Recycled vegetable oil powers Boston National Grid fleet

National Grid Electricity Distribution is now powering some of its non-electric vehicles with recycled vegetable oil.

Using Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) instead of diesel, the trial will take place at National Grid's Boston depot.

HVO thus acts as a temporary substitute to diesel to help National Grid Electricity Distribution meet decarbonisation goals while the network operator continues to add more electric vehicles to its fleet. 

Now in over 100 vehicles in Lincolnshire, with an average monthly mileage of 1100, HVO, a fossil-free alternative to diesel, is derived from used cooking oils, tallows, and other recyclable waste. Subsequently, the trial has seen a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 89 per cent.

Alongside the 1,000 electric vehicles already in operation, HVO is helping to drastically reduce the impact on the environment and air quality that National Grid has on Lincolnshire. As lines persons, engineers and technicians carry out maintenance across the county, the vehicles are powered by a cleaner, greener fuel.

Trials like this are important as they demonstrate the important role HVO could play in decarbonising fleet, especially in circumstances where advancements in electric vehicles have not yet arrives, such as Heavy Goods Vehicles like the Mercedes Unimogs in National Grid's fleet.

Last month, a new electric 4x4 utility vehicle also joined the transport fleet, a collaboration with Skoda where Skoda Enyaqs were converted into light commercial vehicles with all-terrain capability.

Christopher Mayell, transport manager at National Grid Electricity Distribution, said:

"As the country's largest distribution network operator, we have one of the largest fleets in the UK, and we are working tirelessly to deliver more electric vehicles each year where suitable alternatives exist.

"Of course, there are some vehicles where electric alternatives are simply not yet available, but our ambition is to be an industry leader in fleet decarbonisation. Trialling HVO in Boston is a step in the right direction to decarbonise where suitable electric vehicles alternatives are not available. This supports National Grid Electric Distribution to find innovative ways to decarbonise our operations.

"The results of the trial have shown an 89 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions, which is great news, and means that we can reduce our impact on the local environment in the present, while charing ahead to the electric future."