Deutsche Post DHL has presented the initial results of its joint pilot test project with othercompanies focusing on fuel from sustainable production which showed a 60% reduction in CO2
emissions.The objective of the project was to test the usability of the new diesel fuel made fromrenewable energy sources and to determine the level of CO2 savings that can be realised in everydayuse with series-produced vehicles.
Titled “Diesel from renewable sources – A step toward zero-emission transportation?”, thediscussion-oriented event took place in Berlin with project participants including Daimler AG, theenergy group OMV, the Stuttgarter Straßenbahnen AG public transportation company, and the Finnishoil company Neste Oil.
Since mid-2008, DHL has been operating 14 series-produced Mercedes-Benz trucks and buses thatrun exclusively on sustainably produced diesel under everyday conditions in Germany. The vehicleshave already covered one million kilometres, Deutsche Post said in a statement.
The field test shows that the combustion of the alternative diesel fuel from hydro-treatedvegetable oil (HVO) in the engines results in significantly reduced emissions of pollutants. Forexample, emissions of nitrogen oxides decrease up to 15%. The overall CO2 balance is also positive:Through the sustainable cultivation of palm oil and its processing to the fuel used in a vehicle,the CO2 emissions during the pilot test have been reduced by more than 60% compared to fossilfuels, DHL added.
The project is supposed to run for a three-year period ending in 2011. The field test callsfor the Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles to be driven a total of 3.3 million kilometres whilerealising savings of more than 2,000 tons of CO2 emissions.
During this period, Deutsche Post DHL is operating ten Mercedes-Benz trucks in the GreaterNuremberg area in southern Germany. They consist of five medium-duty Mercedes-Benz Atego trucks andfive heavy-duty Mercedes-Benz Actros vehicles. In addition, Stuttgarter Straßenbahnen AG has fourMercedes-Benz Citaro city buses on the road, which all run on NExBTL renewable diesel. Neste Oilproduces the biofuel, and OMV is responsible for supplying the fuel to the project partners.
The collaboration by companies from different sectors makes it possible to integrate andstudy every step along the entire value chain – from biofuel production to its use in urban,intercity, and long-distance transportation. “The results from the first year of testing show thatthe fuel works perfectly in Mercedes-Benz trucks and buses and is tolerated very well by theengines,” said Manfred Schuckert, company strategist at Daimler AG. “This is very important for ourcustomers because the previously used biodiesel from the so-called first generation of biofuelsoften leads to more frequent maintenance checks, which in turn leads to higher costs for thevehicle operators.”
In addition to providing important findings concerning the trouble-free use of biofuel fromhydro-treated vegetable oils (HVO) in commercial vehicles, the pilot project is also important interms of achieving significant reductions of CO2 emissions from motor vehicle traffic, whichimmediately reduce the environmental impact.
“As a global logistics company that operates a large fleet of vehicles, we want to activelysupport research into biofuels from renewable sources. That’s because we think that second- andthird-generation biofuels can significantly reduce our carbon footprint,” says Steffen Frankenberg,company strategist at Deutsche Post DHL, who also is responsible for the company’s “GoGreen”climate protection program.
A study conducted by Deutsche Post DHL, for instance, showed that more than 80% of all CO2emissions from freight transport are generated on medium- to long-distance routes. Estimatesindicate that the transport volumes on these routes will double by the year 2020. At the same time,the requirements for companies are becoming more demanding regarding climate protection. Forexample, the emissions standards for the automotive industry and the requirements for the use ofrenewable energy throughout the EU are becoming stricter.
