Business drivers leading the green agenda

A new study released today shows it is business drivers who are now driving the green agenda.

The survey, by the Energy Saving Trust, provides a comprehensive insight into the motivational makeup of company car drivers, revealing environmentally aware drivers now make up 46 per cent of company car drivers.

According to the study, they want to see greener cars being offered by their companies and more incentives to go green to help stop the 16 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions emitted by three million company cars in the UK each year.

However, only one per cent of those surveyed currently drive a hybrid or alternative fuel vehicle for work.

The research identifies five distinct "tribes" of company car driver:

Responsible Roadies (27 per cent)

Calm, respectful middle managers, mostly women, who aren't fussed about their brand of car and are supportive of green issues.

Petrolheads (27 per cent)

Status-driven middle-aged male speeders who love knowing about cars and have little interest in green issues.

Eco Drivers (19 per cent)

Young middle managers who are sympathetic to green issues. Most likely to own a green car and use public transport for work.

Cash Counters (15 per cent)

Young junior executives who want to make money out of the car. They are ambivalent about green issues, disrespectful of other drivers and admit to driving fast and dangerously.

High Milers (13 per cent)

Older managers who are always on the road, don't care about other drivers, green issues, brand status or making money out of the car. They're sick and tired of driving for work.

Robbie McKinnon from the Energy Saving Trust, said: "We've found that a lot of businesses choose to implement environmental practices like using smarter driving techniques, other forms of transport and teleconferencing.

"Smarter driving techniques can save a company with a fleet of a hundred vehicles £90,000 so that is a huge saving.

"We recommended four key principles: firstly, changing through the gears earlier; remaining in high gears as much as possible without labouring the engine even at low urban speeds; improving the powers of observation which is a skill drivers need to develop as it allows them to keep their car moving without unnecessary breaking or accelerating; and finally, when going down a hill or slowing down remain in gear but take your foot off the accelerator as most modern cars will completely shut off the fuel supply to the engine, this is know as driving for free.

"On average this could save you about 15 per cent or about £250 a year on fuel."

To encourage greener driving, the Energy Saving Trust is offering ten organisations the chance to win 'smarter driving' training. This consists of one-to-one instructor sessions worth up to £1,000 for groups of up to 32 employees. To find out more click here