Developing a clean municipal fleet

Summary

The addition of 365 new clean vehicles brought the municipal fleet in Malmo closer to being 100 percent clean. Photo credit: City of Malmo

Implementing sustainable mobility

In 2004, prior to measure implementation, approximately 35 percent of municipally owned or leased vehicles in Malmo could be considered clean. The increased use of clean vehicles was generally hindered by a lack of information about alternatives such as natural gas, ethanol and electricity, along with higher initial investment costs and uncertainty as to which fuels will be available locally in the future.

This measure was designed to promote the use of clean vehicles by creating a municipal fleet that is almost totally clean. As the 18,000 municipality employees have few alternatives but to use the clean cars in the municipal car pool, the positive experience of such vehicles could spread more rapidly than if the same number of vehicles were purchased by individuals.

The clean cars were clearly marked as environmentally friendly vehicles and were highly visible in the daytime traffic in Malmo.

Progress

By the end of 2008, over 300 new clean vehicles had been purchased for Malmo through CIVITAS SMILE, marking progress towards the ultimate goal of a 100 percent clean fleet.

Outcomes

In September 2008, around 65 percent of the municipal light vehicle fleet (cars, vans and minibuses) was considered clean.

Reductions in CO2 emissions were from 92,834 to 241,776 kg/year; reductions in emissions of nitrogen oxides were from 24 to 32 kg/year; and reductions in emissions of particulates were approximately 1.5 grams/year.

During spring 2008, over 3,000 people took part in the SMILE general public survey. Respondents were asked to name measures implemented in the city related to transport and the environment. The biggest response was environmentally adapted or “clean” cars at 34 percent.