Ron Perry A19 Northbound has rebranded its HVO at the pump as Shell Renewable Diesel (HVO 100).
Director of Ron Perry & Son, Dan Perry, is a massive fan of HVO, he says: “HVO100, and renewable diesel in general, is something I feel quite passionate about as an option in the smorgasbord of future fuels. While there are still challenges around public perception and general awareness, in terms of contributing to net zero goals it seems to fit well within the existing transport network and fuelling framework.
“We have two semi-regular fleet operators that are mandated to fill up with HVO and do so at our two sites, but across the board overall uptake has been relatively slow so far, but it feels similar to the early days of AdBlue – steady, but with the potential to be a key part in the gradual shift towards greener solutions within the existing infrastructure.”
Perry believes the price point is a barrier to wider adoption: “However, I believe there’s ongoing discussions around potential carbon credits for transport fleets using fuels such as HVO, which could potentially help drive incentives and future sales.
Earlier in the year, Top 50 Indie Refuel & Go started a petition to get the government to reduce VAT on HVO. So far it has garnered just 53 votes.
Rob Exelby from Exelby Services is also planning to replace his HVO with Shell’s Renewable Diesel on pumps at four of his sites. He hopes the oil company branding will help lift volumes, which are currently stuck at 6,000 litres a month across the sites.
A spokesperson for Shell comments: “In terms of Shell’s approach, HVO is primarily positioned for fleet customers, particularly heavy-duty fleets looking for lower-carbon fuel alternatives.
“At the moment, there aren’t plans for a broader marketing campaign, as the number of UK sites offering HVO is still relatively limited. However, we are continuing to explore opportunities to expand availability over time.
“In terms of availability, we expect around six UK sites to be offering HVO by the end of the month, with Shell branding in place at those locations.”
