The Greener HGV Programme has reached its halfway point as it welcomes the 500th HGV to the programme.
Having secured €1.4m funding under the Irish Government’s Climate Action Fund, The Greener HGV Programme launched in Summer 2021 with the aim of fitting 1,000 fleet vehicles across Ireland with technology to help reduce carbon emissions by targeting 10 per cent savings on fuel.
Cubo has partnered with 3 Counties Energy Agency to deliver the programme on behalf of the Irish Government as part of their target for Project Ireland 2040.
The programme has reached fleet companies across Ireland, in various industries including Oil Distribution, as well as General Haulage and Construction.
The addition of East Cork Oils’ 186 vehicles marks the halfway point in grant allocations and takes the number of participant companies to 13, with fleet sizes ranging from 5 to almost 200.
Robert Steele from Cubo added: “We are delighted with how popular the scheme has been and would urge companies who want to save fuel and reduce their CO2 emissions to apply ASAP. We have funding for 1,000 vehicles and have already assigned 50% of that.”
To avail of the 30 per cent technology software and hardware grant, applicants can apply here. Smart telematics including tracking, fuel, remote tachograph downloads and compliance software, live footage cameras and driver awareness panels are all part of the technology that will be used to deliver these sustainable measures.
Elsatrans, Listowell Transport and O’Neills International Transport are all at the driver training stage, which is currently being delivered online, via an app, to allow for the additional pressures the industry are facing around Covid-19 and driver shortages.
Cubo and 3CEA have welcomed the positive feedback from the first cohort of participants.
Aaron McIlennan, Managing Director of Elsatrans explained: “We took advantage of the 30% grant to roll out this technology across our fleet. Setting aside the obvious financial benefits, both with the grant and with the ongoing fuel savings, we wanted to make real and tangible efforts to minimise our impact on the environment.”
Frank Pratt & Sons, Ireland’s leading Plant Hire Contractor joined the programme and Managing Director Ivan Pratt echoes the financial incentive. “Fuel accounts for the biggest portion of our operational costs, a 10% saving on that cannot be overlooked. We now have tangible information on our environmental impact and can focus on being more sustainable and efficient. “
John O’Callaghan, Financial Controller at East Cork Oils added: “We have a very dynamic operation, when you run a fleet of almost 200 vehicles it makes sense to introduce technology that can take over some of those more mundane and time-consuming tasks. The ease of accessing camera footage was a huge benefit to us, as well as the obvious environmental improvements from being able to measure – and make steps to reduce – our carbon footprint. We previously used multiple systems for tracking, monitoring fuel usage, downloading the driver’s cards and tachographs and were in the market for cameras. It was an obvious choice to move to a supplier that could meet all our requirements on one platform – with the added incentive of the 30% government grant.”
Bryan Hynes, Distribution Manager at DCC Oil Group explained why they joined the programme. “DCC Oil Group were in the process of merging 3 oil companies – Jones Oils, Campus Oils and Emo Oils. We were looking for a complete transport solution to manage the newly merged large fleet, and we were interested in live camera technology. The time was right to find a system that ticked all the boxes – which the Cubo solution does. For DCC, one of its main attractions is the ability to remotely download our tachographs which means we don’t need our drivers to return to base, saving time, fuel, and emissions – before our drivers even get to the professional driver training. We are committed to developing a conscious driving culture which will undoubtedly result in a reduction of our carbon footprint and fuel costs.”
To find out more about the programme click here
