In April, we sat down with Alessandra Leggieri, carbon management technologies specialist in the Verdantix Net Zero & Climate Risk team to discuss her recent research into fleet decarbonization.
Can you tell me a little bit more about what you’re researching at the moment?
One of my key research areas is technologies to reduce, remove and manage GHG emissions. Lately I’ve been spending more time looking into what organizations are doing to decarbonize their fleets and the technologies being developed to tackle this issue (here’s a link to the report). The Net Zero & Climate Risk team is focusing more and more on industry-specific topics like this one, so keep an eye out for the next one coming!
In 20 words or less, can you tell me why decarbonizing fleets is important for firms?
For firms in freight, postal services, telecommunications and consumer goods, fleets make up a significant percentage of their overall emissions.
What are the wider implications for this issue?
Large firms such as Amazon, AT&T, P&G, Royal Mail and Unilever have set short- and long-term targets to reduce fleet emissions, as part of broader firm-wide net zero goals. On top of the reputational risk of not meeting targets and the competitive advantage of doing so, governments around the world are phasing out fossil fuel vehicles by 2030, 2035 or 2040 at the latest, which is likely going to be another important driver for firms to decarbonize their fleets. But the implications and considerations associated with decarbonizing fleets can go even further, including changes in business models, time constraints when developing new infrastructure, and short- and long-term economic opportunities and costs when transitioning fleet to less carbon-intensive alternatives.
What’s the one thing you would suggest organizations do to tackle fleet decarbonization?
Electrification is not a panacea. In starting the fleet decarbonization journey, there is a lot that firms can do just by optimizing their existing infrastructure. Electrification is and will be an important part of the fleet decarbonization equation, but it doesn’t come without risks – which need to be accounted for in transition plans. For example, electrification of long-haul vehicles is still limited by issues around supply and technology readiness. Meanwhile, reducing the number of vehicles, optimizing payloads and routes can also result in significant emissions reduction. Software providers, such as carbon management or fleet management platforms, can help organizations weigh the cost and carbon reduction considerations of fleet decarbonization projects.
What’s hot in net zero innovation at the moment?
I’ve been really interested in seeing how AI is playing a role in fleet decarbonization, from charging and transportation optimization to supply chain management and LCA facilitation. For example, we are starting to see some software providers adding energy tracking and prediction capabilities to their modules to boost efficiency in charging. AI can also provide additional insights on traffic patterns to inform routes.
What’s next on your research agenda?
Speaking of AI, I’m currently conducting some research on use cases of AI for decarbonization, from carbon data management and tracking to predictive analytics and the use of geospatial data to monitor supply chains and methane leaks. Make sure to go check it out!
