State of Sustainable Fleets Report Released

Sustainable Vehicle Technologies and Fuels Are Growing Across All Sectors

Report is sponsored by Daimler Trucks North America, Penske Transportation Solutions, Shell Oil Company, and Exelon Corporation, and authored by Gladstein, Neandross & Associates (GNA)

Clean technology consulting firm and producers of the annual Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo, Gladstein, Neandross & Associates (GNA) has authored and launched the first comprehensive, technology-neutral industry report that examines the current state of prevalent sustainable vehicle platforms for medium- and heavy-duty fleets and identifies the trends shaping the future of the industry.

(PRNewsfoto/Penske Transportation Solutions)

Produced with support from the report’s title sponsors Daimler Trucks North America, Penske Transportation Solutions, Shell Oil Company, and supporting sponsor Exelon Corporation, the report offers insights into the current and future adoption of four sustainable fuel and vehicle technologies: natural gas vehicles (NGVs), propane (LPG) vehicles, battery electric vehicles (BEVs), hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). As fleets adopt these technologies, they are inevitably compared to baseline diesel and gasoline vehicles, which have historically—and will continue to—dominate the commercial fleet market. This report also summarizes sustainability trends in these baseline technologies that serve as a benchmark for emerging alternative fuel vehicles and advanced technologies.

The debut report finds that while diesel and gasoline vehicles have led the medium- and heavy-duty fleet markets in terms of vehicle and fuel sales for decades, fleets are now testing and purchasing sustainable vehicle technologies in record numbers. The authors note the industry is experiencing a critical inflection point where alternative fuel vehicle adoption is expanding from the gradual uptake in niche applications seen over the past several decades, to faster and broader adoption within the last few years, supported by four key findings:

• Across a broad spectrum of fleets surveyed, approximately 98% expect to increase or continue the same level of use of sustainable vehicle technologies and fuels.
• Natural gas, propane, battery electric, and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles, the four sustainable vehicle technology platforms covered in the study, are all growing in terms of vehicle sales, fuel sales, and investment.
• Sustainability is the top motivator for purchasing decisions among early adopter public, private, and even for-hire fleets in deploying clean vehicle technologies. Many U.S. fleets are now transitioning to clean vehicle technologies not just to reduce total cost of ownership but to meet sustainability objectives.
• Fleets confirm there is no material performance loss when switching to most renewable fuels— renewable diesel, natural gas, and electricity—and would use more when it is a cost-neutral, drop-in replacement.

“We applaud the research effort and insights presented by the inaugural State of Sustainable Fleets report,” said Richard Howard, senior vice president, On-highway sales and marketing for DTNA. “Our vision for a future of C0₂-neutral commercial transportation can only be realized by the collaboration between manufacturers and fleets to ensure we are delivering solutions to meet their needs. We are pursuing clean technologies of the future, and we will arrive to that future together as an industry who keeps the world moving.”     

“We are very pleased to serve as a sponsor of the inaugural State of Sustainable Fleets Report,” stated Drew Cullen, senior vice president of fuels and facility services for Penske Transportation Solutions. “We are here to advise and support our customers in navigating the complexities of operating and managing the latest vehicle technologies as they seek to reach their sustainability goals.”

“As one of the largest providers of fleet solutions globally, we support our customers in their transition to lower-emission fuels through energy provision coupled with expertise in road services and fleet management. This report is a concise and comprehensive resource, equipping fleet managers with critical insights they need to plan for operations in a lower-emission world,” said Giorgio Delpiano, vice president of fleet solutions for Shell.

“Exelon is committed to providing a cleaner and brighter future for our customers and communities while achieving excellent operational performance,” said Calvin Butler, CEO of Exelon Utilities. “Transportation electrification holds the promise of helping the cities and states in which we operate meet their environmental goals, reduce their carbon footprint, bring cleaner air to all communities we serve and create economic opportunity through job creation and reduced energy costs. At Exelon, we recently announced our commitment to electrify 50 percent of our utility vehicle fleet by 2030, and we understand the importance of selecting the right sustainable technology and designing, building and implementing the necessary infrastructure. Fleets across the U.S. rely on industry resources like the State of Sustainable Fleets report to make informed decisions as they transition to clean fuels and technology.”

Through interviews and surveys, the report gathers data from stakeholders who have real-world experience deploying sustainable vehicle technologies, including progressive fleet owners and operators, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and infrastructure providers. The analysis includes public, private, and for-hire fleets, including school, municipal/shuttle, urban delivery, refuse, utility, transit, short-haul, and long-haul sectors. This first-of-its-kind report includes unique insights into vehicle sale trends, anticipated vehicle development timelines, real-world infrastructure and fuel costs, and the growing adoption of renewable fuels. 

Structured to cover each of the sustainable vehicle technologies in depth, the report is organized such that each chapter is a standalone guide to the current state and future trends of that technology with detailed data, analysis, and unique insights.

GNA is hosting a complimentary two-part virtual launch event to share the report’s key findings in partnership with ACT Virtual, a digital extension of the annual ACT Expo. On Tuesday, August 11^th at 10 a.m. PST executives from the report’s title sponsors will discuss the report’s findings. Panelists included:

• Brian Cota, vice president of sales for national accounts for Daimler Trucks North America
• Drew Cullen, senior vice president of fuels and facility services for Penske Transportation Solutions
• Giorgio Delpiano, vice president of fleet solutions for Shell Oil Company
• Erik Neandross, chief executive officer for Gladstein, Neandross & Associates (GNA) will moderate the discussion

Representatives from leading fleets will join a follow-up panel, the State of Sustainable Fleets in a COVID-19 World on Thursday, August 13^th at 10 a.m. PST. Panelists include:

• Carlton Rose, president of global fleet maintenance and engineering for UPS
• James Cade, vice president of fleet services for Ruan Transportation
• Darryl Spencer, senior assistant vice president of engineering for Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART)
• Drew Cullen, senior vice president of fuels and facility services for Penske Transportation Solutions will moderate the discussion

For more information about the report and the launch event series, visit http://www.stateofsustainablefleets.com/.

Category: Featured, Fuel & Oil, General Update, Green, Management, News, Vehicles