3n Travel Plans and Cleaner Fuels

The benefits of changing your existing fuel supply from petrol or diesel to cleaner fuels are that:

• cleaner fuels are more cost effective than petrol or diesel
  
• vehicles using cleaner fuels require less servicing
  
• Grants are available from Powershift to assist with the cost of conversions
  
• cleaner fuels are less damaging to the environment by emitting fewer or no pollutants
  
• cleaner fuel use can provide positive publicity
  

When choosing which fuel to use, it is important to consider the needs of your business, how you will use the vehicle, and the availability of fuels/conversions. The cost of providing the infrastructure for refuelling on site can be expensive, although there are grants available through the Powershift programme.

Conversions

Gaseous fuel engines can be set up to run in one of the following three ways:

• bi-fuel vehicles which have two separate fuel systems and can switch between petrol and natural gas at the flick of a switch
  
• dual-fuel vehicles that run on a mixture of two fuels, usually diesel and gas
  
• dedicated vehicles that have a single source of fuel

Improved Conventional Fuels/Exhaust Treatments

Improved varieties of petrol and diesel are now available, including low-benzene petrol and ultra-low sulphur diesel (ULSD). Standard ULSD has been refined to reduce the sulphur content and the cleanest type is called Citydiesel. Combined with a Continuously Regenerating Particulate Trap (CRT), the fuel results in significantly lower emissions of particulates, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons compared to conventional diesel.

The advantage is that the use of these fuels does not require an engine conversion. The disadvantages of CRTs are that they increase fuel consumption and emissions of Carbon Dioxide. Therefore, CRTs are best used for long, continuous journeys.


Liquid Petroleum Gas (Lpg)

What is it?

LPG is mainly comprised of propane, and is produced as a by-product of oil refining. It becomes a liquid when moderately compressed and hence does not require the same amount of storage space.

Both petrol and diesel engines can be converted to run on LPG, although it is easier and cheaper to convert petrol engines to bi-fuel or dual-fuel.


Advantages and Disadvantages

The advantages of LPG compared to petrol and diesel are that:

• it can significantly reduce fuel costs due to the lower fuel duty imposed by the Government
  
• engines are far quieter
  
• it reduces emissions

The disadvantages of LPG compared to petrol and diesel are that:

• the typical cost of converting a passenger car or light vehicle to run on LPG is around £1,500, although there are grants available to assist the conversion cost
  
• there are limited refuelling sites, although there is a large rolling programme to increase forecourt provision by the larger garages, including Shell and BP

Compressed Natural Gas (Cng)

What is it?

Essentially, it is the same as gas used to power homes which is compressed or cooled to liquefy it.

Most types of vehicle can be built, or converted, to run on natural gas. It is easier and cheaper to convert a vehicle with a petrol engine than one running on diesel. Vehicles can be dedicated, bi-fuel or dual-fuel.


Advantages and Disadvantages

The advantages of CNG compared to petrol and diesel are that:

• it is currently the cheapest of all the fossil-based fuels
  
• engines are far quieter, making these vehicles suitable for overnight deliveries and for noise-sensitive locations
  
• it reduces emissions
  

The disadvantages of CNG compared to petrol and diesel are that:

• there are a limited number of public refuelling points for natural gas
  
• refuelling facilities are expensive to install – some fleet operators have chosen to install depot-based refuelling facilities which are currently around £250,000
  
• due to the expense of refuelling facilities, it only becomes economically viable where the fleet consists of 15 or more larger vehicles
  
• it has a limited range of 220 miles, so this fuel is not suitable for long distance journeys

Electric Powered Vehicles

What are they?

Conversion to electric operation involves replacing the conventional fuel system with a battery or a motor. Vehicles can be dedicated or dual fuel. The extra cost of buying an electric car varies from zero to £5,000 (may be reduced by Powershift grant). In many cases, batteries are leased rather than purchased outright at a cost of £60 to £100 a month.

The advantages of electric fuel compared to petrol and diesel are that:

• it costs as little as 1p per mile to run a car on electricity
  
• vehicles can be fully recharged from any 13-amp socket in around seven hours
  
• vehicles can be effectively part-charged when they are stopped for shorter breaks, which can significantly increase range
  
• it produces no emissions and very little noise at the point of operation
  

The disadvantages of electric fuel compared to petrol and diesel are that:

• fast charge facilities are technically feasible but expensive
  
• it has a limited range of up to 50 miles
  

Fuel Cells

What are they?

Fuel cells convert the energy stored in a fuel directly into electrical energy, rather than burning it first. Fuel cell vehicles can be either dedicated or hybrids. Currently the possibility of using hydrogen, methanol and petrol to power fuel cells is being explored.

The advantages of fuel cells compared to petrol and diesel are that:

• they are not range-limited as are most battery electric vehicles
  
• they operate most efficiently when fuelled by pure hydrogen and oxygen where the only emission is water

Fuel cell vehicles are not yet commercially available but Powershift funding may be available for innovative demonstration projects. Daimler-Chrysler, Ford and Ballard have developed the New Electric Car (Necar) range of vehicles. This partnership aims to make fuel cell cars commercially available by 2004.

Cleaner Fuels – Further Information

Powershift:
Telephone: 0845 602 1425
Website: www.est-powershift.org.uk

Natural Gas Vehicle Association:
Telephone: 01579 363803
Website: www.natural-gas-vehicles.co.uk

LPG Association
Telephone: 01425 461612
Website: www.lpga.co.uk

Electric Vehicle Association
Telephone: 01273 304064
Website: www.gwassoc.dircon.co.uk/Evahome.html

Choosing Measures
Travel Plans and Walking
Travel Plans and Cycling
Travelling by Bus
Travelling by Rail
Powered Two-Wheelers
Using Taxis
Car Sharings
Car Clubs
The Place of Cars
Car Park Management Strategy
Managing Business Travel
Changing the Way We Work
Travel Plans and Cleaner Fuels
Travel Plans and Deliveries