Grey-Fleet Drivers Benefit from Online Carbon Emission Monitoring From Coverbox

Coverbox, the pay-as-you-drive vehicle insurer, is flagging up groundbreaking methods for those grey-fleet drivers who want to reap the benefits of environmentally-aware driving. Policyholders can now monitor the level of their vehicle’s carbon tyreprint online thanks to GPS technology that relays emissions information direct to their home PC.

"Our GPS-based system allows car drivers to go online and monitor time,
distance and cost of journeys, but also gives them a readout of carbon emissions directly from a vehicle’s onboard computer – the information gets no more accurate than that, and it is a very simple process to log on and review those emissions figures," said Paul Stacy of Coverbox.

"Drivers are able to monitor mileage costs based on time and distance, and
are changing their driving habits accordingly – avoiding higher-charge rush hour driving, and combining several journeys into one. That works on costs grounds for the vehicle owner, but it also means that emissions can be monitored and cut by changing driving habits as well."

Coverbox has several top tips on keeping your carbon emissions to a minimum including: Lots of short journeys are the worst culprit. The car’s engine never gets to full working temperature and is at its least environmentally efficient so ensure you plan the day, change driving habits and make one longer journey rather than several shorter ones; Tyres are a major culprit when not at the recommended pressure as this causes
the car uses more power and produces more emissions to maintain the same pace so it is important to invest in a tyre pressure gauge, and top up the air for as little as 20p in a garage when necessary; Try using a higher gear. Modern cars, especially diesels, can usually be driven in a higher gear than most people expect. Try third instead of second when trundling in that traffic; Air conditioning can increase fuel consumption and hence emissions, so consider switching it off when weather conditions are comfortable. However, an open window can cause drag and increase fuel consumption at motorway speeds sodon’t be afraid to switch the aircon on or off, or open and close those windows.

Coverbox pay-as-you-drive insurance allows drivers to take out comprehensive cover that is paid for by the mile, with the price per mile varying according to the time of the day or night: off-peak, peak or "super-peak" times. All Coverbox policyholders get free theft tracking giving you additional peace of mind. Coverbox also provide a personal website which enables policyholders to see precisely how many miles they are driving, and what the cost of those miles are.

Author: Amanda White, October 1, 2009
Filed under: Fleet news