City of Wolverhampton Council tests vegetable oil fuel for vehicles

Councillor Craig Collingswood said initial results were encouraging

A trial is under way to test whether a fleet of council vehicles could be powered with vegetable oil.

City of Wolverhampton Council is looking into using Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) to replace diesel, helping it to reduce carbon emissions.

Several different types of vehicles are being used in the trial and initial results show they achieve a similar number of miles per gallon.

Several local authorities have tested alternative fuels in the last year.

Craig Collingswood, the councillor responsible for the environment and climate change, said: "The initial results of the trial are encouraging."

The oil produces 90% lower carbon emissions than traditional diesel fuel and is derived from animal, plant or algae remains, he said

HVO is considered to be a renewable energy, unlike traditional liquid fuels such as fossil petroleum, natural gas and coal.

The Wolverhampton authority has pledged to achieving "net zero" carbon emissions by 2028 and has not had to make any adaptations to its vehicles in order to use the vegetable oil.