CVO 2009

CVO 2009 – a review
 
Company fleets grow even in times of crisis – Swiss companies can save through environmental protection and outsourcing
 
This time round the Corporate Vehicle Observatory (CVO) was presented in its shiny new form. For the first time the presentation of its results was given at Arval's headquarters in Cham. On Wednesday 17 June 2009, guests of ARVAL not only had a chance to find out about the latest trends in the area of fleet management; during a guided tour of the premises they also gained an insight into the work of ARVAL’s Account Teams. In addition, they enjoyed a training session in eco-driving from Touring Club Switzerland (TCS), which gave them a chance to practise driving in an environmentally conscious manner. The international, representative CVO study, which covers 12 countries (now also including Greece and the UK), was conducted for the sixth time in 2009.
 
Eco-driving – drive and save
 
In his welcome speech, Marcel Evers, Managing Director of ARVAL Switzerland, emphasised that there is still plenty of potential to make savings. With eco-driving and environmentally conscious fleet management, fuel savings of 10% can easily be achieved. He called on those present to ask themselves difficult questions: where can we and where do we need to set an example? What can we learn? Do all employees genuinely need to go everywhere by car? Evers stressed: “Our goal – now and particularly in the future – is to meet the information requirements of companies and drivers in the best possible way. Aspects regarding ecology and sustainability are a key concern for ARVAL in this context. We have set out on this course as we are personally convinced that it is the only sensible one to take.“
 
Checklist: how you can save fuel
 
Before driving


  • Have I planned my route sensibly? When am I driving where?
  • Are the tyres at the correct pressure?
  • Air-conditioning: is it so warm that I need to switch it on? Will this make the temperature comfortable or will I be turning my car into a “mobile refrigerator”?
  • Foot off the gas: do I make use of engine braking when driving downhill (1,500 rpm)?
  • Do I clear out my car regularly so that I’m not carrying around any unnecessary ballast?
 
 While driving
 
  • Do I switch off the engine whenever possible when I stop, e.g. at a red light?
  • Do I drive at a low rpm and do I change to a high gear as quickly as possible?
  • Do I anticipate while I am driving? (This behaviour is an important element of an environmentally friendly driving style. It is only possible, however, if drivers maintain sufficient distance from the vehicle in front of them.)
  
Most important insight: switch off your engine!
 
The training in eco-driving with the TCS made an impression on the participants. Both drivers and passengers went home having acquired a number of important insights. Driving in an environmentally friendly way makes it possible to achieve fuel savings of up to 10% on average and therefore save costs. It all depends on your previous driving style. During the training savings of between 3 and 21% were achieved on the test circuit. Eco-driving also helps to protect your tyres and, in addition, safety is increased as a result of anticipating while you are behind the wheel. Everyone was in agreement about the most important tip of the day: switch off your engine! This is worth the effort even after just a few seconds, so make sure you think about this when you stop at a red light in the future!

Passengers also benefit from eco-driving: the journey feels more relaxed – the jerky movements that tend to characterise a “normal” driving style are replaced by a pleasant feeling of gliding along the road. It goes without saying that a little patience and a period of adjustment are needed for the driver to adopt this new driving style. After all, it is quite different from what we learnt during our driving lessons...