Green initiatives
The Queensland Government requires motor vehicles to deliver its programs and services effectively. QFleet leases and manages a fleet of around 14,000 vehicles, mostly passenger and light commercials, to a broad range of departments, agencies and approved organisations.
To help combat the potential damaging environmental effects of the fleet, QFleet has put in place a number of strategies designed to reduce vehicle emissions and to negate those that cannot be avoided.Improving the fleet’s environmental profile
QFleet encourages clients to lease the most fuel efficient vehicles that will meet their operational needs. We provide advice, guidance and tools to enable clients to make environmentally aware vehicle selection decisions.
Since the commencement of QFleet’s environmental program in 2000 there has been a progressive shift from six cylinder to four cylinder vehicles. While the total fleet size has increased by around 11% in that time, six cylinder numbers have dropped by 47%. The four cylinder component has more than doubled, and now represents 67% of the fleet.Petrol/electric hybrid vehicles
In 2001, QFleet conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the Toyota Prius petrol/electric hybrid vehicle. Hybrid technology combines an internal combustion engine and an electric motor into one synergised powertrain, resulting in improved fuel economy and reduced emissions. The vehicle proved to be well suited for use in the Queensland Government fleet. In 2008 the Honda Civic Hybrid was added to the fleet.
As at 30 June 2008, QFleet had 167 Prius and 36 Civic hybrid vehicles on lease to clients – one of the largest individual hybrid fleets in Australia. Click on the links for more information about the Toyota Prius and Honda Civic.Carbon Offsetting
Plants absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) as they grow, releasing oxygen and locking up carbon in the form of wood. Planting trees is an effective way of removing CO2 from the atmosphere.
QFleet is funding the planting of more than 530,000 trees under the Greenfleet program, with more than half a million trees now successfully established. Greenfleet is a not-for-profit organisation accredited as an Approved Abatement Provider under the Federal Government’s Greenhouse Friendly initiative. For an annual subscription fee, Greenfleet plants sufficient trees to account for the carbon dioxide produced by an average vehicle over a year. Membership is open to individual motorists and fleet owners. QFleet funded planting is taking place in tree depleted locations across Queensland using locally sourced plants. The program provides the additional benefits of restoring native habitat and helping to reduce erosion and salinity problems.For more information about Greenfleet, click here.
ClimateSmart
In June 2007 the Queensland Government released ClimateSmart 2050 Queensland climate change strategy 2007: a low carbon future. This strategy commits the Queensland Government to reducing and neutralising greenhouse emissions for the government vehicle fleet. The QFleet ClimateSmart Action Plan 2007-2010 provides a framework to meet this commitment. For more information about the Action Plan click here.
Alternative fuels – ethanol
E10 is a blend of 10% ethanol and 90% petrol. The Queensland Government is supporting the development of an ethanol industry in Queensland. To view the Government’s Queensland Ethanol Industry Action Plan, please click here.
To demonstrate confidence in ethanol and stimulate market demand, drivers of petrol-fuelled Queensland Government vehicles are required, where possible, to use E10.
More than 99% of all petrol-fuelled vehicles purchased and leased by QFleet are E10 compatible.
QFleet's Service Centre at Colchester Street, South Brisbane also offers E10 and has been re-branded to promote the fuel. More than 1.4 million litres of E10 has been sold at the site since January 2004.
For full details of E10 outlets in Queensland click here.
Further information
For more information on QFleet's commitment to the environment, email us at mail@qfleet.qld.gov.au.