19.11.2002
Vauxhall wins dual fuel fleet order from English Nature

UK environmental watchdog English Nature will switch its entire 160 diesel powered fleet to liquefied petroleum gas and has selected Vauxhall to provide the cars.

English Nature, a government agency championing the conservation of wildlife, geology and wild places in England, is making the switch to diesel because gas power is more in keeping with its green transport policy as it produces less environmentally harmful emissions.

English Nature expects to make a fuel cost saving, although it says cost is a distant second to environmental concerns.

The agency operates from 22 regional offices throughout the UK but believes there is adequate LPG supply not to make re-fuelling an issue.

According to fleet manager Marita Johnson, English Nature drivers are universally happy with the decision to switch to LPG after driving gas-powered Vauxhall cars and realizing there is no performance compromise.

The agency has ordered 1.6 liter, 16v LPG-powered Vauxhall Astra estates and hatchbacks and has just taken delivery of the first batch of 20. English Nature will also be ordering dual fuel Vectras and Zafiras, and Marita Johnson calculates that it will be two years before the whole car fleet has switched to gas power.