis Industries measured and managed fuel consumption at four fleet sites where it has operational control.
In absolute terms, GHG emissions from this portion of the fleet increased approximately 7 percent compared to a 2012 baseline due to an increase in fuel consumption, while efficiency decreased approximately 3 percent (GHG /L/t-1000 hour) during the same period. While efficiency declined in 2014 in certain operations, efficiency improvements compared to the baseline year helped Bis Industries to avoid approximately $122,000 AUS in costs, or approximately $128,000, and an estimated 310 metric tons of GHG emissions since 2012.
Fleet GHG Efficiency (2012 Baseline) | |||
---|---|---|---|
ESTIMATED RESULTS | 2013 | 2014 | TOTAL |
Avoided GHGs (metric tons) | 935 | -625 | 310 |
Avoided costs | $345,000 | -$216,000 | $128,000 |