WHOLELIFE costs of alternatively-fuelled vehicles are the key concern of fleet managers and not the environmental benefits they offer, according to delegates at a three-day conference. More than 60 delegates attended the seminar on alternative fuelled vehicles organised by Transport Helpline in Blackpool, with the majority of delegates being fleet and transport managers in the public sector.

Supported by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, backing also came from the Energy Saving Trust, Ford, Vauxhall, Shell Gas, British Gas, Calor Gas, Powergen, automotive Leasing and Zevco. A range of compressed natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas vehicles was available for static and on-the-road demonstrations.

An open forum was chaired by Stewart Whyte, director and membership secretary of the Association of Car Fleet Operators and managing director of Fleet Audits. He said the practical issues surrounding the introduction of alternative fuel power into fleets was the major topic. He said: 'The delegates agreed unanimously that their key concern was over operating and wholelife costs. This was a much higher priority than the environmental benefits.'