{"id":86005,"date":"2023-05-10T14:56:18","date_gmt":"2023-05-10T13:56:18","guid":{"rendered":" https:\/\/www.quartix.com\/?p=86005"},"modified":"2023-05-10T14:56:19","modified_gmt":"2023-05-10T13:56:19","slug":"the-true-costs-of-engine-idling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.quartix.com\/en-ie\/blog\/the-true-costs-of-engine-idling\/","title":{"rendered":"The true costs of engine idling"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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If you’re a fleet manager, business owner, or logistics manager, you know that managing engine idling is a big challenge. Although it\u2019s necessary in some circumstances, there can be significant costs associated with idling that every organisation should consider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, vehicle tracking technology<\/a> can help you identify bad driving habits like excessive idling and help you work towards eliminating it. \u00a0This blog will look at the hidden, true costs of engine idling for fleets and discuss how best to minimise those costs for maximum savings.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Why should you be concerned about engine idling?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While engine idling may seem harmless, it actually contributes to air pollution and wastes fuel. Eliminating idling from your company\u2019s work vehicles has the potential to save your company nearly $15,000 (\u00a312,000) per vehicle per<\/a> year, not just in fuel savings, but vehicle maintenance expenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unnecessary idling can cause avoidable wear and tear on a car’s engine and results in an excess of spent carbon emissions. According to the North American Council of Freight Efficiency, a fleet of 500 trucks spends $27,000 (\u00a322,000) every month on emissions repairs<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Idling can also be a significant drain on a company’s bottom line from lost productivity, as drivers and vehicles burn through fuel with no accompanying income to balance that expenditure. Companies looking to improve their bottom line would do well to take a closer look at their idling practices and find ways to reduce or eliminate them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The environmental cost<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Engine idling is also major contributing factor to worldwide air pollution. Exhaust from a running vehicle contains n\u0456tr\u043eg\u0435n \u043ex\u0456d\u0435\u0455 (NOx), v\u043el\u0430t\u0456l\u0435 \u043erg\u0430n\u0456\u0441 \u0441\u043em\u0440\u043eund\u0455, particulate m\u0430tt\u0435r, \u0441\u0430rb\u043en m\u043en\u043ex\u0456d\u0435 \u0430nd \u0441\u0430rb\u043en d\u0456\u043ex\u0456de. All of these are released into the atmosphere in excessive amounts when a vehicle is idl\u0456ng.  These pollutants don\u2019t just aff\u0435\u0441t \u043eur \u0435nv\u0456r\u043enm\u0435nt, but also our h\u0435\u0430lth. An average HGV consumes about 2 litres of fuel per hour in idling mode and its engine can emit 20 times more pollution than a vehicle travelling at 30 miles an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By reducing your engine idling, you can help reduce your carbon footprint and make a positive impact on the environment and limit human exposure to dangerous gases. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simple techniques to cut down on engine idling<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are some simple techniques you can use to reduce engine idling, such as turning off your engine at red lights or when you’re parked for more than a minute. Another tip is to use your car’s heating and cooling system wisely, as running these systems at full blast can lead to unnecessary idling. It is recommended to turn off your engine when parked or waiting in line, and to limit warm-up times to 30 seconds. Additionally, planning your route before hitting the road can help you avoid heavy traffic and reduce the amount of time you spend idling in your vehicle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How can vehicle tracking can help<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With the wealth of information you can get through vehicle tracking, you can monitor idle time and identify areas where you and your drivers can make improvements to bring that time down. In addition, vehicle tracking can also provide insights into:<\/p>\n\n\n\n