The firm has already been commissioned by The Chamber of Commerce and the Province of Flemish-Brabant in Belgium to run its powertrain scan programme to prompt firms to consider greener cars to meet the needs of drivers.

The programme evaluates the feasibility to include alternative powertrains in the fleet strategy of the company matching the TCO, including all taxation effects, and the different mobility patterns of the employees using the company vehicles. 

It covers the three key challenges of alternative engines: driver usage patterns, business case and the implementation. 

Already more than 20 fleet operators from small to large fleet sizes have joined the current programme, which is now being rolled out in the Netherlands and France following client requests, with roll out in further countries in preparation. 

The firm added that both countries are highly stipulated by CO2-emission levels affecting the tax costs of the vehicle fleet through alternative powertrain concepts.

The programme combines a “mobility mapper” tool and a powertrain calculator tool, which reflects “TCO(plus taxes)” costs of vehicles. TCOPlus adds that a more driver-focused approach is necessary, taking in the individual mobility patterns of the company vehicle drivers, to ensure the success of the programme. These patterns are to be mapped against the typical user profiles for the different powertrains, including EV, hybrid, CNG and so on, and the related TCO(plus taxes) calculations.

Finally, alternative powertrains require adaptations within the car policy in order to reflect the specialties deriving from the new technology, resulting in the need for company specific solutions, which need to be considered when implementing an alternative powertrain strategy.

Combining five key elements, TCOPlus will provide fleet operators with the answer how alternative powertrains effect their fleet strategy:

• A tailored TCO calculation including tax effects of the different alternative powertrains based on the company fleet policy
• A mapping of the mobility patterns for the employees in scope by means of on-line questionnaires, respecting any privacy sensitivity
• Matching the mobility patterns with the typical user profiles of the alternative powertrains and with the related TCO(plus taxes) calculations
• Providing an optimised fleet situation including alternative powertrains in terms of TCO, driver satisfaction and environmental footprint
• Ideas, do’s and don’ts for implementation of these alternative powertrains as part of an individualised policy guideline