Our openness to different technologies is a top priority at the BMW Group. As well as offering a wide range of drive technologies, our goal is to reduce CO2 emissions across the board – and non-fossil fuels have the potential to help make that happen.
Clear signal for renewable fuels.
The BMW Group is now sending out a clear message by switching to HVO 100 for the initial filling of all diesels made in Germany. ‘HVO’ stands for hydrotreated vegetable oil, and ‘100’ indicates its 100% purity. HVO 100 has the potential to reduce CO2e emissions by around 90 percent compared with fossil-based diesel.
“When it comes to climate protection, every ton of CO2 saved counts. The more than 250 million existing vehicles in Europe are an important factor here: Their CO2 balance could be significantly improved if the regenerative share of fuel was increased. We are going ahead: From January 2025, we will fill up all diesel models produced in Germany with HVO 100 before delivery to dealers – a high-quality diesel replacement with up to 90% lower CO2e emissions in the overall balance sheet”, says Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management, BMW AG.
To increase the availability of renewable fuels the BMW Group is calling for ambitious quotas of at least 30 percent real greenhouse gas reductions in the Renewable Energy Directive (RED III), which must be implemented in national law by the end of May 2025.
HVO 100 approved in Germany since May.
Paraffinic diesel HVO – while already available in several other EU memberstates for several years – has been approved for sale at German filling stations since the end of May 2024. It is obtained from various wastes, residues and renewable raw materials, such as used cooking oils. It meets high quality- and sustainability standards, Palm oil is not used during production nor does the product consist of conventional biodiesel.
Compared with fossil-based diesel, HVO 100 is a higher-quality product and offers a host of technical advantages: as well as emitting less CO2, its chemical properties offer better cold start behaviour. It is also resistant to microbial contamination (“diesel plague”) because of its purity.
BMW diesels compatible since 2015.
BMW Group diesel engines produced since March 2015 and in specific series and models are approved for the new fuel in accordance with the European fuel standard EN 15940. Customers can find detailed information here.
Successful testing in plant logistics too.
Since March 2023, Neste-produced HVO 100 has also been used in BMW Group plant logistics trucks: On the motorway between Landau / Isar and the BMW Group plant in Munich, four trucks from logistics service provider Guggemos (GV Trucknet) have been driving the route several times a day. They supply the Munich parent plant on a just-in-time basis. This was extended to six more trucks.
These trucks belong to DB Schenker's fleet and use shuttle services to transport warehouse parts from the BMW Group supply center in Eching for production in Munich. The trucks cover a good 40 kilometers on every round trip.
