Less than a fifth of drivers are aware of the emissions reducing additive AdBlue, according to new research from Radius Payment Solutions.
The fuel card business investigated end-user knowledge of the additive which revealed, despite most new diesel vehicles having a tank, nine out of ten respondents never used AdBlue.
The survey also found despite associated environmental and health impacts, more than a quarter had no idea about the benefits of the product.
AdBlue fluid treatment is injected into the exhaust gasses and can filter out more than 90% of harmful nitrogen oxide exhaust emissions into steam and nitrogen, resulting in less pollution.
Despite the tanks being filled every six months during servicing, the rate at which cars use AdBlue varies depending on how economically they are driven, engine size and total/average mileage. This means business drivers who are typically on the road for longer will need a higher understanding of AdBlue than the standard driver.
Average consumption of AdBlue is around one litre every 600 miles but could reach up to a litre every 350 miles. The range between refills ranges from 3,000 and 12,000 miles, meaning some drivers will top-up their AdBlue reservoir at least once between normal servicing.
Jonathan Haseler, Regional Director - UK at Radius Payment Solutions, said: “For something that should be a regular maintenance check like filling oil and screen wash, the findings are certainly surprising. Our cards help facilitate the purchase of AdBlue, making it easier for companies to adhere to emissions standards whilst offering consistently transparent pricing.”
“All our fuel cards are linked with our free online management portal Velocity that puts customers in control of all aspects of their account management and fuel usage. We’re constantly adapting our offering to make fuel cards more tailored to the modern driver, looking for innovative ways to offer simple and clear fuel solutions, building on our more than 25 years of experience.”
More articles on:
Matt has been an automotive journalist for eight years. As senior staff writer he is responsible for the automotive content on Fleet News and also contributes to Automotive Management. Prior to this, Matt worked in the automotive industry for 10 years.
Sage & Onion - 28/09/2018 18:17
Cars that require Adblue have a countdown showing the range left before the Adblue tank needs to be refilled, and when the tank range is only about 8,000 miles or so, I doubt drivers of such cars are unaware of Adblue. And a few drivers have been affected by faulty Adblue sensors that flash up warnings or put the car into limp mode. So again they are aware. Just be aware of the drivers who have been warned so much that their vehicle requires Adblue that they then use their fuel card to go to an Adblue pump and fill up the diesel tank with it!