Alternatively Fuelled Vehicles - (AFV)
Course Information
In 2018, UK law was changed so that the weight limit for Category B driving licence holders driving alternatively-fuelled vehicles could be increased from 3.5 tonnes to 4.25 tonnes
The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 (the 2018 Regulations) made changes to the law to allow Category B licence holders to drive an alternatively fuelled vehicle that weighs between 3.5 and 4.25 tonnes, provided it is not driven outside of Great Britain, used for the transportation of goods, is not towing a trailer and the driver has completed a minimum of 5 hours training.
This non-statutory guidance sets out more information on these changes to legislation. It sets out details of the training required for drivers to take advantage of the new law. It also describes the system of certification that will allow drivers to prove that they have completed the training.
The guidance should be considered by any employer with employees who drive vehicles such as delivery vans, as well as self-employed people and those using their own vehicle for a work-related journey. It will be particularly valuable to those who operate large goods vehicles and those who are responsible for fleet management of goods vehicles.
Reducing emissions from vans is key to combatting climate change and improving urban air quality. Vans account for a growing share of total UK vehicles, and have both higher utilisation rates and higher emissions than cars. Government is keen to support the low emission light commercial vehicles sector in increasing its access to cleaner alternatives.
Alternatively-fuelled vehicles can have an increased kerb weight compared with their conventionally fuelled counterparts. Licence regulations mean, driving a vehicle with a maximum authorised mass of more than 3.5 tonnes would normally require a Category C1 licence. Therefore, operators of alternatively-fuelled vehicles wanting to remain below this regulatory threshold must either suffer a constrained payload or employ drivers with a category C1 licence. This entails higher staffing costs, and in practice is holding back many fleets from adopting alternatively fuelled vehicles.
The recent changes to legislation should make it easier for organisations to introduce alternatively fuelled vehicles into their fleets.
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What is an alternatively-fuelled vehicle?
For the purposes of this guidance "an alternatively fuelled vehicle" means a motor vehicle powered by:
- electricity, natural gas, biogas or hydrogen; or
- hydrogen and electricity;
Drivers who wish to take advantage of the new legislation must carry out a minimum of 5 hours of training on driving alternatively fuelled vehicles (AFV).
Training may only be provided by members of a government recognised LGV training register. We are an approved National Register of Instructors (NRI) LGV training and exam centre with instructors available for AFV training.
This training can be delivered at your site using your equipment nationwide or remotely. Certificates will be issued by the NRI.
Licence Requirements
- Must be 17 years old
- Must hold a current UK Driving Licence
Who should train? Why should I train?
Dulson Training offer lessons and testing for people learning to drive and who would like to gain certification to drive an AFV Cat B car or panel van using a UK car licence.
Whether you want to learn to drive for work or social reasons, or you have employees who are required to drive AFV vehicles Dulson Training can help drivers get behind the wheel safely and legally.
Amazing experience - it’s taken me more thank one go to get my licence and the only reason I continued is because of the amazingly calm, professional and encouraging manner of all Dulson staff. From the original enquiry through to the test, there is nothing they could have done better. Highly recommend.
Ellie
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Well done to all concerned... from initial contact message through to completed delivery on uploaded training for my CPC.
Andy
I just wanted to say I thoroughly enjoyed the course yesterday.
Paul was a brilliant instructor and I felt very confident once finishing the course.
Please could you pass on my personal thanks to him.
Carys
Just want to say a massive thank you to Dulson Training for getting me through my class 2 I am so grateful for all the help and support you have given me. I just want to thank the instructors that I had they where great also a big thank you to Steve Dulson for giving me all his help and support such a top bloke and I cant thank you enough. Thank you to Brian too who helped me get there in the end everyone at Dulson is great and I thank you all.
Michael
I just wanted to say how impressed I was with the course content and the trainers who delivered them.
It was easy to book the days that suited me over a two week period and to complete each one. Pat was extremely helpful at every stage and made the process simple and easy with great communication along the way.
