Fleet electrification is accelerating throughout the U.S. and Canada. Nevertheless, many operators nonetheless face the monetary problem of changing diesel autos suddenly. New automobile purchases, charging infrastructure and downtime can delay adoption.
Renewable diesel, significantly hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), is changing into a sensible near-term answer for fleets that need to scale back emissions now whereas constructing towards broader electrification. It helps operators meet sustainability targets with out disrupting uptime.
Why Renewable Diesel Makes Sense for Fleets Proper Now
For a lot of medium- and heavy-duty fleets, electrification continues to be a phased course of quite than an in a single day change. Renewable diesel helps that actuality. It has a chemical composition comparable to traditional petroleum diesel, complies with ASTM D975 requirements within the U.S. and can be used both by itself or blended with conventional diesel gasoline.
In sensible phrases, fleets can begin decarbonizing instantly with out ready for brand spanking new autos or charging infrastructure. Operators can deploy EVs the place routes make sense, whereas utilizing renewable diesel in the remainder of the fleet to scale back emissions throughout the broader operation. This gasoline supply is a sensible choice for organizations looking for measurable progress as EV adoption continues to scale.
What Is HVO Renewable Diesel and How Does It Work?
HVO renewable diesel comes from renewable feedstocks, reminiscent of used cooking oil, vegetable oils and animal fat. Hydrotreating, which removes oxygen and impurities, converts these supplies right into a gasoline that’s chemically just like standard diesel. This high-quality gasoline performs nicely even in chilly climate.
HVO can work in current diesel engines and storage methods with out requiring main modifications, making it simpler for companies to decrease greenhouse fuel emissions whereas holding present vehicles, mills or off-road tools in service. That drop-in compatibility is what makes renewable diesel so interesting to fleet managers.
[Ed. note: Renewable diesel is not biodiesel. Both may be derived from the same feedstocks, but biodiesel is created through a different process and the end result is not a “drop-in” fuel, but typically is blended in up to a 20% blend with petroleum diesel.]
How Renewable Diesel Helps Cut back Fleet Emissions
HVO renewable diesel improves environmental efficiency by lowering life cycle GHG emissions in contrast with fossil diesel. Underneath the U.S. Renewable Gas Normal, EPA states that biomass-based diesel, together with renewable diesel, should obtain a 50% discount in GHG emissions relative to the diesel baseline.
That discount is important as a result of liquid fuels nonetheless dominate transportation. In 2023, gasoline and diesel collectively accounted for practically 80% of transportation sector carbon dioxide emissions within the U.S. Whereas fossil-derived diesel will probably stay in heavy-duty use, incorporating renewable options can help near-term emission targets.
Client demand helps speed up the adoption of cleaner transportation selections. Analysis cites a 71% bounce in searches for sustainable merchandise amongst Gen Z and Millennials. For fleet operators, that indicators rising stress from prospects and enterprise companions to reveal significant progress on emissions reductions.
HVO Renewable Diesel as a Good Fleet Decarbonization Technique
For fleet managers, HVO renewable diesel is a brilliant complement to an EV technique. It provides fast emissions reductions and protects current automobile investments. HVO additionally creates a practical path towards lower-carbon operations as electrification scales. For fleets that can’t look ahead to tomorrow’s infrastructure, renewable diesel delivers a sensible transition at present.
