Council vehicle fleet to switch to greener fuel
Swindon Borough Council’s vehicle fleet will no longer be powered by fossil fuels as a renewable biofuel will be phased in from next month.
Published: Monday, 2nd March 2026
Hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), which is made from vegetable oils and animal fats, will replace diesel in powering approximately 675 council vehicles reducing their carbon dioxide emissions by up to 90 per cent.
The fuel also significantly lowers nitrogen oxide (NOx), particulate matter (PM) and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions, contributing to improved air quality across the Borough.
HVO can be used as a direct replacement in most diesel engines without requiring vehicle modifications or new infrastructure.
All eligible council-owned diesel vehicles and equipment - including waste and recycling lorries, ride-on mowers, road sweepers, tractors and highway machinery - will transition to HVO as the Council’s existing diesel supplies are run down.
As part of the Council’s 2026/27 budget approved last week (26 February), £150,000 has been allocated to meet the annual increased cost of using HVO. While it is more expensive than diesel, it burns cleaner and more efficiently, so vehicles should not have to refuel as often and will cost less to maintain. It is seen as a cost-effective way of making an immediate and significant reduction to the Council’s carbon footprint, at a time when electrification of the fleet is cost prohibitive.
The HVO sourced by the Council will be certified under recognised sustainability standards, including International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC), and will contain no palm oil. This ensures the fuel is fully traceable, renewable and not linked to deforestation.
Councillor Chris Watts, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for the Environment and Transport, said: “Ending the use of fossil fuel to power council-owned vehicles will have a positive and immediate environmental impact.
“Making the switch to a renewable biofuel, hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), will reduce the carbon dioxide emissions of each vehicle by up to 90 per cent. It will also benefit local air quality, by significantly reducing the level of polluting gases generated by burning diesel.
“When you think that our waste crews make 20,000 collections every week day using huge lorries - the environmental impact of switching these from diesel to this renewable biofuel is significant.
“Longer term we will continue to explore all options to decarbonise our fleet still further, recognising that widescale electrification is currently financially out of reach and comes with some operational challenges to resolve.”
The Council currently operates 28 electric vehicles, including four hybrids.