Adapting the university hospital’s fleet

Summary

Using clean vehicles within a large organisation such as Malmo’s university hospital helps spread the message about the environmental benefits of alternative fuels. Photo: City of Malmö

Implementing sustainable mobility

The university hospital in Malmo (UMAS) has a fleet of 65 vehicles, and on average one-third of the fleet is replaced each year. The purchase price of clean vehicles is often higher, and typically the resale price is lower than for the equivalent conventional vehicle.

The aim of this measure was to develop a strategy for leasing clean vehicles rather than replacing the conventional vehicles in the hospital’s fleet. The measure was part of a long-term goal for the region’s entire hospital fleet to comprise clean vehicles. As a first step, the aim was for 30 new clean vehicles to be acquired, so that 50 percent of vehicles leased and operated by UMAS would be clean vehicles by the end of 2008 (i.e. running on biofuel, compressed natural gas or bioethanol).

Progress

In 2007, reorganisation in the region meant that a number of UMAS vehicles were moved from the local transport department at UMAS to be part of the regional fleet. This meant that the original goal of 30 vehicles being replaced within SMILE was adjusted to approximately 23 vehicles.

In early 2009, a total of 21 new clean vehicles were purchased, all powered by natural gas/biogas and bioethanol.

Outcomes

The rate of vehicle replacement was less than half of the rate assumed in the original objectives, which meant that is was not possible to reach the total of 50 percent of clean vehicles out of the entire UMAS fleet by the end of SMILE.

There was a 20 percent reduction in emissions of CO2, 12.8 percent reduction in nitrogen oxides, and 2.5 percent reduction in particulates from the UMAS fleet as a result of vehicle purchasing decisions.