Fleet World Workshop Tools
Car Tax Calculator
CO2 Calculator
Van Tax Calculator
BiK Rates Company Car Tax

Choice list decisions shouldn’t be to detriment of diesel, says Venson

Diesel may no longer be the default option for business vehicles but it does still have many merits that warrant its inclusion in the fleet make-up.

ecodiesel

Diesel still has a place for fleets, says Venson.

That’s the message from Venson in its newly published The Future of Diesel for Fleets: White Paper.

In the paper, the fleet management and leasing specialist warns that fleets do need to look at ‘future-proofing’ their operations, including incorporating considerations on future Clean Air Zones.

However, according to client management director Simon Staton, Euro 6 diesel vehicles do have a place in future fleet compositions, particularly for high-mileage drivers and in commercial vehicle operations.

Highlighting how the media continues to demonise diesel, calling time on the fuel prematurely, Staton said: “We share the SMMT’s belief that today’s range of Euro6 emission diesel cars are a completely different technical offering to the models of yesterday and are the ‘cleanest’ in history. While diesel as well as petrol, pure electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars all have their merits they also have their drawbacks – financial and operational – that must be taken into account in the decision-making process.”

He added: “In the commercial sector, we anticipate that diesel will remain dominant as, while plug-in vans are available, their viability, notably due to range and payload, only make them suitable for niche requirements. In addition, both the government and the Mayor of London are using Euro 6 emission standards as the entry criteria to Clean Air Zones and the capital’s Ultra Low Emission Zone.”

Staton summed up: “Whilst emission standards and taxation will continue to tighten over the coming years, with government encouraging adoption of plug-in vehicles, for the short and medium terms, best practice dictates that fleets will operate a mix of fuel types, including diesel.”For more of the latest industry news, click here.

For more of the latest industry news, click here.

Natalie Middleton

Natalie has worked as a fleet journalist for over 20 years, previously as assistant editor on the former Company Car magazine before joining Fleet World in 2006. Prior to this, she worked on a range of B2B titles, including Insurance Age and Insurance Day.