Which fuel to choose for your wheelchair accessible vehicle?
It’s no secret that the climate crisis is forcing businesses and governments to act, and part of the UK’s bid to becoming carbon neutral by 2050 includes banning petrol and diesel cars by 2035. But with more and more of us continuing to need cars for mobility, we’ll take a look at the pros and cons of the different fuel types for your next WAV car.
Whilst there’s been a long standing debate between whether petrol or diesel powered wheelchair accessible vehicles are better, the reality is neither is automatically better than the other – but depending on your driving style and usage, one may be better suited to your needs than the other.
Diesel vehicles
Typically, many WAV’s are diesel powered because of the weight of the vehicle, and a diesel engine offers more pulling power. This in turn creates a smoother drive, making it more suitable for wheelchair users. Diesel vehicles also tend to be more economical with fuel, which is great if you do a lot of long journeys, especially on the motorway.
However, diesel fuel costs are on the rise, as is the tax on diesel vehicles. Similarly, if there’s something wrong with a diesel engine, the cost of repair can sometimes be astronomical.
Petrol vehicles
Modern petrol WAV’s are ideal for short journeys thanks to their smooth driving. Their fuel consumption may be higher, but petrol is cheaper at the pump compared with diesel – meaning overall running costs can be lower.
Benefitting from lower servicing costs, petrol engines have quick acceleration making them best suited to town driving. Whilst they may not have the power of a diesel engine, if you’re looking for an accessible vehicle for popping to the shops, with the occasional longer journey, petrol power should be considered.
Electric vehicles
Whilst there’s no doubt electric cars are the car of the future; you might want to consider investing in one now – especially if your WAV is required as a run-around car. Extremely quiet, simple to charge and drive, electric cars are extremely economical to run. The cost to charge is extremely low, and the servicing costs are typically lower than a petrol or diesel car.
In some areas congestion charges are applied to petrol and diesel cars, with electric cars typically exempt from this additional cost. However, there have been growing concerns over travelling longer distances because of the ‘patchy’ network of charging points.
Whilst 2035 may still seem a long way off, it’s always worth bearing in mind which fuel type to choose. With specialist companies like Allied Mobility who have a whole host of accessible vehicles for you to choose from, you’ll be able to discover the perfect WAV for you in no time.
