Green additive with few snags
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by Oliver Dixon • Keighley-based lubricant manufacturer Highspeed Energy Care is to launch a fuel additive called Countdown which, it claims, reduces emissions and fuel consumption without the lubricity problems sometimes associated with lowsulphur diesel.
Operator trials of vehicles from cars, vans and forklifts to tractive units, are said to show emission cuts of up to 88%, coupled with a 7% decrease in fuel consumption. This effect has been measured on Euro-1 and 2 engines and a range operating conditions.
Martin Hall, group fleet manager of the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, runs 260 panel vans: "We're saving around 5%. That more than pays for the cost of the additive."
Environmental benefits have also been noted by Wilkinson i Hardware. Fleet man ager Martyn Rees, control ling more than 100 trucks throughout the country, says: "Wilkinson Hardware is an environmentally conscious company. We make a big effort to ensure our vehicles meet our environmental standards, and using Countdown ensures exhaust emissions are kept to the absolute minimum."
Stan Kidney of South Shields-based Osbourne Motor Transport with 20 vehicles agrees: "This industry is increasingly being targeted for emissions levels.
"My guess is there may be tax breaks for low-emission vehicles," he adds. "Countdown has cut our emissions and increased our fuel efficiency. If using the product will allow hauliers using older vehicles to get a tax break, then our interest will continue."