Geotab Data Reveals €3.6M in Fuel Waste from European Congestion
Event summary
- Geotab's analysis of 2025 data shows €2.6M in fuel waste from idling vehicles across seven European capitals, with costs rising to €3.6M due to 2026 fuel price increases.
- London ranked sixth out of seven cities for fuel efficiency, with passenger vehicles consuming 15.60 litres per 100 kilometres—nearly 2.5 times higher than Paris.
- Berlin led the index despite congestion, while Paris had the highest truck idle waste rate at nearly 20% due to predictable but stationary traffic patterns.
The big picture
Geotab's findings highlight the hidden financial and environmental costs of urban congestion, particularly for logistics operations. As fuel prices remain volatile due to geopolitical factors, fleets will increasingly rely on data-driven insights to optimize routes and reduce idle waste. The analysis underscores the need for cities to balance traffic flow with operational efficiency, as stop-start patterns in London and predictable but stationary traffic in Paris demonstrate distinct challenges.
What we're watching
- Fuel Cost Volatility
- How rising fuel prices will further impact fleet operations in congested European cities.
- Urban Policy Shifts
- Whether cities like London and Paris will implement new measures to reduce idle waste and improve logistics efficiency.
- Telematics Adoption
- The pace at which fleets adopt connected vehicle solutions to mitigate congestion-related costs.