There are quite a few practical options already available for reducing CO₂ emissions in the logistics sector. In this and upcoming newsletters, we will be looking at various sustainable fuel alternatives.
HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil)
Fueling conventional diesel trucks with HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) is arguably one of the simplest methods of advancing climate protection in road transport — and, at least in terms of upfront investment costs, one of the most affordable.
Since May 29, 2024, HVO has been officially approved for sale as a pure fuel (HVO100) at public filling stations in Germany. Since then, the network of stations offering this alternative fuel has been growing steadily. The legal basis was established by the inclusion of “paraffinic diesel fuel” in Germany’s 10th Federal Immission Control Ordinance (BImSchV). At the pump, this “green” diesel is labeled “XTL” — an abbreviation also found on fuel caps of compatible vehicles to indicate they can run on this fuel.
XTL stands for “X-to-Liquid”, indicating that the synthetic paraffinic diesel fuel can be produced from a variety of feedstocks (X), such as biomass or waste oils.
Because HVO is “drop-in capable”, it can be blended with conventional diesel fuel meeting DIN EN 590 in varying proportions. Classified as paraffinic under EN 15940, HVO burns more cleanly than its fossil counterpart and, when used as a pure fuel (HVO100), reduces new CO₂ emissions by up to 90% compared to conventional diesel.
Seamless in Operation
For logistics operators, a truck running on HVO performs every bit as well as any standard diesel vehicle. Most modern diesel trucks can be fueled with HVO100 without any issues, and technical conversion is generally not required — though manufacturer approval is still recommended.
Neste, for example — the world’s leading producer of sustainable fuels — offers Neste MY Renewable Diesel™, a product that meets the specifications of both ASTM D975 and EN 15940 and is, according to the manufacturer, fully compatible with all diesel engines.
HVO is being adopted by a growing number of customers — including companies that carry out sustainability reporting and are actively looking to reduce their carbon footprint. Public fleet operators such as municipalities can also meet the requirements of Germany’s Clean Vehicles Procurement Act (SaubFahrzeugBeschG) by fueling their fleets with HVO100.
Conclusion
HVO is a sustainable fuel that requires no investment in new vehicle technology, making it a highly effective way to significantly reduce emissions from existing fleets. Supply of HVO is secure.