HVO 100 is a more environmentally friendly diesel. From January, all new diesel cars at BMW are refueled with the synthetic fuel.
BMW has decided to refuel all new diesel cars produced in their German factories with HVO 100 diesel. This is a more environmentally friendly alternative to conventional diesel, as the fuel overall reduces CO₂ emissions by up to 90 percent. The initiative comes into force from 1 January 2025.
– It will show customers that HVO 100 is a full-fledged diesel replacement. But with 90 percent lower CO₂ emissions overall, says BMW's managing director Oliver Zipse.
HVO100 diesel, which stands for 100 percent hydrogenated vegetable oil, is made from vegetable oils and animal fat.
The fuel complies with the European standard EN 15940 and is considered a renewable alternative, although it still emits CO2 during driving.
BMW's diesel engines are already approved to run on HVO100. The fuel is praised, among other things, for giving a smoother engine run and having better properties in the cold compared to regular B7 diesel.
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BMW is one of the car manufacturers that continues to focus on diesel technology, even though many others in the industry are increasingly focusing on electrified cars.
Due to flexible platforms, BMW's customers can choose between electric, petrol or diesel versions of several models. In 2028, the Germans will expand with a hydrogen car. Read more about it here .
The initiative with HVO100 diesel fueled at the factories marks an attempt on BMW's part to reduce the environmental impact of their diesel cars even before they reach customers. However, the initial filling of HVO10 diesel from the factory is limited to what is necessary to get the cars back and forth. For example, between exhibitions at dealers.
– The first factory filling is obviously not enough for a trip from Munich to Berlin. But it will show customers that the HVO 100 is a full-fledged diesel replacement," explains Oliver Zipse to the newspaper Bild.
BMW still offers diesel engines for most of its models, which includes both smaller three-cylinder variants and the larger inline-sixes found in larger coupes like the X7.
By combining this technology with HVO 100, BMW hopes to contribute to a less burdensome transition from fossil fuels to renewable alternatives.
