The fuel crisis hitting London’s PHV drivers
Diesel hit 191.5p per litre in April 2026 — the highest since the Ukraine energy crisis — after rising 29p in three weeks following the Iran conflict and closure of the Strait of Hormuz. At 30,000 miles per year, that is over £1,320 in additional annual costs with no platform compensation.
What happened
Between 28 February and 23 March 2026, diesel rose 29p per litre in three weeks — driven by the US-Israeli conflict with Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20% of global oil supply passes. Diesel stood at 143p per litre before the conflict. By April 2026 it had reached 191.5p — the highest price since the Ukraine energy crisis of 2022.
PHV drivers are disproportionately exposed. Unlike most motorists, drivers spend 30,000–50,000 miles per year on the road. Fuel is the single largest operating cost — and unlike platform commission, insurance, or vehicle costs, it moves in real time with no mechanism for drivers to recover the increase through fares.
The cost per mile
| Scenario | Diesel price | Cost per mile (50mpg) |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-conflict | 143p/litre | 13.0p per mile |
| April 2026 | 191.5p/litre | 17.4p per mile |
| Increase | +29p/litre | +4.4p per mile |
| Annual extra cost | 30,000 miles/year | +£1,320 |
Analyst forecasts
Why platforms must act
Ride-hailing platforms set the fare. Drivers cannot unilaterally raise prices to recover fuel costs — the platform algorithm determines what passengers pay and what drivers receive. When diesel rises 29p in three weeks, the entire cost falls on the driver.
This is not a new argument. During the Ukraine energy crisis in 2022, fuel duty was cut 5p per litre by the government as an emergency measure. Platforms made no equivalent adjustment. The pattern has repeated: costs socialised onto drivers, profits protected by the platform.
The App Drivers and Couriers Union (ADCU) and the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA) have both called for a mandatory fuel supplement. Addison Lee chief executive Liam Griffin stated publicly that platforms must share the burden of fuel cost volatility with drivers.
What drivers are demanding
Platform fares are set by algorithms. Drivers cannot recover fuel costs through their own pricing. These demands place the obligation on platforms to share the burden of extraordinary fuel cost volatility.
Implemented immediately and paid to drivers on top of the existing per-mile rate, reflecting the real cost increase since the conflict began.
Supplement adjusted every quarter to track actual pump prices — not platform discretion.
A trigger-based reduction that activates automatically during fuel emergencies without requiring drivers to negotiate individually.
Full disclosure of per-mile earnings, commission rates, and fuel supplement payments so drivers can verify compliance.
Add your voice — demand a fuel supplement now
Sign the petition and email your MP. Platforms will not act without pressure. Parliamentary questions and ministerial letters from MPs carry weight — your three minutes could make a difference.
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