Is HVO a diesel alternative that's worth the hype?

[6string]

My boss currently has a bee in his bonnet about CO2 emissions (commendable) and wants our fleet to switch to HVO to be more 'green'.

On paper, it sounds like a decent alternative to diesel but I'm keen to know if anyone has any experience with it and can share their opinions?

[blueacid]

6string said:

My boss currently has a bee in his bonnet about CO2 emissions (commendable) and wants our fleet to switch to HVO to be more 'green'.

On paper, it sounds like a decent alternative to diesel but I'm keen to know if anyone has any experience with it and can share their opinions?

The question is (and I don't know the answer) - in what way is HVO different to Diesel as far as your engine is concerned? Is there the risk of harming the high pressure fuel pump or injectors?

[mroilguy88]

HVO can replace diesel directly, it won't damage the vehicle.

I saw this:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-79...

It's a daily mail article about Ford confirming it's safe to use in their engines.

Also if you see here: https://www.beesleyfuels.co.uk/products/hvo-fuel/

you can see a list of manufacturers that have said it's ok to use. As long as you get it from a good supplier, it's likely better for your engine than regular diesel, so should be no concerns in this regard.

Only downside is price!

[Mikehig]

mroilguy88 said:

HVO can replace diesel directly, it won't damage the vehicle.

I saw this:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-79...

It's a daily mail article about Ford confirming it's safe to use in their engines.

Also if you see here: https://www.beesleyfuels.co.uk/products/hvo-fuel/

you can see a list of manufacturers that have said it's ok to use. As long as you get it from a good supplier, it's likely better for your engine than regular diesel, so should be no concerns in this regard.

Only downside is price!

Sorry to rain on the parade but there's a bit of devilry in the detail, as is so often the case.
The production of HVO uses large amounts of hydrogen: 15 molecules to convert one veg oil molecule into 3 "diesel" molecules, if I've understood the process correctly. That hydrogen is bound to be industrial, manufactured from natural gas which releases CO2.
More fundamentally, are we comfortable growing food to turn it into fuel? Palm oil is one of the major raw materials for biodiesel products like this and we all know what impact that is having in Indonesia and elsewhere.

[mroilguy88]

Mikehig said:

Sorry to rain on the parade but there's a bit of devilry in the detail, as is so often the case.
The production of HVO uses large amounts of hydrogen: 15 molecules to convert one veg oil molecule into 3 "diesel" molecules, if I've understood the process correctly. That hydrogen is bound to be industrial, manufactured from natural gas which releases CO2.
More fundamentally, are we comfortable growing food to turn it into fuel? Palm oil is one of the major raw materials for biodiesel products like this and we all know what impact that is having in Indonesia and elsewhere.

Of course, there's always a catch, right?

You are right with the "food vs fuel" argument, however a few points

- This fuel is far from "perfect"
- It doesn't use Palm oil (at least from Beesley fuels, not sure about others, I assume it's all the same stuff though)
- It's still a major reduction in CO2, even if not entirely

I would like to see more people using it, overall it's better for the environment than regular diesel so I think it's a step in the right direction. Maybe we don't have the perfect solution in 2020, but if we have a partial solution it would be nice to have more people on board with it

[Throttle Body]

I am personally more concerned by particulate air pollution than CO2 owing to the huge number of deaths it causes. HVO does little to reduce particulate pollution.

[ZesPak]

Throttle Body said:

I am personally more concerned by particulate air pollution than CO2 owing to the huge number of deaths it causes. HVO does little to reduce particulate pollution.

This, our air quality in cities is abysmal, and cars are
to blame for a big part.