Volkswagen saves diesel cars with new eco-engines running on paraffin fuels

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Volkswagen plans to reduce the carbon footprint of its fleet in Europe by 40% by 2030. As a result, the company is increasingly focusing on fully and partially electric cars.

As an additional alternative, Volkswagen has now officially approved models with the latest generation of 4-cylinder diesel engines to use paraffin fuels. These newly developed diesel fuels containing bio-components allow significant CO2 savings of 70-95% compared to conventional diesel.

In addition to its accelerated action in the field of electric mobility, Volkswagen is systematically developing the existing range of internal combustion engines. In this way, the company meets the different needs of customers, while taking into account the different international preferences for the propulsion system and conditions.

All Volkswagen models with 4-cylinder diesel engines (TDI), delivered from the end of June 2021 (calendar week 25/21), are approved for use with paraffin diesel fuels in accordance with European standard EN 15940.
Prof. Thomas Garbe, Head of Petrol and Diesel Fuels at Volkswagen, explains: “By using environmentally friendly fuels in Volkswagen approved models, we enable customers across Europe to significantly reduce their CO2 emissions as soon as fuel is available locally. . For example, the use of paraffin fuels is a reasonable additional option, especially for companies with a mixed fleet of electric and conventional models. “

There is a wide range of different paraffin fuels. There are fuels that are produced from biological residues and waste materials such as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), for example. These vegetable oils are converted to hydrocarbons by reaction with hydrogen and can be added to diesel fuel in any amount. However, they can also be used 100% as fuel. Vegetable oils such as rapeseed oil can also be used for the production of hydrotreated vegetable oil, but the maximum benefit for the environment is achieved only through the use of biological residues and waste materials such as used cooking oil, sawdust and others.
Biofuels such as HVO are already available in some markets and are likely to increase their share to 20-30% of Europe’s road transport energy market over the next ten years.

Paraffin diesel fuels can now be found in some markets – under various product designations, eg CARE diesel, NEXTBTL, HVO.
Diesel fuels that meet the requirements of the EN590 standard and to which paraffin diesel has been added, such as R33 diesel, V-Power diesel, OMV MaxMotion, Aral Ultimate Diesel, etc., are available and much more common. These fuels can be used in all diesel engines, even in older engines.
In addition, so-called e-fuel fuels such as PtL (Power-to-Liquid) will be available in the future. They are produced from the CO2 contained in the atmosphere in a process powered by electricity from renewable energy sources. XtL (X-to Liquid or “Anything to Liquid” – liquid carbon fuels from different carbon sources), GtL (Gas-to-liquid – liquid carbon fuels from feed gas, methane) and PtL use the ability to use different raw materials for production of an intermediate product called synthesis gas, from which a standard diesel fuel compliant with the Fischer-Tropsch process is subsequently produced. Excess green energy can be used in this production process.

Alternative fuels are an additional element in the Way to Zero. Volkswagen’s electric mobility offensive is accelerating significantly as part of the ACCELERATE strategy. By 2030, the company plans to increase the share of electric cars sold in Europe to over 70%. In parallel, the fleet of internal combustion engines will be systematically further developed in order to reduce CO2 emissions and increase efficiency. Volkswagen wants to be completely climate-neutral by 2050. With Way to Zero, the goal for 2030 is to reduce unit emissions in Europe by 40% compared to 2018 – which means that everyone Volkswagen’s car will then emit 17 tonnes less CO2 on average over its entire life cycle. As part of its ACCELERATE strategy, Volkswagen intends to become the most coveted brand for sustainable mobility.

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