Swapping utes for greener transport
It maybe a tradies’ favourite vehicle, but a company that uses utes widely has replaced some with hybrid cars to cut its carbon footprint.
Nelson business Nelmac has swapped three utes in its fleet of about 170 vehicles (mainly utes or tipper trucks), for hybrid vehicles, as part of a review of the company’s fleet sustainability.
Chief executive Jane Sheard said some roles in the business historically had a ute allocated to them. But when it came time to change a vehicle, the company had taken ‘‘a long hard look’’ at when it was working as a ute, and when it was working as a sedan or a car.
‘‘We’ve weighed up does that need a ute or is it something we could put into a hybrid; our first three hybrids were those very same swaps.’’
Sheard oversaw the fleet review ‘‘in conjunction with customers’’, after taking the helm at the top of the south company year ago. The firm carries out services like landscaping and planting nationwide.
Nelmac was now awaiting delivery of eight electric cars , and had just taken delivery of its first totally electric van, Sheard said.
‘‘What we’re doing is swapping out cars and small vehicles that are petrol or diesel, for these electric cars.
‘‘Unfortunately technology hasn’t quite caught up with the demand and the drive from ourselves and the customers. Some of those really big trucks and the diggers, we can’t replace for something that’s more sustainable – yet.
‘‘What I’m eagerly awaiting is the technology to enable us to buy a ute.’’
Five hybrid cars or light trucks, which had a back up fuel tank, were being used in total, in the more remote areas of Murchison, Golden Bay and Tapawera.
‘‘Just in case there’s any danger of the electric charge, the batteries running out, until we get used to using them, because it’s a learning curve for our employees as well.’’
Some staff had not driven an electric or hybrid vehicles before, but most had quickly adapted.
‘‘They absolutely love it, there’s a really good feel-good factor about them,’’ Sheard said.
‘‘Once they start using them, they actually see that they’re really quite nippy, and they can go a long way, and all it takes is a change in behaviour to remember to charge them.’’
Nelmac started to measure its carbon footprint about this time last year, and last week received a gold Enviro-Mark award.
Sheard said Nelmac environmental leader, Rachael Williams-Gaul had done a ‘‘fantastic job’’ in getting the company to where it was.
Nelmac had installed plug-ins for electric vehicles at its main depots, and in the homes of some employees with electric or hybrid ‘‘commuter vehicles’’, so they could charge it at home, with Nelmac monitoring the electricity used, and paying the bill.
‘‘We wanted to ... support the communities and people who work for us, but also the environment they work in.’’
‘‘We try and work with our customers to help them do exactly the same, and demand the same from our suppliers as well.’’
One of the leaders in local business network, Businesses for Climate Action, Katrina Kidson said Nelmac was helping lead a group looking at fleet management and sharing information on what it had learned.
The group had its first meeting this week.
‘‘It’s really about local businesses supporting others to make the transition to climate friendly business by sharing what they have already learned. Together we can make a better transition.’’
‘‘Once they start using them, they actually see that they’re really quite nippy, and they can go a long way, and all it takes is a change in behaviour to remember to charge them.’’