Recently in Emissions Category

There's plenty going on in the world of alternative fuels, too much in fact for one person to sit and sift through. So, we've decided to bring it to you and here's the best of what's happening in the world of alternative fuels at the moment. Get in there!

1. Big predictions on future oil peaks. This time from a country that knows a bit about the stuff.

2. UK Consortium aims to produce biofuel from municipal and wood waste. Could this solve the crops-need-to-be-used-to-feed-people-not-internal-combustion-engines debate?

3. Fuel price rises possible at the pumps. The AA is looking for clarity from government and a full-on inventigation. RHA wades in calling Number 10's 1 April fuel duty increases 'a joke'.

The government is opening up its wallet to fund fuel cell and hydrogen technologies to the tune of £7m. The Technology Strategy Board (TSB) is investing the £7m pot 'o gold on 15 demonstrator programs on the government's behalf.

Peugeot Partner H2Origin

Smith Electric Vehicles is trialling a fuel cell that could double the range of its battery powered vans and trucks. The company makes the Smith Edison, a Ford Transit-based electric van, which has a claimed range of 100 miles (but it's more like 60-80 in reality). Anywhoo, Smith says that by adding this small hydrogen fuel cell the vehicles "will be able to achieve closer to 200 miles" (more like 120-160 miles in reality) between charges.

Did anyone hear this on BBC Radio 4 this morning? BP's CEO Tony Hayward was interviwed on the Today programme and made some interesting predictions about future energy prices and when oil supply will reach its peak.

Mr Hayward said that  gasoline consumption reached it's peak in 2007 and continued to say that suppliers in the US and Europe would not sell more gasoline than they did in 2007, ever. This is down to policy and government regulation, which is driving efficiency in transport fleets "and that's a good thing!" he said.

There are also interesting points about gas supply in the UK and how the we can bridge the gap with our future energy needs. Perhaps, the gas-powered Mercedes Sprinter and Iveco Daily will be more prominent in future fleets than we think...

Whether it's for marketing or for cost-saving reasons, reducing fuel consumption is at, or near the top of, every fleet manager's agenda. We've often written about the need for night time delivery schedules for supermarkets and other retailers and Sainsbury's in Wandsworth has even conducted it's own trial not too long ago.

Electricity provider Western Power Distribution (WPD) has started trailling two Smith Edison vans; one in Plymouth and the other in Cardiff. According to WPD if the trials are successful it'll be introducing more battery-powered vans to its existing fleet.

John Brooks, WPD's transport manager, says: "We are constantly looking for innovative technology that can reduce our carbon footprint and electric vehicles are on solution. The first two vans have settled in well and we continue to evaluate tehir performance. If they meet our expectations, we will look at rolling out more electrice vans accross our fleet."

A handfull of hauliers have dabbled with biodiesel as a way to reduce their fleet emissions, but there's been mixed results. Commercial Motor Magazine will be doing a feature soon on different hauliers and operators' experiences of using biodiesel plus the effects it has on the trucks.

So, this is where you come in. If you want to get a free and shameless plug for your business in the next issue of Commercial Motor then get in contact (ian.tonkin@rbi.co.uk) and let us know about your experiences with biodiesel whether it be good, bad or ugly.

There's so much attention given to alternative fuels and their virtues of saving the planet (including on this piece of cyber space), but are we not forgetting about what we already have and how we can make small changes to improve fuel consumption.

Look at Jost. The engineering firm that makes fifth wheels. They've filed a patent for an automated fifth wheel that essentially closes the gap between the truck and trailer at high speeds and increases it at low speeds more greater manouvrability in town.

FFD braved the snow (and public transport) to go and drive Merc's compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered Sprinter at the manufacturer's base in Milton Keynes.