It is clear that your team strive to excel and exceed expectations, and on this they delivered it all.
What was also pleasing was that it was interactive and participative with the training team having good interpersonal skills and humour making all the subjects easy to engage with and get the most out of.
Please pass on my thanks to them all.
Just like to add no driver looks forward to their cpc courses Neil & Rose made the course as painless as possible the time flew by, whilst it was done remotely with limitations on discussions we still managed to have some form of discussion between new drivers and the more seasoned drivers. I would just like to extend my thanks to Neil, Rose and Pat very friendly team very helpful and may possibly be back to add to my CPC hours in the future I will be recommending Dulson in the future.
Michael
From the initial phone call to pat about wanting to go for my cat c license right up to steve driving me back from the test site to rodenhurst and everything in between was just brilliant. Loved the cpc modules and steve is an asset to the company. The driving assessment was perfect and the fella that assessed me was brilliant. John was an absolutely fantastic trainer and a really nice fella. Super supportive and encouraging and its because of his wealth of knowledge and information he handed down to me I passed first time. So from start to finish I couldn't have been happier.. thank you
Steve
Everything was absolutely faultless from the moment I first called the office to the moment I left after passing my test. First impressions were very good as the office staff explained everything I needed to do with a provisional and theory tests etc. They sent a full information pack of forms out that i found very useful and made the whole process easy. This is something that stood out to me as other driver training businesses didn’t give me a good first impression. Even though I didn’t pass first time(my fault), Steve and his team worked very hard in finding me a test as soon as possible and at the right time for myself. They were great.
Bradley
A big thanks for all your help with getting me through my class 2. And a massive thanks to Allen for his patients and perseverance. Totally recommended to anyone thanks again
Louis Price
I found the course and the tutors to be very engaging, informative and overall superb.
Thank you to all at Dulson Training for your help and guidance with the CPC course. Brilliant!
Neil
I would like to thank Steve Dulson for organising my training days and I would also like to say a special thankyou to John Challenor who was my coach trainer. The training was well planned with structured lessons. I couldn't have asked for anything more, passing both my cpc mod 4 and pcv practical tests 1st attempt on the same day. A massive thank you to all at Dulson Training for making me feel very welcome.
Tessa Wheeler
Best driving school by far they helped me pass my class 1 and 2 and they did it at times that were suitable to me and they make sure you are 110% ready for your test Highly recommended.
Barry Jarman
Just to say a huge thank you for your help and patience in getting me through my test. Many Thanks Kate
Kate
Just a quick thankyou after having passed my LGV C test this morning and a special thankyou to Allan for his patience and persistence; I really believe that even if I'd failed the test today I would still have emerged a better driver after having met Allan
Gareth John
A big thank you to Allan for his time, skill and patience in getting me through Class C last Thursday.....first time !!!!!
And for my CPC 4 test too !! A full unconditional recommendation to Dulson Training !!!!
John Anyon
HIGHLY RECOMMEND. I did my class 2 with Dulson training and CPC MOD4 and passed both first time! Very friendly instructors and try to help you with what you feel the least confident about ( I had Paul as my instructor ) will definitely be back for my class 1 with Dulson training. 5*
Tyler Adderley
Great team at Dulson's I had the pleasure of tony and Alan for my class two both great guys and easy to get on with and then I had rob for my class one who is top bloke definitely put me at ease straight from the start and definitely helped me on my journey to my new career great advice with all and will 100% recommend to anyone guys thanks and all the best to you all
James Bedworth
I could not of been happier with the whole experience. Very helpful every step of the way and felt comfortable with my instructors.
Steve Smith
We covered all relevant modules , this course was achieved remotely .I found the course full of relevant information and very interesting.
The course was presented in a professional and very easy to follow way via 3 host presenters Rosemary, Dave, Neil,not forgetting pat for her excellent customer service