green diesel in motorhome

line6

hi, i'm new to this forum so i hope this is ok to post

if someone is living in their vehicle, ie the vehicle is their home, what is the position concerning fuel?

that is to say - if the fuel tank contains green diesel could it be argued that it was being used to heat the premises?

vat on ordinary diesel is charged at a higher rate than diesel used for agricultural machinery and for heating homes - as the fuel would be serving two purposes: to drive the vehicle, and to heat the home of the owner it seems to me to be a bit of a grey area

any ideas?

Delancey

Well , it certainly would be a novel point to argue that the green diesel is heating your home in these circumstances .
I am not an expert in customs matters but I think that arguement would carry nil weight with the authorities in the event they dipped your tank.

me_right_one

Theres nothing illegal about having green diesel physically on your premises / in your motorhome in a container. Its a different story however, if you have it in the fuel tank of the vehicle.

Our man in Havana

You would need the heating system fueled from a separate tank from that of the vehicle.

Robbo

Don't a lot of motorhomes have seperate heaters? If you ran that off a seperate kero/green diesel tank, I wouldn't see the problem. The problem is if it's in the tank that runs the engine and you're on a public road.

detective

Robbo wrote: »

The problem is if it's in the tank that runs the engine and you're on a public road.

Yeah that's the major issue here as far as I know.

Our man in Havana

Robbo wrote: »

Don't a lot of motorhomes have seperate heaters? If you ran that off a seperate kero/green diesel tank, I wouldn't see the problem. The problem is if it's in the tank that runs the engine and you're on a public road.

Even on private property with green diesel in the tank that runs the engine you are liable to prosecution.

dermot_sheehan

Offence is to use as a propellant, to sell or deliver for such use or keep in a fuel tank

In this Chapter “fuel tank” means any tank or other container in or on a motor vehicle which is used or is capable of being used to supply fuel for combustion in the engine of the motor vehicle for the purposes of propulsion or of another motor vehicle which can provide traction for such purposes.
(b) It shall be presumed, until the contrary is shown, that a fuel tank is capable of being used to supply fuel for the purposes of propulsion if there are any outlets from the fuel tank other than—
(i) those which are permanently and solely connected to and for the sole supply of fuel for refrigeration, oxygenation, thermal insulation or other specialised systems in or on the motor vehicle, or
(ii) those which are solely for the purpose of discharging fuel from an oil road tanker to a vessel or tank separate from such oil tanker.

line6

many thanks for the replies, sorry to be so long getting back

gabhain7 this puts the whole thing into perspective thanks - any idea what bozo thinks that green diesel can be used for thermal insulation??

gabhain7 wrote: »

Offence is to use as a propellant, to sell or deliver for such use or keep in a fuel tank

In this Chapter “fuel tank” means any tank or other container in or on a motor vehicle which is used or is capable of being used to supply fuel for combustion in the engine of the motor vehicle for the purposes of propulsion or of another motor vehicle which can provide traction for such purposes.
(b) It shall be presumed, until the contrary is shown, that a fuel tank is capable of being used to supply fuel for the purposes of propulsion if there are any outlets from the fuel tank other than—
(i) those which are permanently and solely connected to and for the sole supply of fuel for refrigeration, oxygenation, thermal insulation or other specialised systems in or on the motor vehicle, or
(ii) those which are solely for the purpose of discharging fuel from an oil road tanker to a vessel or tank separate from such oil tanker.