Despite the fuel’s poor reputation and the decline in sales of diesel passenger vehicles, in the world of trucks, diesel continues to be king.
While there are several reasons for this, perhaps the most important is that a commercial vehicle that has to shift tens of tonnes on the motorway needs power: lots of power.
This is why, for now, diesel engines are winning.
Leaving aside the cost of the fuel and the miles that a diesel can run compared to a petrol vehicle with the same number of litres in its tank (another advantage of diesel), diesel vehicles also have greater longevity and longer service life.
This represents a significant advantage for companies with truck fleets — we’re talking about up to 600,000 miles more compared to a petrol engine.
Although other options may become available in the future, such as liquefied natural gas, which some experts say could end up leaving diesel behind, the reality is that today, companies with commercial vehicles are still opting for diesel.
The same goes for the manufacturers, who offer few alternatives.
Data on fuel consumption of trucks
So, what is the diesel consumption per mile of trucks?
As you’d expect, it depends on its size and load, as well as whether it carries out its journeys through urban or interurban environments. Let’s settle on an average of around 30 or 40 litres of diesel every 62 miles. For larger trucks with a payload of around 23.5 tonnes, the consumption can increase up to 38 litres per 62 miles. Smaller vehicles and those with a smaller load consume less. A small truck with a payload of around 16 tonnes uses around 25 litres of diesel per 62 miles.
According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the average Heavy Commercial Vehicle (HGV) with a payload of 26 tonnes would achieve a fuel consumption of 30 litres every 62 miles. A HGV can expect to achieve annual mileage of 74,500 per year, with an annual fuel expenditure of over £36,400.
Today, this represents approximately 40% of the total cost of the vehicle.
What about vans?
Vans are a case apart, since there is more choice and even electric models to address the delivery of goods within cities.
However, because of their smaller size and load, their diesel consumption is also reduced, averaging only about 11 litres per 62 miles.
If you would like to see how you can reduce the fuel costs of your fleet, please visit our Webfleet savings calculator.