Pssst....want to save money (and the planet) the next time you're hiring a van? Well then better hot-(carbon) foot print it down to Northgate Vehicle Hire on account of they're now offering ultra-efficient ECO-Start-equipped Mercedes-Benz Sprinters. The super-green Merc vans will be available through Northgate subsidiaries Delta Vehicle Hire in
For those of you who don't already know it, ECO-Start is the factory-fitted option on all Sprinter models with four-cylinder diesel engines and manual transmissions. When the system is active it automatically stops the engine when the van is stationary, and when certain predefined vehicle conditions are met, after a two second waiting period. The engine then automatically restarts when the clutch pedal is pressed.
According to Mercedes (who ought to know) "In an urban environment with heavy traffic the savings can be substantial - depending on driving style and traffic density:
- Fuel consumption can be cut by 10%, although real world driving tests by commercial vehicle publications ---they mean Commercial Motor and Motor Transport----have achieved improvements of up to 30% when compared with a standard van
- Reduced exhaust emissions - zero emissions during system operation while engine is off
- Reduced CO2 emissions - zero emissions during system operation while engine is off
Northgate Vehicle Hire operations director Ian Moffat tells Biglorryblogs: "ECO-Start represents a fantastic opportunity for urban van fleets to benefit from this effective yet simple technology, and see a decrease in their fuel bills and carbon footprint. "Our decision to add ECO-Start equipped vehicles to the fleets operated by three of our rental companies demonstrates our commitment to helping companies reduce their operating costs by working closely with the leading vehicle manufacturers. 
I thought all vehicles already had zero exhaust emissions and zero CO2 emissions while their engines were off!