Low Carbon Vehicles
As fuel costs continue to spiral, investment in low carbon vehicles can be a cost effective alternative.Use our quick guide to understand how the different technologies work and what could be best for your business.
What are the choices?
There are a range of fuel sources classed as green or low carbon, some of these are still derived from fossil fuels but have lower CO2 emissions and are cheaper than petrol and diesel.
LPG (also known as Liquefied Petroleum Gas, Autogas)
Derived from fossil fuels, LPG can reduce fuel costs of petrol vehicles by up to 40% and CO2 emissions by 10-15%. There is good availability of refuelling stations and current vehicles can be retrofitted at a fraction of the cost of a new vehicle. Would suit petrol based car fleets with high mileage.
CNG (compressed natural gas)
Usually methane derived from fossil fuel, it can reduce fuel costs by up to 40%, CO2 emissions by 10-15% and has a quieter engine. Refilling is limited and it is generally bought in bulk and stored on the organisation's premises which may make it more suitable for larger diesel/petrol fleets. Bio- Methane as a greener alternative is still not readily available.
Electric vehicles (EV's)
EV's are commercially available as cars or vans, they have no direct CO2 emissions and can be recharged for as little as 2p per mile. Vehicles can achieve speeds of 50 to 95 mph and a range of 100 miles per charge. Charging can be as simple as using a 13 A 3pin socket for a standard over-night charge or Fast Chargers that top up in 30 mins.
EV's could offer a low carbon solution to urban business travel and deliveries. Leasing the vehicles could a cost effective solution to overcome the initial capital investment.
Hybrids
A vehicle that combines electric power with a petrol/diesel engine. It captures and stores the energy used in braking and then releases that power to assist the engine when required. Hybrids use 15-30% less fuel with a resulting drop in CO2 emissions.They have the fuel saving benefit of electric with the flexibility of petrol/diesel for longer journeys.
Bio-Diesel (Bio-Fuels)
Standard diesel already containes 5% bio-diesel (B5) but an increasing number of vehicle manufacturers are now guaranteeing their vehicles for 30% bio-diesel (B30) or higher. The fuel is 20% cheaper than standard diesel and CO2 emissions can be reduced by as much as 80% depending on the % of bio-diesel used and its source.
The availability of fuel supply is limited nationally but comparatively good in West Yorkshire. Concerns over the potential diversion from food to fuel crops and overall sustainablilty have yet to be fully resolved. However trials are underway with crop waste (stalks and leaves) and crops such as Jatropha which grow in areas not tolerated by trees or food crops.
Comparing low carbon vehicles
Use our comparison guide to find the best alternative for your organisation which includes useful website addresses for the latest up to date information.
