HVO gives van and truck fleets decarbonisation choice

Hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) could provide a route for truck and vans fleets to decarbonise where electric alternatives may not currently fit the bill, says FleetCheck.

With electric van and zero-emission truck registrations flatlining, Barrie Wilson, commercial fleet consultant at the fleet software specialist, says that greener alternatives needed to be identified.

“There are a huge number of fleets who want to make more environmentally friendly choices but are finding electric vehicle adoption somewhere between difficult and impossible because of range, payload, cost and charging compromises,” he explained.

“These operators are actively looking for better options. HVO offers a greener option than diesel and can be used in most existing vehicles with the minimum of disruption.”

He continued: “The general claim made is that it offers a net 90% reduction in carbon emissions. This is something of great value for businesses that have carbon reporting obligations and need to include their transport activities.”

There are disadvantages to HVO, according to Wilson, but many of these had little impact on day-to-day vehicle operations.

“The big downside from an environmental point of view is that HVO is not a clean air option,” he said. 

“Its carbon reductions are expressed across the lifecycle, so it has no benefits on a local emissions basis.

“Another issue is that not all manufacturers will honour their warranty if HVO is used in a van or truck. 

“It’s worth checking out the OEM advice, even if you are only planning to use the fuel in older vehicles, but the vast majority can switch from diesel with no impact.”

HVO is starting to appear at more filling stations, with UK Fuels recently adding it to 45 of their outlets.

“Availability is increasing and on a localised basis, many fleets will probably find its adoption viable although if there is no local retailer, you can just use diesel anyway,” he added. 

“They’re fully mixable in any ratio. The main issue at the pump is cost – we’re seeing prices around 20 pence per litre more than diesel, which is a considerable difference.

“However, for fleets who are looking for a fuel that enables them to move away from diesel in a greener manner until they feel that electrification is more practical, it does represent a genuine option. 

“We believe it could be the key transitional fuel of the next few years for commercial vehicles, especially if prices can be reduced.” 

“It’s certainly possible to foresee a situation where operators sidestep the Zero Emissions Vehicle Mandate in the medium term by continuing to operate their existing fleet on HVO.”