Latest Fuel News

With environmental concerns heightening and the transport industry contributing significantly to CO2 emissions it’s no surprise that electric vehicles are a regular feature in the news. More frequently electric vehicles are becoming a central part of the transport industry news however; there are speculations as to whether the popularity of the electric vehicle will outgrow the traditional fuel engine anytime soon.

The significant difference between the two vehicles is that the fuel powered vehicle runs via a fuel tank, this supplies the fuel to the engine, the engine then turns the fuel into transmission causing the wheels to turn.

In contrast the electric vehicle runs via a number of batteries, the engine is provided by electricity which powers the electric motor. This motor then turns the power into transmission which subsequently makes the wheels turn.

Often the hybrid car is considered to strike balance between the electric and fuel powered vehicle with regards to CO2 emissions.

With fuel engines becoming more efficient through continuous innovation such as using lighter materials, experts have agreed that the fuel engine will not be made redundant anytime soon.  Due to the limited numbers of electric models and their higher cost, it is believed that the fuel powered car will remain the main player in the market for the foreseeable future.

If you would like information about fuel cards for your vehicles contacts us on 0845 450 5755.

Like many businesses in these hard economic times 2009 saw Shell’s financial results under pressure resulting in job losses in the corporation, however this difficult time has been turned around by Shell through addressing the underperformance and using a variety of restructuring techniques.

Shell has proudly announced that their latest quarterly profits have risen notably. Shell believes this derives from two main sources, firstly the high oil prices; the average cost of a barrel has risen significantly since 2009 and secondly the successful growth of its business, such as the exploration of new oil fields during 2010.

Shell is thought to be positive during the recession and believe as the economies begin to recover the demands for fuel will also, this growth is predicated to make Shell an even more competitive player in the fuel market.

Shell has recently launched its ‘Shell FuelSave Unleaded and Shell FuelSave Diesel’ products into the market, a breakthrough innovation which has been tested in Shell laboratories and designed to improve fuel efficiency at no extra cost to the customer. You can purchase this new innovative fuel with a Forecourt Fuels fuel card.

If you would like any additional information about Shell FuelSave or have any other enquiries please do not hesitate to contact the Forecourt Fuels team on 0845 450 5755.

The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) have carried out research which has concluded that many leased fleets are overpaying VAT by hundreds of millions of pounds. Currently business that lease vehicles can recover a fifty percent of VAT portion of the finance element of their rental payments.

BVRLA believe that their finding shows a figure which is far too low and feel it is being discounted by the government.

There are now suggestions that the VAT recovery rates should be adjusted to be more an equitable rate to businesses that lease cars, however this is considered unlikely to be taken into consideration by the new coalition government especially with the increase in VAT come January 2011.

As we are now in our summer season, we all hope the sun will come out and shine during the next few weeks. With the rising cost of fuel and the temperature outside increasing this sparks the debate of what is more fuel efficient; air conditioning or opening the window?

There are numerous discussions surrounding if air conditioning increases fuel consumption. Studies have shown that switching on your air conditioning system can come at a charge and although we perceive it as a free of charge feature of the vehicle, the reality is maybe different. As we turn up our air conditioning additional energy is required and thus more fuel is used. There are countless statistics that reveal how much fuel consumption increases by, however figures typically fall between a five and eleven percent increase.

After endless debates and research there is still little consensus as to the vital statistics, but the common agreement is:

When driving at lower speeds less power is produced by the vehicles engine, therefore to run an air conditioning system will make the vehicle work considerably harder, for this reason when driving at lower ‘stop-start’ speeds, such as town driving opening a window is more efficient.

When a vehicles speed goes beyond 40 miles per hour having the windows open will cause an increase in drag resulting in lowered fuel efficiency. Therefore when driving at higher speeds the most efficient option is to close the window and switch on your air conditioning.

The majority of research shows that having the air conditioning switched on does not have a big effect on fuel consumption. If you drive a more modern vehicle by and large they are designed to be more aerodynamic and therefore more fuel efficient, so turning on the air conditioning will have minimal impact on fuel consumption.

The very best way to save fuel is to have the air conditioning off and the windows up. Allow your vehicle to cool before you set off on your journey, by simply parking in the shade and starting your journey in a cool vehicle you won’t have to worry about the extra fuel cost!

With environmental concerns growing and CO2 emissions a regular subject in the news the pressure is on to reduce emissions and fuel consumption. Recent discussions advocate an easy way to reduce fuel consumption is to eco-manage your fleet and better educate your drivers.

Studies propose that changing to greener fuels is a method to lower emissions; however it may not be easiest way to make your fleet greener.

Research suggests the easiest way to reduce fuel consumption is to educate your drivers on how to drive more efficiently- the simplest changes in behaviour such as careful acceleration and knowing your gears may reduce your fuel consumption and also lower your fuel costs too.

The rising cost of fuel is felt by all however, it is suggested that UK hauliers maybe experiencing the impact more than most. It is thought that UK fuel prices are putting immense pressure on profits for hauliers resulting in a variety of cost saving exercises. Speculation that the new coalition government may increase fuel duty in the near future indicates hard times ahead.

Fuel cards are an easy way to manage your fleet through this uncertainty.

At Forecourt Fuels we can help ease this pressure with our fuel cards. We supply a large number of fuel cards to many different businesses for both UK and European usage, making our fuel cards ideal for any haulier.

Having a Fuel card will allow you to purchase your fuel at the best possible price, whilst giving you the added purchase control required in these pressurized times.

A recent study has shown that fuel gift cards are rapidly becoming a popular birthday gift amongst civilians. With the price of fuel increasing in recent years, the research suggests that people are happy to receive a fuel card to save them money on their bills.

For businesses there are multiple benefits to be had too. Regardless of size, a fleet can benefit by using fuel cards, not only will a business save money on their running costs, the process of purchasing fuel can be made easier too. With increased security and additional purchase controls, fuel cards will help lower the administrative process of purchasing fuel.

Plans to switch off UK motorway lighting continue to cause controversy. Although trials already implemented in parts of the UK are considered successful in reducing carbon emissions and light pollution, many have concerns with the health and safety implications to motorists.

It is empathized that the motorways are being carefully selected by volume of traffic and accident records, however it is feared that councils may hide behind the environmental benefits and put the safety of motorists at risk in favor of reducing costs.

There are a high number of concerns over the potential increase in road accidents.

Discussions surrounding environmental pressures suggest that UK fuel prices may be kept high. It is suggested that the UK Government has been advised to keep fuel prices high in order to battle against climate change and keep emissions low.

The report discussed that fuel efficient vehicles may benefit from a grant, whilst others will be taxed to offset the lower price of oil.

Fuel prices are of concern for the majority of businesses; managing fuel consumption with fuel cards is an easy way to solve this uncertainty.Fuel cards will effectively manage this pressure and will help you reduce your administration, whilst simplifying the process of purchasing your fuel.

Forecourt Fuels are delighted to announce the launch of a brand new version of their website www.forecourtfuelcards.co.uk on Thursday 15th July 2010.

Significant changes to the site include an interactive “Service Station Locator” which allows registered users to search for sites within their chosen radius (with a range of up to 100 miles) with exact distances displayed from their office or depot.

Each user can choose by either Fuel Card type or oil company brand and click on each individual result to reveal the details of every site listed within their criteria.

Another new feature is a free, downloadable report  with tips and advice on choosing the best fuel card product for your business based on nearly twenty years experience in the industry.