GROWING use of alternative fuel vehicles among fleets has brought renewed calls for oil companies to extend the number of forecourt operations which cater for clean-fuelled vehicles. Currently, the majority of the sites in Britain are run by private garages, which have restricted opening hours and can be difficult to locate.

Keith Greenhead, director of fuel for PHH Vehicle Management, said: 'It is disappointing that we have not seen more LPG pumps introduced to UK forecourts. Surely it is time oil companies did more to encourage clean fuels.' Conferences and workshops on alternative fuels held by contract hire company ACL and Powershift have heard that the growth of green fleets could be jeopardised by the lack of refuelling sites.

But a spokesman for BP told delegates at the ACL conference that oil companies were investing significantly in alternative fuel stations, but needed more fleets to show they would create a market for the fuel by taking on clean-fuelled vehicles. So far, the biggest investment in alternative fuels has been made by Shell, which has pledged £10 million to create 200 sites reaching 80% of the population.