perspective-diesel

It’s difficult not to conclude that the company car staple – the diesel car – is being got at. Set up, and shot down.

Once lauded for mile stretching tankfuls, low emission engines, and reduced benefit in kind taxation, the diesel company car is finding itself under fire.

Is it the government changing its mood music?

Recently we’ve had much background noise about diesel’s impact on air quality. And this was followed by The Environmental Audit Committee taking a highly negative view on diesels, suggesting a scrappage scheme to accelerate the move towards hybrid and electric vehicles.

This is what the Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee Chair, Huw Irranca-Davies MP, had to say:

“Tens of thousands of premature deaths are being caused in the UK every year by illegal levels of air pollution on our roads. Despite mounting evidence of the damage diesel fumes do to human health, changes to Vehicle Excise Duty announced in this year’s Budget maintained the focus only on CO2 emissions. This was a missed opportunity to also incentivise vehicles which emit less NO2.”

Was this part of a co-ordinated softening up process for us? Only weeks later and the chancellor announced in his Autumn Statement that the 3% diesel levy, due to be lifted to diesels cars from the 2016 tax year, was going to stay in place for a further five years.

And then, if we hadn’t quite got the message, at this week’s BVRLA Industry Conference Transport Minister Andrew Jones gave us this balanced but coded message:

“The government is not anti-diesel. Diesel cars have played and continue to play a valuable role in reducing fuel usage and emissions of carbon dioxide. Tackling air quality is a priority for the government.”

The Transport Minister’s statement suggests the focus of the government is moving from CO2 emissions to emissions that affect the air we breathe.

The days of diesels are numbered.

While I still believe diesel company cars are absolutely right for many high mileage fleets, if we are to decode the government’s messages correctly then we can assume fleets should start considering greener solutions to company car fleets – and by greener I mean non-diesel solutions.

Because that’s the way the mood music is taking us. I don’t think it’s a moment to throw your hands up in despair; it’s more an opportunity to reflect on what is operationally correct for your fleet now, and in the immediate future.

If you need some help in considering the alternatives to diesel cars, then we’ve written a White Paper called ‘Going, going green’.

I think this White Paper provides some stimulating thinking about your possible next steps. Have a read and then let us know if you need further assistance in your decision making.

The changing perspective on diesel

It’s difficult not to conclude that the company car staple – the diesel car – is being got at. Set up, and shot down. Once lauded for mile stretching tankfuls, low emission engines, and reduced benefit in kind taxation, the diesel company car is finding itself under fire. Is it the government changing its mood … Continued

Going green – why it has to be the answer

I think I’m going on a bit of green theme here – and as the trees turn autumnally red, why not? My last blog was on five of my favourite Electric Vehicles to clean the air, but if your fleet hasn’t had Electric Vehicles – or EVs – before, how do you make sure your … Continued

Five EVs to clean the air

Unless you’ve been living under a rock lately, you can’t fail to have noticed the cloud of media attention surrounding car emissions and emission testing. So what do you do if you want an alternatively fuelled fleet in order to get a bit of fresh air, and go really green in the process? EVs could … Continued

Fuel management and the lower cost of fuel

When was the last time you went past a fuel station and saw the price of diesel was below that of petrol? Quite. I can’t recall either. I have to admit, the first time I thought I had misread the sign; the second time I knew it must be true. It seems the combined effects … Continued

Hybrid is a Le Mans-winning technology

What was that old motor racing saying? Win on Sunday, sell on Monday. Yes, that was it. I’m not so sure that’s the case anymore now that the racing formats have changed so what you see on the track isn’t so showroom recongnizable. But I reckon Porsche’s victory at Le Mans this month – that … Continued

Real world fuel figures are a must for cleaner air

So you’re looking for your next fleet choice but what criteria do you use to help you choose? If you’ve been heeding our advice you would certainly take into account the MPG and CO2 of all the vehicles you’re looking at. You can then make the most cost-effective decision regarding Benefit in Kind tax, plus … Continued

Our top four CO2 emission beaters

You might have noticed this before, but we do tend to bang on about the green aspect of motoring here at Fleet Alliance and actively encourage the funding and fleet management of low emission and alternative fuel vehicles. Now, that might have been wasted hot air, but I’m glad to see it’s not: our fleet … Continued

Who put the high price in Hydrogen?

I spluttered into my cornflakes when I first saw the cost of the new Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell. It’s just over £53k (and that’s with the help of a grant from the HyFive consortium, who are dedicated to promoting hydrogen technology). Will anyone want one of these terrific and innovative cars at this price (as … Continued

Hydrogen infrastructure

As you’re probably aware, we like to encourage alternative fuel vehicles here at Fleet Alliance. I’ve mentioned before that we’ve been running a couple of all-electric Nissan Leafs and the feedback from our staff has been very positive. So I read with interest in the news that the British Government has made the move to … Continued

Keep your foot on the fuel-saving gas pedal

Have you noticed the price of fuel recently? There was talk of it going to 99p a litre – although I didn’t see it quite that low. But it seems like we’ve never had it so good as far as fuel prices are concerned. I mean, with prices this low, how many of you have … Continued