SOME cheap alternative fuel conversion kits are so badly made that they can make a vehicle's pollution even worse, warns the Energy Saving Trust's Powershift programme. The Government-funded initiative to encourage fleets to take on alternative fuels says companies should make sure any conversion kits they buy will actually clean up emissions rather than simply give cheap access to alternative fuels.

Last year, the EST launched the Powershift Register in response to worries about the standard of conversion kits being offered. It currently rejects 70% of the applications it receives because the conversions do not offer the required reduction in emissions.

Powershift offers graded grants of up to 75% of the cost of conversions according to the emissions reductions offered by each kit or vehicle. The grants are only open to vehicles under one year old, however, which mean that fleets with older vehicles and private buyers may be tempted to fit cheaper conversions.