Cleaner than a Tesla: can my car be refueled with the new climate fuel? What you should pay attention to
Starting in April, it will be possible to refuel with the new HVO climate diesel, a low-CO2 alternative to electric cars, so to speak. But which models is the fuel suitable for, how much does it cost and can it reduce pollutants other than CO2? What drivers need to know.
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What has already been widely implemented in countries such as Italy will also start in Germany from April: the first climate fuel will be delivered to selected gas stations. It is called HVO 100. The number 100 means it is the pure form of HVO. HVO 100 is manufactured from biowaste and waste materials and reduces up to 90 percent of greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional diesel.
Depending on the electric mix, a Tesla fills up dirtier
This means that climate fuel is even better than an electric car when it comes to CO2 emissions. Compared to normal diesel, an electric car charged with the German electric mix only becomes more environmentally friendly after 90,000 kilometers, as recently confirmed by the VDI in the most comprehensive study on the subject. When powered by green electricity, the threshold drops to 65,000 kilometers; But with highly CO2-reduced climatic diesel in the tank, the electric car no longer stands a chance against diesel.
HVO diesel is initially 15 cents more expensive per liter
However, there is one big problem: HVO 100 synthetic diesel fuel initially starts out as a kind of premium fuel for people with higher incomes. Because a liter costs about 15 cents more than normal diesel. . Across Europe, Germany is doing relatively poorly, as the premium is lower in other countries. In Italy, for example, diesel drivers sometimes even refuel with HVO fuel, which is cheaper than fossil diesel, because the state taxes climate fuel less.
The Minister of Transport does not want subsidies for climate fuel
However, Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP), whose ministry supports the campaign for HVO, made it clear: There should be no subsidies for ecodiesel . But at least a start has been made. Anyone who wants to significantly improve their car's CO2 footprint can now do so.
In addition to the Federal Ministry of Transport, the introduction of HVO is also supported by the automobile club “Mobil in Germany”. Club boss Michael Haberland tells FOCUS online: “For the first time, drivers can now choose at the pump whether they want to continue refueling with fossil fuels or in a climate-friendly way. Until now this was only possible by purchasing an electric car. “We have to use all options, and this especially includes alternative fuels like HVO 100.”
HVO and e-fuels as an alternative to electric cars
HVO 100 is one of many synthetic fuels aimed at ensuring a better climate balance for road, rail, ship and air traffic. Practically the highest, because the “greenest” stage of expansion is e-fuels produced with renewable energy, that is, electrically based. There should even be an exception to the EU ban on combustion engines from 2035, although the use or even mixing of these and other climate fuels could significantly improve the CO2 balance of combustion engines.
Also mandatory in Germany: do you already know the tank symbols?
For several years now, drivers have been seeing the abbreviation “XTL” on the fuel cap of new cars. XTL stands for “X to Liquid” and indicates that a feedstock has been processed into a liquid fuel in accordance with EN 15940.
Initially, it is not clear from the abbreviation what raw material was used. In general, there are numerous options. Plants such as rapeseed, corn or beets are often used as raw materials, but manure, wood or food scraps are also possible. HVO, under its full name Hydrogenated Vegetarian Oil, is produced, for example, from old, crumbled fat and can be added to diesel or offered in pure form as HVO100.
HVO Diesel FAQs: Here's what drivers need to know
Given the price difference, it remains to be seen whether Germans will now flock to the new air-conditioned diesel. But who can actually refuel? How compatible is it with the engine? Does synthetic fuel not only reduce CO2 but also have an impact on real pollutants such as NOx or particulate matter? FOCUS online asked the experts at eFuelsNow about this. The association has existed since 2019 and was founded by engineers who want to advance climate fuel and have been testing it in their private cars for years.
1. Can my car really be filled with HVO?
Whether your diesel car or truck can officially use climate fuel depends on the manufacturer's approval. They are available, for example, for many diesel models from Audi, BMW or Mercedes. . “Official approvals are recognized by the XTL badge on the tank cover, next to the B7 sticker. There are some retroactive releases that, of course, are not documented in this way,” says Benedikt Zimmerman of eFuelsNow.
2. Is there any long-term experience with HVO?
Myths tend to persist in the automotive world. For example, E10 gasoline can damage engines due to its slightly higher ethanol content. That's why today some drivers still fill the tank with E5. In fact, for many years there has been no car that cannot tolerate E10 without problems. On the issue of synthetic fuels, among other things
The ADAC published a detailed test. The climate-controlled fuel tested in this long-duration test did not cause any problems and, because it burns cleaner than regular fuel, even resulted in slightly better pollutant levels in the exhaust gases.
According to their own information, the members of “eFuelsNow” have a long experience with HVO diesel with several models, including a VW Sharan manufactured in 2014, an Audi A4 from 2017, a Mercedes 220 d manufactured in 2019 and an older Alfa Romeo . 159. The vehicles with some Despite the high six-digit mileage, all ran without problems, despite not being approved by the manufacturer, reports Benedikt Zimmermann. There are also other advantages: “Quieter engine, better traction power, better cold start behavior,” says the engineer.
3. What effects does climate fuel have on pollutants?
Although the reduction of CO2 emissions in the climate balance is the true motivation for using “green” fuels, there are also effects on pollutants. Zimmermann explains: “XTL or HVO 100 burn much cleaner than normal diesel. This is not particularly noticeable in the exhaust gases of modern diesel engines, since the exhaust gas aftertreatment already filters out everything that But this has a significant impact on the entry of soot into the exhaust system in front of the soot filter. “Improvements regarding the risk of soot, especially during frequent use on short journeys. In older diesel engines, fine dust emissions from the exhaust are also reduced. “NOx emissions hardly change, with a slight trend towards improvement.”
4. Who already uses HVO?
Climate fuel is especially interesting for companies, authorities or municipalities that, on the one hand, want to improve their ecological balance – or even must do so through appropriate voluntary commitments – but, on the other hand, opt entirely for electric vehicles . Has no sense. After all, trucks or buses with electric propulsion are up to three times more expensive than diesel cars and also require the development of their own charging infrastructure, such as charging stations and transformers at the company's facilities.
HVO is used, among others, by Deutsche Bahn (DB Cargo), BMW Logistik, Edeka Süd, Würth and some municipal service companies. In Austria, the Spar supermarket chain and the post office are betting on air-conditioned diesel. “With an annual consumption of around six million liters of diesel, the Austrian Post hopes to have a major influence on reducing emissions in heavy transport,” reports the Verkehrsrundschau newspaper.