Which type of fuel should you be filling up with?
There are many types of fuels available in the UK today, and this blog will go into each of them in detail, including the benefits and negative aspects of each type.
What are the type of fuels?
Petrol is the most commonly used fuel in the UK. In order to make unleaded petrol more friendly, bioethanol is added to it.
Whilst demand for Diesel has dropped in recent years, as a result of increasing concerns over environmental impacts, it remains a popular fuel choice, particularly in larger and commercial vehicles.
Electric is rapidly expanding in use, and is good for the environment. Especially if you are using renewable electricity (such as solar panels) to charge your electric vehicle. Fully electric vehicles do not require any fuel at all.
Hybrid powered vehicles have two sources of energy, typically petrol or diesel, combined with an electric element. They have a plug-in battery that can be recharged, many of which
Liquefied Petroleum Gas or LPG for short, is made of propane and butane, and is widely available in UK fuel stations. However, cars need to be specifically adapted to run on LPG.
Biofuels aren't widely used in the UK, particularly for non-commercial vehicles, but they can offer another environmentally friendly alternative. Examples include using chip fat and other oils, which would otherwise be disposed of, are reused for fuel.
What are the benefits for each type of fuel?
Petrol is the most commonly used fuel in the UK and its benefits are:
- It is very commonly available
- Generally less expensive at the petrol station compared to diesel.
- Insurance and maintenance costs also tend to be cheaper on petrol cars, and annual services and one-off repairs tend to be more expensive in diesel cars.
- Considered that petrol cars are more reliable than their diesel counterparts over short and frequent journeys.
However, many are concerned about the environmental impact of petrol cars, even if those concerns are lessened when compared to diesel cars, and the prices of petrol at the pump has risen sharply over the past couple of years.
Diesel fuel is also commonly used and its benefits are:
- Fuel efficiency is greater - meaning although it is more expensive at the pump it can be cheaper in the long run - especially on long motorway journeys
- The CO2 emissions can actually be lower when compared to petrol, due to the greater fuel efficiency
However, some people can be put off by the nosier diesel engine. Similar to petrol, many people are now looking at more environmentally friendly fuel types, particularly as the cost of diesel has increased significantly recently.
Electric vehicles have skyrocketed in popularity in recent years because:
- They are considered to be much more environmentally friendly
- Batteries have become more reliable and last longer
- Number and availability of electric vehicle charging points has increased - many supermarkets and service stations now have them
- The cost of recharging an electric vehicle battery is significantly lower than petrol or diesel.
However, electric vehicles do tend to be more expensive, and some people are still concerned about battery life and charger availability. Also, because they are relatively new, there aren't many second-hand electric cars available to purchase, but given the significant increase in new electric vehicles, it will only be a matter of time before this improves.
Hybrid cars can overcome some of the concerns people have traditionally had with electric vehicles as their range is much longer. However, you will still have to face the increasing cost of petrol and diesel.
LPG and Biofuels are considered to be much more specialist fuel types, and they would need some extra consideration around the types of vehicles available and where you would be able to refuel.
So which type of fuel should I use?
Essentially this is a personal choice, and it is important to choose a fuel type that compliments your location, what you use your car for and what kind of vehicle you have. For example, if you do a lot of short trips in cities and large towns you might not need the extra flexibility a hybrid car provides. Or if you do a large amount of mileage on motorways, and you need a big car, diesel may be preferable over petrol.