HVO100 hardly makes driving more expensive

Fuel costs increase by a few euros per month / HVO100 can significantly reduce CO2 emissions on the balance sheet

The paraffinic diesel fuel HVO100 has been allowed to be sold at German petrol stations since the end of May 2024. Initial spot checks by ADAC show that the new fuel usually costs six to ten cents more than conventional diesel. This puts HVO100 at the lower end of the price premium of five to 20 cents predicted before its introduction.

Although HVO100 is exempt from the CO2 tax, its production is significantly more expensive than conventional petrol due to the still low production volumes. "It's a good sign that manufacturers are trying to offer HVO100 as cheaply as possible. We hope that the price premium will not increase in the future, but that HVO100 will ideally continue to converge in price with conventional diesel," says ADAC Technology President Karsten Schulze.

For car drivers, the financial impact of HVO100 is low. As an example, the ADAC carried out its car cost calculation (five years, 15,000 kilometres per year) for three models with a 10 cent surcharge compared to conventional diesel.
For the VW Golf TDI 2.0, the fuel costs per month increase by 5.62 euros to 97.87 euros in this calculation model. For the BMW 520d Touring, the monthly surcharge is 6.75 euros, bringing the monthly fuel costs to 117.45 euros. Drivers of a Mercedes C 220 d Estate will have to pay 5.87 euros more per month, totalling 102.22 euros.

With HVO100, i.e. without the addition of mineral diesel, CO2 emissions can be reduced by up to 90 per cent. HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oils) is produced from waste materials such as used cooking oils or fat residues. The ADAC emphasises that HVO, like all energy sources in road transport, must meet strict requirements in terms of sustainability. For example, sensitive ecosystems must not be impaired and cultivation areas must not be expanded at the expense of food production, and appropriate social standards must be met during production. The mobility club is also calling on the mineral oil companies to declare the origin of HVO transparently and to provide clear evidence of compliance with the sustainability criteria.
HVO100 should only be refuelled in vehicles that are approved for it. Drivers can recognise this on newer models by the XTL marking on the fuel filler cap. Information on the approval of older vehicles can be obtained from the dealer or manufacturer or on the Internet.

To the news: https://presse.adac.de/meldungen/adac-ev/technik/hvo100-macht-autofahren-kaum-teurer.html

Source: 'ADAC e.V.'