News

Despite offering potential savings of 30% on fuel consumption, hybrid vehicles have yet to provide a clear business case in terms of the bottom line, argues a leading fleet engineer.

Steve Davis, TNT national engineering manager, says: "At the moment, we're getting no payback in terms of cost reduction.

"The savings we're seeing from the improvements in fuel consumption do not outweigh the extra cost of the actual vehicles  due to the technology employed."

The company is currently testing two 7.5-tonne Mitsubishi Canters and a DAF LF in hybrid form, which have posted fuel savings of up to 30% over the equivalent diesel models.

"Since we're operating in a collection-and-delivery environment, our vehicles are not doing high mileages, so fuel spend is relatively low against the increased cost in the technology."

Davis adds that a lack of exemption from the [London] congestion charge is a major issue in terms of viability, although he does believe that issue may change sooner rather than later.

For alternative technology to be fully embraced, which will then force down the cost of the vehicles, the government needs to be decisive in its policy

"For change to happen, there has to be a major decision in terms of policy, whether  that is [to] incentivise at one end or force them at the other."

In June, the Department for Transport (DfT) revealed the light CV suppliers for its Low Carbon Procurement Programme, in which selected public sector organisations will buy hybrid and electric-powered CVs to stimulate innovation and investment in the technologies.