What’s all the RAV About?!

In a Monadelphous first, Mackay has some new green machines running around town, adding two new Toyota Hybrid RAV 4’s to their vehicle fleet. Following a recommendation from a recent internal Sustainability Report to review their fleet, our Mackay team concluded that two employees issued with company utes were not using the tray and wagon capabilities would be better suited for a more fuel-efficient, emissions friendly vehicle.  

“They are a game changer,” was the sentiment of Mackay Branch Manager Anthony Prestipino (Presto).  

“We are still driving the same distances, but we are finding the hybrids only need to be fuelled up once a month compared to once a week with a Hilux,” he said.  

“Fuel is built into the charge rate of the vehicle, so we end up in a better financial position as the hybrids use less fuel.”  

The branch has just completed a three-month trial with pleasing results to date with a $2021.07 reduction on their fuel bill, compared to the previous three months operating the two Hilux vehicles. The hybrid vehicles are averaging 4.8L/100km and producing 109g of C0₂ while the previous Hilux vehicles were averaging 9L/100km and producing more than double the C0₂ emissions at 223g C0₂.  

Presto said it is a “step in the direction to Monadelphous’ commitment to reaching net zero by 2050”. 

And for those worried about losing the ‘Ute Tax’, we can confirm that if you purchase or lease ANY vehicle for the purpose of business operations, you are still entitled to a tax deduction.  

While the amount is lower than that of a utility vehicle with a payload in excess of 1000kg, the eligible deductible amount still greatly surpasses the outright cost of a hybrid vehicle. 2022 also saw plug-in hybrid vehicles join the ranks of Utes for an exemption to the Fringe Benefit Tax, so there really is a lot to RAV about!