Fleets with alternative-fuel cars could now be quids in at disposal time.

Alternative-fuel cars are fetching far more at auction than their conventional equivalents, reports auctioneers BCA.

BCA reports a sudden and growing interest in greener cars among buyers. BCA cites rising fuel prices and the effects of the credit crunch as the primary reason.

Used prices for hybrid and LPG-powered cars are performing well ahead of other market sectors.

BCA says the demand for hybrids and LPG cars is part of a recent trend to cut fuel costs.

Driving less, car sharing and downsizing are also becoming more common as businesses and individuals try to combat rising fuel prices.

BCA’s Tim Naylor said: “It would appear that rising fuel prices have succeeded in making motorists more environmentally friendly where successive transport policies have failed.”

Companies that put hybrid and LPG cars on their fleets several years ago had little idea of what such cars would be worth at resale time.

There was doubt over how much demand there would be for secondhand hybrid and LPG cars. There was also little historical evidence on which to base predictions for residual values.

Now, though, it looks as though the financial gamble of taking an environmentally friendly route has paid off for them.

BCA prices for alternative-fuelled cars:

• Honda Civic 1.4 I-Dsi ESD IMA hybrid, 07/07, 10k miles, £13,000
• Toyota Prius 1.5 VVTi T3 hybrid, 05/05, 58k miles, £7700
• Vauxhall Astra 1.6 LS Bi-Fuel LPG estate, 04/04, 63k miles, £3600
• Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 LS Bi-Fuel LPG