As we are all too aware, UK fuel prices are already among the highest in the world and a major cost for companies running sizable fleets. In March 2013, George Osborne cancelled his plans to increase fuel duty this September and freeze fuel duty for two years sparking a lively debate surrounding the tentative relationship between cost savings and environmental responsibility.

The decision came as a welcome relief to fleet managers across the country, with potential average annual savings of £64 per vehicle adding up to a meaningful saving for companies running sizeable fleets. However, are the Chancellor’s decisions a stumbling block in the progress being made towards greener motoring? BVRLA’s Chief Executive John Lewis recently made speculations that “the decision to remove 100% First-Year allowances…will result in them [SMEs] choosing cheaper cars with higher CO2 emissions…Overall car emissions in the UK could rise as a result over the next year.”

With all of this in mind, how can you ensure that your company’s fleet choices are having a measurable impact on your business as a whole, as well as the environment you are trying to protect? Can you really have your cake and eat it, or has something got to give?