Petrol, Diesel, hybrid or electric which one to choose?

Looking to select a van for your business? Chris McCauley, Business Development Manager at Capital Fleet Solutions talks us through the complex debate of fuel choices.

With the Government’s drive to be greener and the introduction of plug-in grant for low emission vehicles, manufactures are bringing more electric and hybrid vans to the market - adding another dimension to the petrol vs diesel van debate. But what does this mean are petrol and diesel vans now out of the question? Let us help you make the right choice for your business by laying out the pros and cons.

Diesel

1. A wide selection of van - most manufactures offer a diesel van in every make and model
2. fuel efficiency
3. the ability to move heavy loads
4. good for travelling long distances

1. diesel engines aren’t environmentally friendly, emitting harmful gasses
2. the Government is limiting the use of diesel vans in towns and cities by 2025 – with a full sales ban from 2030
3. diesel particulate filters (DPF) are easily blocked, especially when driven regularly in urban areas. A replacement DPF can cost up to a few thousand pounds, making diesel vans less practical for short town and city centre distances.

Petrol

1. greater fuel efficiency for shorter distances
2. they have lower C02 emissions making them more environmentally friendly
3. they can be slightly cheaper to lease or buy
4. petrol is cheaper to buy at the pump than diesel.

1. they have a lower residual value making their resale value not as good as diesel
2. they are less efficient for longer journeys
3. the choice of van is more limited than with diesel
4. they are not eligible for free operation in ultra-low emission zones.

Electric

With more manufactures putting their efforts into developing electric options we are see a steady increase in van options. Combine this with improved battery performance and the increase in charging points, electric vans are becoming a more viable option than previously. There are several obvious benefits including:

1. the best option for the environment with zero emissions
2. cost savings, with running costs from as little as 2p-per-mile
3. they are exempt from road tax and congestion charges
4. servicing can be less expensive
5. no Vehicle Excise Duty (VED).

On the flip side there are still several cons that should be taken into account, including:

1. limited choices of vans
2. currently they are less reliable for small journeys
3. you are reliant on the availability of charging points
4. they are more expensive to lease or buy than petrol or diesel engines.

Hybrid

1. lower emissions compared to petrol and diesel engines
2. less expensive to run than a van with a conventional engine.
3. most models are congestion charge free
4. they are quiet, something to consider if you are working in urban areas during the evenings and nights
5. good for shorter journeys
6. they hold their residual value because of the electric motor

1. they are more expensive to lease or buy
2. can be less reliable for longer journeys
3. due to the dual engines can be expensive to repair
4. require charging points
5. less environmentally friendly than fully electric vans with the Government stopping sales from 2035
6. van choice is limited.

So which engine should you choose?