Transport supervisor shares top tips on saving fuel
By Bill Heaney
A total of 200 NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board drivers have now completed the Fuel Good driving certification to help reduce their carbon footprints as the health board continues its transition over to electric vehicles.
Fuel Good helps train drivers on the most efficient and economical ways to save money on fuel and reduce their environmental impact.
The programme is hugely important to NHSGGC, whose drivers can clock up anything between 100 – 1000 miles per week. Now, with a fleet of more than 120 electric vehicles, the board is well on its way towards its net-zero target as it looks to implement new measures and facilities to support staff to work in a more environmentally friendly way.
Matthew Monaghan a transport supervisor at the health board’s Dava Street transport hub. Matthew manages a vast team of drivers to ensure goods and patients get to where they need to be on any given day.
With more than 10 years experience and also having completed the Fuel Good driving certification, Matthew outlined some basic top tips for electric vehicle drivers:
“Electric vehicles are a great way to save money on fuel and reduce your carbon footprint but there are a few things you should know to get the most out of them.”
Matthew’s top tips for electric vehicle drivers include:
Learn how your electric vehicle works. Electric vehicles are different from fuel-powered vehicles, so it’s important to learn how they work and how to operate them.
Regenerate your battery. Electric vehicles can regenerate their batteries by braking and coasting. This can help you extend the range of your vehicle.
Save battery life. There are a few things you can do to save battery life, such as turning off climate control when you don’t need it and driving at a consistent speed.
Planning your route. Try to plan your routes so that you can avoid making unnecessary stops.
NHSGGC recently declared a Climate Emergency and teams across the organisation are progressing a change and improvement agenda for sustainability and climate change to ensure delivery of the outcomes aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and NHS Scotland’s target of being Net-Zero by 2040.
Martin Johnston is NHSGGC’s interim head of sustainability and highlighted the importance of effective transport management as part of reaching net zero. Martin said:
“As the largest health board in Scotland we have to cover thousands of miles every day to ensure the service runs effectively. However, we know that fossil fuel vehicles are major contributors to pollution, so there is a crucial push to transition the service over to electric vehicles as quickly as possible to help us reduce our environmental impact. Coupled with other changes to the way we manage and develop our built environment, policies on waste management and our approach to clinical sustainability, we believe NHSGGC can have a real positive impact in the health sector’s approach to the environment.”
- West Dunbartonshire Council refuse to disclose what they have done with their electric vehicles. Make of that whatsoever you wish.
Pictured: Matthew Monaghan next to one of NHSGGC’s electric fleet
I just Love the, turn off climate control and wear 10 jumpers in the winter and wear next to nothing in the summer, which has really got to be a marvellous advancement in technology, not forgetting the children in various third world countries sliding about in poisonous mud pits trying to extract Lithium for electric car batteries to feed themselves, and then also depleted Lithium car batteries after 3 years of use needing replacing, non recyclable, unless kept between 20% and 80% of charge to extend the three year life battery span, then we have battery charge anxiety and battery charging points anxiety, also no capped prices on charging points, which leaves Dick Turpin running them, followed by the Government ready to pounce with taxation, just like the Diesel tax con that they have already pulled, before buying one, think of the old video recording machines, Betamax or VHS, what was the all singing all dancing scrapped loser, and who chose wisely, loads more to say, but I hope readers get the gist Oh, and the little Zero road taxed little to nil emission engine petrol cars of a few years ago did not last long before the government lost money on tax, and now that type of car is taxed, let’s not be silly, be realistic, it is all about greed and money, nothing to do with being Green, our 1% of World Greenhouse gases is meaningless even if we shave a bit of that figure.Its all about taxation, and money making cons under the auspices of being Green, enjoy your winter jumpers and high stress levels. T.N
Matthew, Enjoy your battery vehicles, but if one them of the need to go to Dunoon from Glasgow, they can’t manage the Rest and Thankful route, via dropping at the Vale of Leven Hospital, and in the winter they struggle getting a return journey to Inverclyde with screen demist, wipers, lights and heater on, enjoy the pipe dream and warm clothing, and I look forward to your plan to get me a charging facility 24 floors up with no car parks for charging points nearby, enjoy you your dream, like me, 24 up, pie in the sky