Alternative fuels

Almost two-thirds of fleets cite customer demand as behind their decision to switch to alternative fuels, and the speed at which they do it

John G Russell (Transport) is joining ZenFreight, part of the UK Government’s Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) programme.

Perth and Kinross Council is making the switch to hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) after a successful trial of the diesel alternative.

Figures suggest use of the fuel in the UK has increased from 8 million litres in 2019 to about 699 million litres in 2024.

It is conducting the trials with MAN, with the aim of introducing heavy-duty electric trucks later this year.

When will hydrogen cars become viable for fleets? Simon Staton, client management director at Venson Automotive Solutions, cuts through the jargon to answer the question.

The new 14-mile A-road will link the A2 in Kent with the A13 and M25 in Essex through the longest road tunnel in the UK.

Policy options to decarbonise Wales’ commercial vehicle sector have been laid out in a new report by Zemo Partnership for the Welsh Government.

LKQ UK and Ireland is set to cut its annual carbon emissions, after transitioning its HGV logistics fleet to run on low carbon hydrotreated vegetable oil.

North Ayrshire Council has announced it has switched 36 refuse collection vehicles from diesel to hydrotreated vegetable oil.

Cummins has developed a new hydrogen combustion engine for commercial vehicles in partnership with key technology partners.

A new national network of charging stations for electric heavy goods vehicles will be built, with the first 15 ‘superhubs’ to be opened by the end of 2027.

The Road Haulage Association is calling on fleets to help inform the Government on the sector’s ability to decarbonise van and truck operations.

With electric van and zero-emission truck registrations flatlining, FleetCheck says that greener alternatives needed to be identified.

Sainsbury’s is transforming food waste into fuel for a number of its HGV trucks.

Electric HGVs, which are powered by poo, are joining the United Utilities fleet in a trial funded by the Department for Transport.

An initial five-station network will be completed by the end of 2027, with forecourts planned in Sheffield, Immingham, Warrington, Corby and Towcester.

South Wales haulier FSEW has replaced its final four diesel trucks with new Iveco S-Way natural gas vehicles.

While battery electric continues to be the dominant zero-emission powertrain, the controversial fuel continues to attract enormous support and investment.

Freight Systems Express Wales (FSEW) has achieved diesel-free status, with a 40 strong fleet that consists of five electric and 35 CNG fuelled trucks

The new Daf XB Electric truck, with a 16-pallet body size, offers a claimed range of up to 300km (186 miles).

Hydrotreated vegetable oil is a renewable diesel that can cut carbon emissions.

GeoPura is expecting to install 2,500 hydrogen power units that can be used to implement off-grid charging infrastructure in areas that are struggling.

Lee O’Neill, from Venson Automotive Solutions, asks if the market will be SMR-ready as hydrogen becomes more mainstream.

Professor Colin Herron, expert partner of Teletrac Navman, looks at the pressures of differing environmental policies to the decarbonisation of fleets.

AFP chair Paul Hollick explains why fleets need a structured hydrogen transport which provides a roadmap for how adoption can progress over the next few years.

The revised approach maintains the core vision of conducting parallel demonstrations with both battery-electric and hydrogen trucks.

B&Q is deploying new electric delivery trucks to help it hit its Scope 1 and 2 net zero target by 2040.

The alternative fuel will be used to run the seven recovery trucks based at the RAC’s HQ.

Using a renewable alternative fuel such as HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil) for difficult-to-electrify vehicles can have significant environmental and cost benefits for fleets.

Renault has developed a new concept car that uses a hydrogen fuel cell to extend its electric range.

Leasing company Novuna is inviting heavy goods fleets operating in the North East and along the M4 corridor to participate in a study evaluating the potential of hydrogen fuel cell technology for commercial vehicles.

Several fleets are involved in the first customer trials of the Vauxhall Vivaro Hydrogen van ahead of the UK launch of the Movano Hydrogen.

Allowing hybrids to stay on sale until 2035 creates a potential window of opportunity for hydrogen vans to become more widely adopted, says FleetCheck.

Bosch wants to seize the opportunities now arising from the growth in global freight transport and the switch to alternative powertrain systems.

The utility company has chosen Costain to support its industrial and commercial customers switch to low carbon solutions like hydrogen.

FedEx is switching from diesel to biofuel for 170 of its trucks at three of its UK sites following its initial trial in October last year.

Renault has revealed an estimated 700km WLTP range (435 miles) hydrogen Master van that it is planning to launch next year.

BMW will introduce hydrogen powertrains to its model line-up in 2028, as part of a plan to offer multiple zero-emission options.