The future of alternative fuels and fleet operators’ experiences of transitioning to a low-emission fleet have come under focus at the latest innovation event from Rivus.

Rivus shared the latest developments from its Alternative Fuels team at the event

The fleet management solutions partner brought together Iveco, Enerveo and key fleet operators to discuss the subject at its exclusive October Alternative Fuel Academy.

Held at Cranmore Park in the Midlands, the event assembled more than 20 key fleet management customers. Delegates included fleet and transport managers, technical engineers and sustainability managers from some of the UK’s most critical fleets who joined in the day’s agenda of presentations and panel discussions.

Thomas Maerz, chief development officer at Rivus, shared the latest developments from the Rivus Alternative Fuels team, including insights on measuring carbon dioxide reduction and the importance of doing so.

Enerveo, Rivus’ charging partner, presented insights on things to consider when planning EV charging infrastructure, and global manufacturer Iveco discussed the latest line up of alternative fuel options across its extensive range of light, medium and heavy commercial vehicles for road and off-road use.

Workshop sessions homed in on a recent hydrogen fleet study, exploring green hydrogen and identifying the best use case for commercial fleets. The study explored future hydrogen projects and the cost of hydrogen refuelling stations. The key takeaway and recommendations summarised that there are specific use cases where hydrogen will be an ideal fit for certain fleets, but investment into infrastructure is key and needed now.

The event also tackled the challenge of futureproofing for AFV fleets through a workshop on the workings of a garage for an alternative fuel fleet. This discussed required adaptations, tooling and training, plus some of the equipment required in the workshop for attendees to learn more about. The session provided in-depth information on what happens to AFVs when in garages for service, maintenance and repair – and Rivus reported a 235% increase in demand for service, maintenance and repair for alternative fuel fleets over the last 12 months.

It was the latest event in the Rivus Academy initiative; developed to provide a platform for like-minded fleet experts and also providing attendees with get exclusive access to content and insights shared during the day, through its online Academy Knowledge Hub.

Sarah Gray, head of alternative fuels at Rivus, said: “Following on from the success of our Electric Vehicle academy in March, the Alternative Fuel Academy provided another engaging day where customers and industry partners were at ease to bring their experiences and share with others.

“The event was well attended and post-event feedback from our guests has been really positive so far, with all guests saying they felt more knowledgeable on alternative fuels overall, and better connected with people that can support them.”