The Tank Museum in Dorset has taken a decisive step towards sustainability, successfully trialling a renewable diesel made from vegetable oils across part of its operating fleet.
Each summer, visitors to the museum can climb aboard Cold War-era M548 troop carriers, vehicles originally developed around the time of the Vietnam War. This year, five of those carriers have been running on the alternative fuel, marking a breakthrough in the museum’s ambitions to reduce its carbon footprint.
Ahead of Schedule on Sustainability Goals
Workshop manager Duncan Masters, who joined the museum in 2024, described the move as a personal milestone. “It has always been my aspiration to see the fleet operating on cleaner alternatives,” he said. Original plans had anticipated limited trials in 2026, with a permanent switch by 2027. Instead, the museum has achieved this two years ahead of schedule.
The transition has proved remarkably straightforward. The M548 engines, like many military designs of their era, were engineered to be multi-fuel and require no modification to operate on the renewable diesel. Masters compared the process to the days when enthusiasts experimented with cooking oil during spikes in global fuel prices. “This is essentially the same concept,” he noted, “but refined to remove the tell-tale aromas.”
Tangible Environmental Impact
The museum reports that the biofuel has cut vehicle emissions by around 70%—a significant figure given the troop carriers’ heavy daily use. On operating days, each M548 consumes more than 20 litres of fuel. As these are among the most frequently driven vehicles in the collection, the museum anticipates a notable reduction in its overall emissions.
Encouraged by the results, the team is now assessing whether additional vehicles can make the switch. Older models may pose challenges, as their engines are less adaptable to modern fuel alternatives, but the summer’s trial has demonstrated a clear route forward.
A Future-Proofed Collection
The initiative highlights a growing commitment within the heritage sector to align preservation with environmental responsibility. By finding ways to keep historic machinery operational while reducing its impact, The Tank Museum is not only protecting the past but also contributing to a more sustainable future.
Tank rides at the museum will continue until Tuesday 2 September, giving visitors one final chance this season to experience the new, lower-emission carriers in action.
