London drivers burn 13% of fuel idling
New data has revealed that London drivers burn 13.6% of their fuel consumption while stationary.
Research from Geotab found that 1.58 million litres of fuel were burned in Europe’s main capitals last year, costing drivers about £2.2m.
It analysed data from while Geotab-connected vehicles in London, Berlin, Amsterdam, Dublin, Rome, Paris and Madrid. With fuel prices rising this year as a result of the war in Iran, Geotab is predicting that the cost of idling will rise to over £3m during 2026.
According to its European Urban Freight Efficiency Index, London recorded the highest passenger vehicle fuel consumption of any city analysed, at 15.60 litres per 100 kilometres, almost two-and-a-half times higher than Paris.
Congestion
Edward Kulperger, senior vice president, EMEA at Geotab, said: “Congestion has traditionally been measured through the lens of time. How long journeys take, how busy roads become and how delays affect operations. What this analysis shows is that there is another layer of cost sitting beneath that discussion.
“When vehicles are idling, fleets are effectively burning money. Our data shows it costs them millions: fuel consumed with engines running and wheels going nowhere. Every litre of that is also an emissions cost.
“Beyond the time lost, the burden of congestion is financial and environmental. The fleets navigating it best are those with the clearest picture of where those costs are falling.”
