Switching to alternative fuels always involves some change. But with the right practices in place, it can be easy to make the transition – and just as safe as using traditional fuels.
Mitigating perceived risk
Watch our case study video that looks at mitigating risks when using alternative fuels
Gas vehicles are safe to refuel
Vehicles fuelled by natural gas have been around for a long time, so regulations and safety standards are well established. This means that refuelling gas vehicles is an incredibly safe process when done correctly, contrary to what you might have thought.
Howard Tenens has been operating natural gas HGVs since 2009 and carries out up to 80 refuellings every day at its CNG station in Swindon – with no safety incidents to date.
Modern type 2 or 3 chargers require that a connection (or ‘handshake’) is established between the charger and the vehicle before any current flows in the cable.
Electric vehicles are safe to recharge
Electric vehicle recharging has evolved greatly since the first public UK stations were installed in the mid-2000s, and so too have regulations. If the charge point is properly installed and maintained, the process of recharging is essentially the same as plugging in any other electric device.
You can drive gas-fuelled vehicles through all tunnels (but not gas tankers)
There are different rules and regulations on driving through tunnels for vehicles that are fuelled by gas and those that tanker large quantities of it.
Specific tunnels and fuels each have their own restrictions, but all vehicles fuelled by gas can be driven through most tunnels if they aren’t tankering large quantities of it.
Download the Best Practice Guide
Our Best Practice Guide can help you find out everything you need to know about alternative fuels, including:
- How to switch to and use alternative fuels safely
- The different factors to consider when choosing a fuel type or vehicle
- Where to access specific details on vehicles, clean air zones and regulations