Abstract
Greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction is a key driver for new technologies in the European Union but also in other countries of the world. Drop-in biofuels can contribute to that goal. The new developed biofuel Diesel R33 enables sustainable mobility fulfilling the European diesel fuel specification.
Diesel R33 is made from seven percent used cooking oil methyl ester, 26 percent hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) and 67 percent high quality diesel fuel. HVO was mainly produced from rapeseed and palm oil. Two vehicle ran on HVO from algae and yeast oil.
Diesel R33 was tested in a fleet of 280 vehicles (passenger cars, light duty vehicles and buses) covering all emission classes. The impact of the new fuel on the vehicles and their emissions as well as on the engine oil was investigated.
At the example of five passenger cars (emission classes Euro 3, Euro 5 and Euro 6) intense exhaust gas analysis of regulated and non-regulated components were carried out.
All vehicles fulfilled the exhaust regulation running on both fuels. Except NOx emissions, Diesel R33 showed a positive impact on regulated and non-regulated emissions, such as carbonyls and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Moreover, the mutagenic effects of the exhaust gases were detected. At Euro 5 and Euro 6 passenger cars PAH and mutagenicity were hardly detectable for diesel fuel and Diesel R33. The positive effects were expressed more clearly at older engine technology.
Most relevant is the greenhouse gas reduction of Diesel R33 of about 17 % versus fossil diesel fuel.
In addition, two vehicles were successfully powered by Diesel R33 based on algae and yeast oil.
In all, 1.900.000 liter Diesel R33 were used without any problems. This indicates the fundamental possibility to develop sustainable drop-in biofuels with high biogenic content that fulfill state of the art fuel specifications without inducing any technical problems at any engine generation.
Moreover, Diesel R33 has to be considered as a fuel platform, because besides vegetable oils algae and yeast can deliver fuel components without violating the diesel fuel specification.
KEYWORDS : Biofuels, Drop-in fuels, Emissions, Climate Impact, Health Effects