Ara Ake aimed to create a national decarbonisation tool to guide New Zealand’s fleets in transitioning to sustainable energy sources. To support this, we analysed GPS trip data from fleets nationwide, focusing on the distribution of trip distances — an essential factor in matching the right low-emission technology to real-world operations.

Our process included:

• Trip Distance Analysis – Profiling vehicle journeys to identify patterns across different fleet types, from short urban trips to long-haul freight.
• Data Integration – Preparing clean, high-level distance distributions for seamless integration into Ara Ake’s modelling framework.
• Accessible Insights – Presenting complex data in a format that is both technically robust and easily understood by end users.

Impact:

• Public-Facing Decarbonisation Model – The tool now allows fleet operators to explore realistic options for adopting EVs, hydrogen, or biofuels.
• Evidence-Based Decisions – Operators can assess operational fit, cost, and environmental impact using actual driving patterns rather than assumptions.
• Support for Emissions Reduction – The work aligns directly with New Zealand’s national transport decarbonisation targets, providing practical pathways to lower fleet emissions.

This project demonstrates how targeted GPS analytics can transform raw transport data into actionable, nation-scale sustainability guidance.

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