TSG helps commercial fleets go green
Fuel and depot management systems provider TSG UK has explained how it is assisting fleet operators in their transition to greener energies, including through its Profleet Logmaster depot management system.
”Commercial fleet managers must be prepared for the energy transition, by revising their operating strategy and researching alternative energy sources to find the best fit for their business,” said Paul Brooks, TSG fleet sales director.
“Such a large-scale shift will undoubtedly be a very gradual process, so, to achieve the government’s ambitious goal of net zero by 2050, the transition should effectively start now.
“In an industry of tight margins, fierce competition and stringent regulations, a high-investment move of this magnitude can seem overwhelming for fleet operators. Replacing an entire fleet of commercial vehicles and supporting infrastructure is a considerable investment for any company, requiring a carefully structured approach to the procurement policy.
“However, early adoption of greener energies will deliver lower operating costs over the short, medium and long term.”
Careful consideration should be given to both vehicle selection and the energy to power them, says Paul, to allow companies to meet the changing carbon targets and eventually sever the link with volatile oil prices.
“There are several new energy options on the table; hydrogen, compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), electricity and a variety of bio-fuels (including bio-CNG and bio-LNG)…
“Natural gas engines are up to fifty percent quieter than their diesel counterparts, with electric commercial vehicles the quietest of them all. This enables vehicles to operate unnoticed in urban areas outside normal business hours, easing congestion and making fleet operations more flexible.
“Typically, diesel fuel represents more than one-third of all costs for commercial fleets. Natural gas or electricity can offer significantly cheaper running costs, saving fleet operators up to 40 per cent compared to diesel, depending on the daily duty cycle.”
Paul adds that the substantial tolls currently incurred by diesel-powered fleets entering designated clean air or low emission zones will be eradicated when operators go green. Nor will electric or gas-powered commercial vehicles need to take lengthy detours to avoid these zones, saving time and energy costs.
“Fleet controllers must capitalise on the introduction of advanced fleet management tools, to ease the load and simplify processes, whilst ensuring operating efficiency and delivering cost reductions through data insight,” he continued.
“Leveraging real-time, data-driven intelligence can result in spending cuts on maintenance, servicing and fuel.
“TSG has been renowned for supplying equipment to the retail fuel industry for over 30 years and will continue to support all fossil fuel sites for the foreseeable. However, TSG is now making a name for itself in the new energy sector, by supplying, installing and maintaining the necessary equipment to assist fleet operators in making the switch to greener energies.
“This includes all types of CNG and LNG plants and dispensers, and hydrogen compressors, electrolysers and dispensers.
“TSG is now established as the UK’s first-choice engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor for all new energies (including electricity and solar), delivering all works within a predefined timescale and budget for any application.
“Furthermore, TSG supplies, installs and supports a superior depot management system that makes controlling site equipment and energy dispensation straightforward and seamless.”
As the world moves towards a more sustainable future, says Paul, commercial fleets that have already started to shift to greener, cleaner energy sources need a depot management system that can make the transition with them.
“Profleet’s Logmaster, the successor to the DiaLog fuel management system, facilitates smarter depot control for fleet managers, by providing a comprehensive, centralised overview of all of the equipment on site,” he said.
“Logmaster improves operational efficiency and streamlines business processes, resulting in faster throughput of the fleet and increased productivity across the site.
“Logmaster connects to any make or model of equipment on site (regardless of brand), catering to traditional fossil fuels and new energies, including gas, hydrogen and electricity, paving the way for future development and growth.”
Site operators can choose to store data on their network or in the cloud, he explains, without storage fees, and change the connection at any time. If there is a network outage, Logmaster’s replication process ensures operations will continue across the remaining sites until the connection is restored, without incurring data loss.
“Logmaster’s sleek terminal, with its advanced touchscreen display, allows for seamless and swift customer interaction,” Paul continued.
“The contemporary design is very easy on the eye, and its compact nature means it will suit any scale of operation. Both the standalone model and the wall box are manufactured with an anti-corrosion coating on every panel to ensure its durability, even in the harshest conditions.”
The Logmaster range includes GasLog, which is said to enable reliable control of the dispensation of CNG, LNG or hydrogen, even when fuelling takes place overnight. Advanced settings such as quantities and low flow rate deactivation allow stable and safe operations, says Paul.
Meanwhile, ChargeLog enables straightforward monitoring of a site’s EV charging operations, offering all of the required functionalities, while having the freedom to connect multiple charger brands, giving site operators complete control.
FuelLog centralises real-time data received from the storage tank, dispenser and automatic tank gauge (ATM) to enable fleet managers to track and control fuel and AdBlue usage.
“Operators can gain an understanding of their fuelling costs, by viewing a detailed breakdown of fuel stock consumption by driver, vehicle and site,” Paul explained.
“The system is also able to highlight potential areas of concern, such as a sudden drop in fuel level and suspicious transactions. Being able to monitor fuel movement in this way can help managers achieve a higher level of efficiency and subsequently save costs.”
