Eco-friendly diesel's tax green light

The Government has scrapped duty on Pure Plant Oil (PPO), the green diesel alternative, dropping its price to 52 pence a litre.

The tax exemption applies only to users of less than 2,500 litres a year. But PPO specialist Blooming Futures (www.bloomingfutures.com), based in Brighton, claims the fuel gives similar mpg and power outputs to standard diesel, so this amount is enough to run a fam­ily car for around 25,000 miles. A spokesman said: "It's now financially viable to convert." Previously, drivers had to declare PPO use, yet the spokesman added that switching will save an average family around £1,100 a year over standard diesel.

Engines have to be modified to run on PPO, but there's no heavy chemical processing in its production. It's just rapeseed oil, pressed and filtered. DIY processing kits are available.