Fiat is continuing with its quest for the ecology. “Following the ‘hardware’ modifications we have adopted over the past few years on all models of the Fiat group through downgrading and downsizing, we are now concentrating on the driver’s behaviour behind the wheel”, explained Gustavo Pinto Teixeira, Fleet Marketing Manager, during the press presentation of the new Fiat eco:Drive system at Pollenzo, close to Turin.
This digital tool was introduced two years ago onto the private market and met with unexpected success. This is why Fiat has decided to launch eco:Drive Fleet, specifically for the B2B market.
The eco:Drive tool is a system which brings together information on the car’s efficiency and on individual driving style. All the information is stored on a USB stick so that the driver can read the data on a computer. In this way, he can take a look at detailed analyses of fuel consumption and emissions for each journey (via an ecoIndex) and take advantage of advice for further limiting the ecological impact of his car.
Fiat sees real potential in this tool. As witnessed by the presence of Lorenzo Sistino himself, CEO of Fiat Group Automobiles, at the presentation. “With average CO2 emissions of 128 grams per km across its entire range, in 2009 Fiat was the most ecological brand in Europe. And this was in particular thanks to the introduction of the Multijet and Multi-air engine technology. This led to Fiat Group recording 7% growth despite European car sales decreasing by 12% last year in Europe. The next stage therefore involves fleet sales. The eco:Drive tool is one of the ways we will achieve this”, emphasises Lorenzo Sistino.
It has to be acknowledged that during tests in the hills of Pollenzo, Fiat fleet clients and journalists were able to see for themselves that the eco:Drive tool provided immediate results. The 90 persons taking part had to drive a small journey in their normal driving style, and then cover the same trip once again, but this time following the eco-driving instructions involving the following areas: acceleration, braking, gear-changing and speed. During the first run, average fuel consumption was 7.5 litres/100 km. After the second run it had fallen to 5.3 litres / 100 km. The calculation is quickly made. Supposing a price of one Euro per litre of petrol or diesel, 198 Euros were saved (2.2 x 90 x 1), and this on a circuit of barely 25 km… A (more realistic) Bosch simulation (a Fiat partner) informed us that for a fleet of 100 vehicles driving an average of 30,000 km per year, the savings could be as much as 56,000 Euros annually. Not to mention CO2 emissions, which drop by 845 tonnes.
Negotiations are currently underway with various companies in Europe in order to reach agreements.
| 01/03/2010 |
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