UK Government launches new campaign to inform drivers about greener fuels

Drivers are being urged to think more carefully about the environmental impacts of their journeys through a new campaign being launched by the UK government today.

From today, filling stations across the UK will start rolling out new labels, which will help educate drivers on the benefits of biofuels.

Petrol, which contains up to 5% renewable ethanol, will be labelled ‘E5’, while diesel, which contains up to 7% biodiesel, will be labelled as ‘B7’.

This is the latest step in the government’s drive to get consumers thinking more actively about the environmental impact of their transport choices, and follows a commitment to end the sale of diesel and petrol cars by 2040, set out in the Road to Zero strategy.

Michael Ellis, Transport Minister, said: “Drivers should be aware of the environmental impact of their travel choices, and seeing this when they are buying fuel can help remind them why decarbonising transport is so important.

“Biofuels are a key way of achieving the emissions reductions the UK needs, and their use reduced CO2 emissions by 2.7 million tonnes last year alone – the equivalent of taking around 1.2 million cars off the road.

“Our new campaign will help drivers understand the role of biofuels, while also choosing the right fuel for their vehicle at home and abroad”.

Biofuels can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90% compared to fossil fuels, and the campaign is set to highlight the crucial role that they will play during the transition to electric vehicles. Last year, 1.6 billion litres of renewable transport fuels were supplied in the UK.

Erik Rietkirk, CEO of Argent Energy, said: “These labels are crucial for informing the public about what the UK is doing to decarbonise transport.

“Making the most of the huge environmental benefits of sustainable biofuels makes complete sense, and can help reduce emissions during the transition to a low carbon future”.

Biofuels are made from a range of materials, including oil, fats, and grease waste, which are often recovered from sewage systems and water treatment works.

As even greener fuels, such as E10 – a petrol grade with up to 10% renewable ethanol – come onto the market, the labels are set to have an increasingly important role to play in raising consumer awareness of alternatives to traditional fuel.

The campaign follows a UK Government push to help people make more conscious transport choices and understand how these contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, such as encouraging the use of cleaner vehicles.

These include a commitment to end the sale of new conventional diesel and petrol cars and vans by 2040, investment in hybrid trains, the doubling of investment in cycling and walking since 2010, along with the £2.5 billion Transforming Cities Fund which will develop innovative public transport schemes in some of England’s biggest cities.

and as we’re talking about fuel …

UK Drivers Still Being Fleeced at the Pumps

Oil Plunges by nearly 10% in Sterling since 25^th April, yet since the beginning of April pump prices for diesel have increased by nearly 5p and petrol by nearly 8p per litre.

An estimated £235m is being held back from consumers filling up at the pumps each month by businesses in the fuel supply chain

Wholesale falls and changes in fuel prices continue not to be honestly passed onto UK drivers.

Since the beginning of April to June 3^rd, 2019:

• Wholesale diesel has fallen 1.3% yet fill up pump prices have increased by 3.6%
• Diesel retail profit based on wholesale prices against average pump prices has increased 54.1% to 17.85p per litre
• Wholesale petrol has increased 1.8% yet fill up pump prices have increased by 6.4%
• Petrol retail profit based on wholesale prices against average pump prices has increased 116.7% to 10.79p per litre
• An estimated £235m is being held back from consumers and the economy filling up at the pumps each month by businesses in the fuel supply chain

These are further reasons why FairFuelUK is working with the Treasury and the Fair Fuel APPG to develop a PumpWatch Voluntary fuel pricing code to ensure fuel retailers pass on wholesale falls in petrol and diesel fairly, accurately and quickly to drivers at the pumps.

The Government has always said that 37m drivers see pump fill up costs reflect oil price changes within 7 weeks. But this claim is in no way ever reflected in the wholesale and retail data collected and witnessed in reality at the forecourts by consumers.

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Diesel wholesale prices are lower than those of petrol. Yet Diesel continues to be 5p more at the pumps.

Howard Cox Founder of the FairFuelUK Campaign and Secretary to the Fair Fuel APPG said: “Everyone knows what we pay at the pumps does not follow any logic or fairness when oil prices change.

“For decades the fuel supply chain, notably a few wholesalers have ripped off drivers at will. The smaller independent garages are subject to their blackmail too, in the prices they are forced to pay, with their wholesalers holding them hostage to their bulk supply. They consciously hold back wholesale price falls amounting to billions. But these greedy faceless businesses will soon be subject to good deal of scrutiny.”

“We are working extremely hard to cost and plan the mechanics for the introduction of a PumpWatch Voluntary Pump Pricing Code to present to the Treasury. Details will be presented as agreed to the Exchequer Secretary before the end of June.

“It is vital that this new PumpWatch voluntary code is endorsed and supported by the Government, with petrol, diesel and autogas wholesale prices movements published daily.”