Inevitably, conversations with our existing and prospective customers have involved the impact of the rule change of rebated red diesel duty and biofuels that came into effect on 1st April 2022, where industries affected are having to switch to more expensive alternatives.
The move is designed to help the UK achieve its 2050 net zero carbon target by reducing commercial reliance on fossil fuels, forcing great pressure on businesses to ensure that sustainability is at the top of their strategic priorities.
We’ve been working with several of our customers for some time now in providing full support to help streamline their fuel transition to meet their business objectives, whether they be driven by cost implications or environmental factors, with many looking towards our electric forklift ranges for the first time.
One of the main implications of the change in legislation will be the imposition of additional costs associated with the purchase, storage and security of white diesel. From 1st April 2022, machines supplied by Windsor Engineering (Hull) Limited will be supplied to customers with white diesel at a tracked market rate, the cost of diesel will be reviewed on a weekly basis and will be adjusted accordingly.
The cost benefit for using diesel machines over electric, combined with the convenience of refuelling, meant it has long been the UK’s preferred choice, but that has changed significantly. Complicated engine management systems designed to reduce emissions has made the investment into diesel trucks on a par, and in some cases, more expensive than that of their electric equivalent. Add to this the lower total lifetime costs and the benefits on environmental impact, the case is clear.
This has expedited discussions around the ‘shift to electric’ and Windsor is in an advantageous position to advise on a range of battery solutions. Undoubtedly, one of the stumbling blocks in the uptake of electric has been shift length and re-charging. The battery type that works best depends on individual requirements, work cycles and environmental challenges which is where customers are seeing real benefit from working with us – they want to know that they can trust that the solution being recommended is bespoke to their needs and that it makes commercial sense.
We continue to champion ways to utilise lithium battery and intelligent charger technology, to improve productivity without the increase in cost or harm to the environment, and have seen that this is a crucial component of the way in which the market is moving.
In fact, we remain confident that there are many opportunities for businesses to take advantage of new technologies to rebalance their operations and move forward with highly knowledgeable assistance from Windsor.
