Tuesday, 10 June 2025
Calderdale now uses cleaner, renewable fuels
Vehicles used by Calderdale Council are now being powered by cleaner, renewable fuels, as the Council sets an example by reducing carbon emissions in the borough.
The Council has around 200 vehicles in its fleet, ranging from small vans to minibuses and larger caged vehicles. Over 40 of these are fully electric and the remaining diesel engine vehicles are now being run using the alternative fuel, Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO).
HVO is made from 100% renewable sources and no vehicle modifications have been required as HVO is a direct 'drop-in replacement' for diesel. The performance of HVO is similar to diesel and is a cleaner fuel, with a 90% reduction in carbon emissions and 30% reduction in harmful Nitrogen Oxide emissions. It also puts less burden on a vehicle's diesel particulate filter, preventing costly maintenance.
Calderdale is the first council in West Yorkshire and one of only a handful of councils in the country that has made the switch to HVO for its fleet. An estimated reduction of one million kilograms of carbon dioxide will be made from the switching of diesel to HVO.
As vehicles reach the end of their life, they will be replaced with a mixture of electric, hybrid and diesel vehicles - the latter being fuelled by HVO.
Calderdale Council's Cabinet Member for Climate Action and Housing, Cllr Scott Patient, said, "Across the Council, we're looking at ways in which we can reduce our carbon emissions, supporting our ambitious targets to achieve net zero by 2038, with significant progress by 2030.
"Where possible we've replaced vehicles with electric models, but this isn't always suitable for every type of vehicle in the broad range which make up the Council's fleet - this has led us to explore alternative fuels.
"By switching to HVO powered vehicles, we're leading the way in ending reliance on fossil fuels. Not only will the switch have a positive impact on emissions, but it should also reduce vehicle maintenance costs and extend the life of our fleet."