The ESG secret hiding in your parking lot
Let's be honest, when most people think about Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives, vehicle maintenance practices probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind. You're more likely thinking about solar panels, recycling programs, or switching to renewable energy suppliers. But here's the thing, good vehicle maintenance could be quietly delivering some of the biggest ESG wins in your entire organisation. Simple things like:
Tyre pressures.
Wheel alignment and rotation.
Regular servicing (regular oil changes).
Tyre pressure. The low-hanging fruit that’s easy to pluck!
Here's the deal with tyre pressure and fuel consumption: when your tires are under-inflated, they're basically dragging against the road instead of rolling smoothly, which means your engine has to work harder to push the car forward. The numbers don't lie, drop your tyre pressure by just 65 kPal (that's not much), and you're looking at up to 3% worse fuel economy. That might not sound like a lot, but it adds up fast at the pump.
The thing is, most of us don't check tyre pressure nearly often enough, and tyres naturally lose about 7-14 kPal per month just sitting there. It takes literally three minutes to check and top up your tyres at a service station, yet this simple task can be the difference between getting 630 kilometres per tank or 650. Your tyres should be at the pressure listed on the sticker inside your driver's door (not the maximum pressure stamped on the tyre sidewall), and checking them once a month when they're cold will keep you rolling efficiently and save you money every time you fill up.
The science behind these numbers.
Chart below has been converted from MPG and MPH, to L/100km and KPH.
The Y-axis is L/100km and the X-axis is vehicle speed.
Translating the above into CO₂ impact. Assuming, over the course of a year the above Corolla travels 25,000 kilometres per annum at an average speed of 64 kph. at an average speed of 89 kph and travelling 25,000 kilometres per annum.
Fuel Economy by Speed for a Toyota Corolla under Various Tyre Pressure Conditions
CO₂ impact grams per annum by Tyre Pressure (TP) and average speed
Wheel alignment and tyre rotation is your friend, rolling resistance is your enemy.
Misaligned tyres create drag, they don't roll freely, requiring more engine power. Lateral forces are increased, the wheels fight against each other instead of working together. Tyres are scrubbing, parts of the tyre drag against the road surface instead of rolling smoothly.
The impact on fuel consumption and CO₂
A major international tyre manufacturer claims that poor alignment can lead to up to 10% more fuel consumption (source), a claim which is supported by case studies showing that even moderate misalignments can impact fuel economy by 3 to 6%.
Regular oil changes, say goodbye to sister sludge!
When your engine oil gets old and sludgy the friction goes up and the efficiency goes down, it's costing you real money at the pump. Multiple automotive studies show that running on old oil can knock your fuel economy down by anywhere from 5% to 12% compared to fresh oil.
So, what does this all mean in the real-world"?
Assumptions:
Distance travelled 30,000 kms per annum
(15,000 kilometre intervals between vehicle services and wheel rotation and alignment,Standard fuel consumption 10.0 L/100 Kms
$1.60 p.Litre ex-GST
Reduction in Fuel Usage Assumptions:
3% Tyre Pressures
5% Wheel Alignment
5% Regular Oil Changes
Fuel cost savings:
$144 Tyre Pressures
$240 Wheel Alignment & Rotation
$240 Regular Oil Changes
$624 per annum
CO₂ reduction:
207kg Tyre Pressures
345 kg Wheel Alignment & Rotation
345 kg Regular Oil Changes
897 kg reduction in CO₂ per annum
Do air filters make an impact? That depends on how old your vehicle is.
Does changing the air filter have an impact on fuel economy? For older carburettor vehicles than yes, but on most modern fuel-injection vehicles no. Or to be more specific, not because fuel economy is directly affected; its the acceleration performance that can get impacted, somewhere between 6 to 11% (source: U.S. Dept Energy). That may lead to some drivers reacting by pressing more aggressively on the accelerator.
Look, changing your air filter might not be the most exciting part of car maintenance, but it's one of those simple things that actually makes a real difference. It keeps all the dirt and grime out of your engine where it can cause expensive damage down the road. It’s inexpensive and can be replaced quickly. Think of it as cheap insurance for your engine that can save you thousands in engine repairs and keep your car running smoothly for years longer. Especially in regional areas where we deal with more dust and dirt. So, sure, it won't dramatically improve your fuel economy like some people claim, but the performance boost you'll feel and the protection you're giving your engine make it one of the smartest, easiest maintenance jobs you can do.
From a carbon emissions perspective, the big win is from extended vehicle lifespan…
Live Long and Reduce Carbon Footprint
Here's the straight story on what these Japanese researchers found: They wanted to figure out what happens to carbon emissions when people keep their cars longer instead of buying new ones all the time. So they crunched the numbers on every car registered in Japan from 1990 to 2016. That's a lot of cars.
What they discovered makes a lot of sense when you think about it. If everyone in Japan kept their cars just 10% longer before scrapping them, it would cut carbon emissions by a whopping 30.7 million tons. That's because you're not manufacturing as many replacement cars, and making cars creates a ton of emissions. Even just keeping your new car 10% longer before trading it in saved 26.4 million tons of carbon, while hanging onto used cars longer still helped, saving 5.2 million tons.
But here's the kicker, when they flipped it around and looked at what happens if people get rid of cars 10% sooner, emissions shot up by 42 million tons. That's like adding millions more cars to the roads in terms of carbon impact.
The bottom line? The researchers are basically saying that car companies shouldn't just focus on making more fuel-efficient engines, they should be designing cars that last longer and that people actually want to keep driving for more years. It's one of those "why didn't we think of this before" moments: sometimes the best way to reduce your environmental impact isn't to buy something new and green, it's to make what you already have last longer.
Of course your fleet vehicles will be turned over well before their end of lifecycle (see article on timing), but by engaging in sound vehicle maintenance you’ve not only reduced your carbon footprint when you’ve been running them, you’ve created the platform for the next generation of owners as well.
In summary
The simple truth is this: while everyone's chasing the latest green technology or debating carbon offset programs, you've got nearly 900 kilograms of CO2 reduction sitting right there in your parking lot, waiting for someone to check tyre pressures and change some oil. That's not just good for the planet, it's $624 back in your pocket per vehicle, every single year. Your ESG report is going to love these numbers, your CFO is going to love the savings, and your drivers are going to love the reliability. So here's what you do next: grab a tyre pressure gauge, schedule those oil changes, and book that wheel alignment. The planet doesn't need you to wait for perfect conditions or revolutionary technology, it just needs you to do the basics properly. Your future self, your bottom line, and your grandkids will thank you for taking action today instead of waiting for tomorrow.
Do you own/manage a business that’s looking to save money and improve ESG credentials?