Hydrotreated vegetable oil: Can we say goodbye to diesel?

Historically, the logistics sector has relied heavily on diesel, which as we all know is not an environmentally friendly fuel. But introducing alternative fuels for our vehicles requires making infrastructure changes, which can be challenging. Especially when you’re talking about an entire fleet of trucks.

DHL Supply Chain (DSC) in the UK and Ireland faced this challenge. DSC operates 17 fuel bunkers across its UK network, from Scotland to the South West of England. The question was: How can they ditch diesel without switching to entirely new engine technology and overhauling the fueling infrastructure?

The answer was converting their diesel trucks to hydrotreated vegetable oil or HVO.

To switch from diesel to HVO, each tank had to be cleaned thoroughly and the equipment recalibrated. Supply chain companies don't do that every day or on this scale. But the effort was worth it, and DSC’s operations in the UK and Ireland are now reaping the rewards.

One of the big benefits of using HVO is that it’s an environmentally friendly fuel that doesn’t require new vehicles. HVO is a “drop-in” biofuel alternative to regular diesel, so almost any engine that burns diesel can run on HVO. 

What’s more, hydrotreated vegetable oil fuel is available and scalable right now. Many experts see biofuels as a bridge to the future when electric and hydrogen technologies are more mature and widely available. 

Because HVO can be used within existing infrastructure, such as storage facilities, filling stations, and vehicles, the carbon savings are also immediate. You can reduce carbon emissions by approximately 80% after making the switch.

DSC UK and Ireland introduced HVO in September 2023 and had already used 6 million liters by the end of the year. The goal for 2024 is 25 million liters, which would save 60,000 tons of CO₂e. 

HVO is just one step in our sustainability journey – and it doesn’t end there. We make it our job to understand the available fuel options and work with our customers to reduce carbon emissions in their supply chains. That’s why we’re constantly testing the latest developments, like this hydrogen truck, to understand their potential.

What is HVO?
Hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) is a synthetic renewable “drop-in” diesel substitute made from used vegetable oils and waste from food production (e.g., animal fats). It’s produced via a high-pressure process that purifies the vegetable oils, creating a cleaner-burning fuel that reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

How much carbon can HVO save?
Using HVO fuel instead of diesel can reduce carbon emissions by approximately 80%.

What is a “drop-in” fuel?
“Drop-in” fuels like hydrotreated vegetable oil can be blended and used in conventional engines and infrastructure without modification.

What’s another example of HVO in action?
We use a fleet of biofuel trucks running on HVO100 to support all European Formula 1^® races. In 2023, the fleet reduced carbon emissions by 83% compared to standard fuels.