More biodiesel on European roads
The increased use of biofuels in the transport sector is essential to overcome the climate crisis. AGQM and its partners have launched the B10 fleet trial to give even more drivers the opportunity to make a contribution to climate protection by using a higher proportion of biodiesel (B10).
Based on the current framework conditions, it can be assumed that sales of vehicles with diesel combustion engines will decline significantly by 2035. At the same time, a considerable number of vehicles with diesel engines will remain. The ambitious European climate protection targets can only be achieved by consistently reducing the carbon footprint of this existing fleet and current diesel vehicles.
In the passenger car sector, a notable increase in the use of purely renewable fuels is not currently expected, which is why a higher admixture of renewable fuels such as biodiesel (FAME – fatty acid methyl ester) in diesel fuel is considered to be expedient. The updated Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) therefore also specifies B10 (diesel fuel with an admixture of up to 10% biodiesel) as the future standard diesel fuel. The revision of the German 10th BImSchV (Federal Emission Control Ordinance) will also enable customers to fill up with B10 at public filling stations.
A number of car manufacturers have already approved their engines for the use of B10 (e.g. all French car manufacturers). However, some German manufacturers in Europe are still to give their approval. The project now launched by AGQM Biodiesel in cooperation with Coburg University of Applied Sciences is intended to investigate the technical feasibility and, above all, the practical suitability of using B10. The aim is to convince manufacturers to approve current and future vehicles, ideally also in the existing fleet.
In addition to tests on fuel mixtures (FAME, paraffinic fuels, diesel), fuel ageing and fuel/engine oil ageing, the B10 project also includes chassis dynamometer tests and real-world driving in which various driving profiles are to be examined, particularly regarding the issue of engine oil dilution. The project is supported by Volkswagen AG, the RENAFAN Group and the Association of the German Biofuel Industry (VDB).
