Petrol v Diesel v Hybrid

There comes a point where we just say we’ve had enough. Had enough of the Brexit debate, had enough of wondering if England are going to win the World Cup and no we have had enough of everyone telling us that one minute we should be choosing diesel and the next minute petrol is the way forward. What about electric? And hybrid? The choices have now increased and we are still none the wiser.

So to help with the ongoing debate we have compiled this very brief yet informative list of pros and cons surrounding the four main fuel types that we have available to us in the UK.

Petrol

Let’s start with petrol. Thanks to the long list of fuel stations, petrol benefits from a larger infrastructure offering more choice and competition to customers. If you’ve ever driven a petrol-powered vehicle, you may have noticed that it is the most fun you’ll have on four wheels, not to mention it is the cheapest to buy.

It does however come with some negative points. For example, did you know that petrol vehicles depreciate the fastest? So watch out for those residual values when you plan on leasing a new vehicle. If you’re a fan of the environment, you may want to take note that petrol engines produce chemicals such as benzene which is a dangerous greenhouse gas. Finally, and probably the most important; petrol is an extremely dangerous substance to store and handle.

Diesel

Next we will take a look at diesel. As most commercial vehicles now run on a diesel engine this is probably going to be the most useful to you. These engines last a lot longer and tolerate much higher mileages so if you are looking at leasing a commercial vehicle on a long term basis with plenty of travelling, we would advise opting for a diesel. You’ll also save on money, in fact these engines are 25% more efficient than a petrol engine, work those savings out!

Historically you have probably found that they are more expensive to buy than petrol which can sometimes put you off however when you consider the savings on fuel you could be in for a cheeky win. Then again, insurance is also higher for diesel vehicles because they are more expensive to repair or replace. Finally, even though they have been known to be better for the environment, they actually produce nitrous oxides, hydrocarbons and particulates.

Hybrid

Hybrid for those who don’t know is a crossover between a petrol powered engine and an electric engine which gives you the choice when on the road. These are much cleaner and more fuel efficient, especially in urban motoring. As they aren’t that popular at the moment their resale value is very high. With low tax bills and congestion charge it is no wonder that more and more drivers in and around the capital are choosing to go for a hybrid. The amazing capabilities of the conventional engine means that there are no range limits.

With every pro, must come a con. And with hybrids you need to consider that they are generally more expensive than petrol engines to buy and that maintenance on it may require a special skillset, not to mention the batteries are expensive to replace. The engines are also smaller which means it produces less pulling power for heavier loads.

Electric

Electric vehicles are something of the future and what we only thought would appear in sci-fi films. However, electric vehicles are now a giant in the automotive world and within a few years will make up for a large portion of the UK market. Leasing electric vans will soon be something that all manufacturers offer. It is because they exude zero emissions, minimal noise pollution, they benefit from zero road tax, presents a green image for your business and hold a high residual value.

This being said, electric vehicles are expensive to buy and have a limited range. Not to mention an extensive time to recharge. As much as we think electric vehicles are helping us ‘go green’ we seem to forget that to produce this electricity power stations burn fossil fuels which pretty much defeats the object. There’s also currently a scarcity of charging points however in the future this could change due to the influx in popularity.

Conclusion

Whether you are looking for cheap leasing deals on commercial vehicles or eyeing up an electric van for sale, make sure you consider all of the pros and cons for each of these engines. To help you make this decision we hire a team of experts to guide you in the right direction to ensure that you keep moving your business forward.