Alternative fuels

At the Energy Saving Trust, it is our aim to lead the efforts to reduce the impact of climate change. One way in which we can achieve this is by encouraging the use of cleaner fuels and vehicles. There are many strong reasons to consider the alternatives.

From a financial perspective, cleaner fuels can help to reduce your operating, maintenance and fuel costs. Environmentally-speaking, switching to cleaner fuels will not only help you contribute to national and international efforts to reduce climate change, but will also be good for your organisation's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) performance, because it will help reduce your organisation's environmental burden. Plus it will also help to eliminate the 24,000 deaths a year, in the UK alone, which occur as a direct result of poor air quality.

Cleaner fuels available

For a quick overview of the cleaner fuels available, just click the relevant link below:

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)

Suitable for smaller vehicles such as cars and light vans that have high mileage or operate predominantly in city centres.

Natural gas

An option for goods vehicles with depot-based refuelling sites.

Biodiesel

Can be used at 5 per cent in existing diesel engines with no need for modification. Higher blends can be used with limited modifications but could affect your vehicle warranty.

Pure plant oils (PPO)

Vehicles are powered on fuel made from plant oils. Very similar to diesel but a heater must first be added to the fuel line. Not yet widely available in the UK.

Biogas

Organic materials are broken down by a microbiological activity to produce methane.

Bioethanol

Produced by the fermentation of starch, sugar and cellulose plants. Then used as a blend with, or as a direct substitute for petrol. A 5 per cent blend in petrol can be used in all existing petrol vehicles.

Hydrogen

Currently only used in prototype vehicles - a fuel of the future, which produces almost pollution-free vehicles.

Fuel cells

Demonstration "zero emission" vehicles - not yet commercially available (see hydrogen).