ADAC Tests Vehicles with HVO100 and B7 Diesel

The ADAC tested four vehicles with HVO100 and B7 diesel. The result: Higher fuel consumption but fewer pollutants with HVO100. 

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The ADAC compared the exhaust emissions and fuel consumption of HVO100 with conventional mineral diesel (B7) using four vehicles. In addition to the Skoda Superb Combi 2.0 TDI, BMW 520d Touring and Mercedes E 220 d Estate, the VW Caddy 2.0 TDI was also tested. HVO100, a so-called paraffinic diesel fuel, has been allowed to be sold at German filling stations since May 2024. It is primarily produced from residual and waste materials such as used cooking oils or residual fats.

According to the ADAC, the study showed that HVO100 can be used without any problems in the diesel vehicles tested and approved for this purpose. The higher ignitability of paraffinic diesel was positively noticeable during the test drives on the road in a marginally improved running quality. The fuel consumption and exhaust emission values were determined by the experts on the test bench at the ADAC Technical Center in Landsberg am Lech in the ADAC Ecotest. In addition to the WLTP cycle, this also included a longer highway section.

CO₂ Emissions Directly at the Exhaust Reduced by 2 to 5%

With HVO in the tank, consumption increased slightly by 1 to 5 %, depending on the load required by the engine. According to the automobile club, the lower density of HVO100 compared to mineral diesel has an effect here. On the other hand ,CO₂ emissions directly at the exhaust are reduced by 2 to 5 % in HVO100 operation. If the production process of HVO100 is taken into account, the CO₂ balance is improved by up to 90 % compared to mineral diesel, as the CO₂ is first removed from the atmosphere via the biomass used in the production of the paraffinic diesel fuel, according to the ADAC. The remaining CO₂ emissions from the use of HVO100 depend on the raw materials, the energy used in the refinery and the transportation of the fuel.

Particle emissions (PN), nitrogen oxide emissions (NO_x) and other pollutant values (including hydrocarbons HC and carbon monoxide CO) would be at the level of B7 diesel in HVO100 operation and in each case well below the legal limits. In the case of the Mercedes, for example, the testers measured NO_x emissions of 1.816 mg/km with HVO100. With mineral diesel, it was 2.376 mg/km. The limit value for Euro 6 vehicles is 80 mg/km. In the ADAC Ecotest, the Mercedes therefore emitted 2.27 (HVO100) or 2.97 % of the permitted amount of NO_x. At 0.00203*1011 per kilometer, particulate emissions with HVO100 were also below the B7 value (0.00275*1011/km) and significantly below the limit value of 6*1011 per kilometer.

Only in the Skoda Superb Combi 2.0 TDI did the testers register slightly higher NO_x and particulate emissions with HVO100 than with mineral diesel. At 3.832 mg/km, nitrogen oxide emissions in the ADAC ecotest were 4.79 percent of the permitted limit. With B7, 4.75 % is achieved (3.796 mg/km). According to the ADAC, particulate emissions are 0.16 % of the limit value with conventional diesel and 0.41 % with HVO100.

All Emissions Below the Limit Values

In principle, all emissions in the vehicles tested remain well below the limit values in all cycles, even in the demanding highway cycle. According to the ADAC, the pollutant emissions of new diesel vehicles in particular, which have sophisticated exhaust aftertreatment, are so low that it is the respective operating state of the catalytic converters that makes the extremely small difference rather than the fuel used, according to the experts at the ADA Technik-Zentrum.

This is a partly automated translation of this German article.