Dublin Express becomes first transport operator in Ireland to use vegetable oil instead of diesel
The company has ditched the diesel for the more sustainably friendly fuel.
Dublin Express has become the first transport operator in Ireland to transition its fleet to hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO).
The company - which operates an express bus route from Dublin Airport to the city - has ditched the diesel for the more sustainably friendly fuel. Launching the new initiative today, Dublin Express said it will replace over 80,000 litres of diesel each month - the equivalent to fully fuelling 1,600 cars.
HVO is a cheap option for diesel transport providers looking to be more environmentally friendly, as it can be used as a direct replacement for a diesel vehicle. There isn’t a need for any vehicle or engine modifications as it is compatible with all existing diesel vehicles.
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Derived from used cooking oil, HVO reduces CO2 emissions by 90% compared to diesel coaches. One coach running on diesel produces the same emissions as 12 coaches operating on HVO.
According to Certa Ireland Ltd - who provide the new HVO fuel to Dublin Express - 20,000 litres of diesel per week emits approximately 50,241 kg of CO2. The company’s switch to HVO will save 45,217 kg of CO2 per week, which is the equivalent of taking 1,340 average-size fossil fuel cars off the road annually.
General Manager of Dublin Express Roy Fitzgerald said the shift to HVO is a “real game-changer” for the company. He added: “[It’s] putting the wheels in motion for the decarbonisation of mass passenger transport.
"We’re proud to be one of the first coach operators in Ireland to be leading the way in reducing carbon emissions and doing our bit for the environment. Dublin Express is on track to carry over 2 million passengers between its Dublin City routes and Dublin Airport this year, so the environmental benefits of HVO are profound.
“As we continue to expand our services and support our partners to meet their sustainability goals, we are committed to driving modal shift, encouraging passengers to ditch their cars and switch to more environmentally friendly ways to travel.”
While Dublin Express is the first transport provider to switch to HVO, others are also changing their fleets to be more environmentally friendly. Last November, Dublin Bus unveiled its two new charging depots in the city for its new fleet of green electric buses.
By 2025, the National Transport Authority (NTA) aims to have 50% of its Dublin City bus services using low or zero-emissions vehicles. However, while companies are aiming to be more sustainable, there was an increased demand in the private market in Ireland last year for petrol and diesel vehicles (up 7.7% and 1% respectively).
Last year also saw a 25% slump in sales for electric vehicles. According to figures released by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) on Monday, new registrations of electric vehicles were down 29.3% last month compared to the same month in 2023.
SIMI Director General Brian Cooke said the drop may be due to the government’s decision to reduce the level of grants available for EV buyers. In Budget 2025, he said it’s crucial that more support is provided to people transitioning to a more sustainable vehicle. This includes extending the benefit-in-kind incentive and accelerating the rollout of national charging infrastructure.
He added: “At this crucial stage in the EV transition, these measures will increase the sale of EVs, signalling their importance to consumers, boosting confidence and reassurance in electric vehicles. Budget 2025 presents an opportunity for the Government to demonstrate its commitment to fleet electrification and is an opportunity they should not miss.”
The Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC) is also calling on the Government for more incentives to drive the uptake of more efficient vehicles. It wants incentives to include tax reform on company cars to promote the purchase of sustainable vehicles, and cheaper public transport options.
Chair Marie Donnelly said: “People must be supported to make sustainable transport choices. For this to happen, urgent delivery of efficient and low-cost public transport at both a national and regional level is required.
“We want the Government to conduct an urgent and full review of taxation in the transport sector to ensure taxation policy for households and businesses drives emission reductions while at the same time is progressive and protects the most exposed to change.”
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