Certas Energy supports The AA with alternative fuel HVO

Introduction

With roadside assistance and recovery at its heart, The AA has complex vehicle needs. The AA need to provide exceptional service – so, in order to reach their 2035 net zero target, they entrusted the help of Certas Energy.

Last month, we reached our one-year anniversary of our partnership with The AA – and we’re expecting to grow this even collaboration further in the coming years.

How Certas Energy Helped The AA

Since January 2024, The AA has had three fully operational trucks using Certas Energy HVO – an innovative alternative fuel made from recycled vegetable oil that can be used in standard diesel engines – and utilised Certas Energy HVO refuelling sites.

With a varied operational fleet of over 3,000 vehicles, which make up 95% of the organisation’s scope 1 and 2 emissions, decarbonisation is critical to The AA achieving its net zero by 2035 target.

Duncan Webb, The AA’s Head of Fleet, says: “We’ve seen some fantastic results in terms of miles per gallon and a 95% emissions reduction. HVO is proving to be an exciting part of our alternative fuel ‘test and scale’ programme and I’m looking forward to seeing what the next six months bring.”

The benefits of HVO for The AA

During the first 12 months, The AA trial used over 66,000 litres of Certas Energy HVO to fuel over 210,000 miles of driving. Let’s dive into all the benefits The AA saw from using HVO in their recovery vehicles.

1. Reduced CO2 emissions

The AA’s trio of recovery vehicles powered by HVO have seen a 95% reduction in carbon emissions at the point of use, returning a saving of 165 tonnes of CO2 emissions when compared to same model diesel counterparts.

Over the second year of testing, this figure could rise to over 700 tonnes if the vehicles added to the trial perform similarly.

2. Reduced maintenance costs

The AA’s Fleet Engineering team predict a reduction in maintenance costs. This is because there is a reduction in DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) regenerations needed, as HVO requires less than standard diesel.

3. No modification costs

Because HVO is a drop-in replacement for diesel, there are no modification costs to diesel fleet owners – making it easier than ever to switch to alternative fuel.

4. Consistent access to high-quality fuel

Certas Energy Fuel Cards offer convenient access across the country at Certas Energy refuelling sites, helping manage fleets and transactions. Our accessible network reaches all over the UK, with many sites open 24 hours for HGV fuel, and we accept a wide range of fuel cards, including the Certas Energy Fuel Card.

Take a look at our map to see which Certas Energy site is closest to you. 

The impact of HVO on The AA

As part of its award-winning ‘test and scale’ approach to fleet decarbonisation, The AA has increased the number of vehicles in its trial of HVO from 3 to 15 – to further test how Certas Energy’s alternative fuel can deal with roadside recovery demands in real-world settings.

If the trial extension proves successful, the number of vehicles will be extended further this year to 27 – meaning more than 10% of The AA’s fleet of flatbed recovery trucks will then be fuelled by HVO.

Reach your net zero goals with HVO

Discover how HVO and Certas Energy Fuel Cards can help your business reach its net zero goals and power your journey towards a more sustainable business.

Find out more or call our HVO Hotline at 0345 6088003 to start getting the most out of your HGV fleet.