Test Valley Borough Council’s (TVBC) fleet of vehicles have now all switched from using diesel fuel to hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), cutting carbon dioxide fuel emissions by up to 95 per cent.

HVO is a drop-in diesel alternative that benefits from an instant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions without the need for changes to engine infrastructure or machinery. 

It’s also made from 100 per cent renewable raw materials, biodegradable and is odourless.

The entire fleet, from waste collection vehicles to plant machinery, is now using HVO, after council leaders approved plans earlier this year.

In 2019, TVBC declared a climate emergency, and this is another step towards the ambition of becoming carbon neutral as soon as possible.

Leader of Test Valley Borough Council, Cllr Phil North, said: “Switching all of our vehicles from diesel to HVO is a huge step in the right direction as we cut our carbon emissions generated from our fleet vehicles by 95 per cent.

“Using this biofuel does not require expensive vehicle changes and is completely fossil-free, fulfilling one of the pledges we made in our cross-party Climate Emergency action plan.”