Mercedes recently concluded a trial in the use of biofuels in its 16 Actros Gigaspace race trucks for the final three races of the European season.

As part of its drive to further reduce its CO2 emissions and achieve verified Net Zero by 2030, the trial was designed to understand the level of carbon saving and positive impact that can be achieved using biofuels, as well as the sourcing challenges across Europe, to assist the development of our strategy to maximise the use of sustainable fuels for the 2023 European races.

The trial took place between the Belgian Grand Prix in Spa, the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort and the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, a distance of approximately 1400 kms. Analysis conducted after the trial concluded has shown that the use of HVO 100 biofuel saved 44,091kg CO2 and reduced freight emissions by 89%.

One of the team's trucks was initially tested and successfully powered by HVO100 biofuel from the Hungarian Grand Prix back to Mercedes headquarters in Brackley. Following this journey, 13 race trucks which spent the summer shutdown in Belgium and three trucks from the UK, used locally sourced biofuel to travel 300km from Spa to Zandvoort and then 1100km from Zandvoort to Monza, with only the final 20km requiring the use of diesel fuel due to supply challenges.

Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO 100) fuel is a 100% renewable fossil fuel free product derived from vegetable oils, waste oils and fats. The use of HVO100 can significantly reduce CO2 emissions and reduce the impact of freight on local air quality by reducing NOx and particulate emissions.

Bioenergy currently accounts for roughly one-tenth of the world's total primary energy supply, with biofuels demand forecasted to increase by 28% by 2026. Biofuels are already being used in motorsports, with Formula One introducing the use of E10 biofuels this year as part of the drive to transition to 100% sustainable fuel in F1 cars from 2026.

Over the past few years, Mercedes has worked tirelessly to change and better understand the impact that its activities have, and its mission has evolved as it seeks to win sustainability on track and in business. This announcement follows a series of commitments to operate more sustainably, including becoming the first global sports team to invest in Sustainable Aviation Fuel, and further cements its ongoing pledge to sustainability and desire to drive change within Formula One.

"Sustainability is at the heart of our operations," said Toto Wolff. "Trialling the use of biofuels for our land freight is another example of our commitment to embed sustainability in every decision we make and action we take. We aim to be on the cutting edge of change and hope we can make the adoption of sustainable technology possible as we are all in the race towards a sustainable tomorrow."

"We are committed to using our global motorsport platform to be leaders in the journey towards not just sustainable racing but a more sustainable future," added Alice Ashpitel, Sustainability & Environmental Manager at the Mercedes F1 team. "The outcome of this trial with an 89% reduction in emissions is another example of our drive to become the most sustainable sports team and comes following a period of commitments from the team to invest in industry-leading sustainability strategies."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by didaho, 25/09/2022 2:37

"Hopefully the marketing department ensures they move immediately to Merc eActros 300 when it hits the market next year and saves any arable land, water or chip shop tailings for better use."

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2. Posted by Paul RB, 24/09/2022 13:24

"I do wonder at the claimed precision of calculations in respect of reduced emissions, when I doubt even that the term 'Net Zero' can be defined with any accuracy. There's a lot of virtue signalling hype associated with environmental claims."

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3. Posted by Paul RB, 24/09/2022 13:17

"I'm old enough to remember the days of Castrol R and the distinctive aroma at race circuits during race days. Imagine switching to biofuels for F1 and every Grand Prix circuit having the pervading odour of a chip shop. Nice! "

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4. Posted by CrazyCanuck, 24/09/2022 12:33

""...three trucks from the UK, used locally sourced biofuel to travel 300km from Spa to Zandvoort and then 1100km from Zandvoort to Monza, with only the final 20km requiring the use of diesel fuel due to supply challenges."
...supply challenges? No kidding. In the best conditions, each of these monsters burn about 20 litres of the stuff every 100km. That's a lot of used fish and chip oil. Mercedes better have a good supply of it if the plan is to 'sustainably' power the entire fleet.

Also, if this means anything, the dinosaur juice pumped from the entrails of the earth is just as 'bio'. As are tobacco, heroin and alcohol. Choose your poison."

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5. Posted by Editor, 24/09/2022 8:44

"@ Bill Hopgood

Re: We may end up in a situation where growers get paid more to supply for fuel rather than food.

So that's why Bill Gates is buying up all that farmland and governments, acting on the orders of the WEF, are ordering farmers to greatly reduce their livestock numbers."

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6. Posted by BillH, 24/09/2022 5:22

"Fine if the bio fuel was made from products that would have been otherwise disposed of in the usual way however, was the calculation of 89% reduced CO2 including the comparison of the refinery process for diesel with the biofuel manufacturing process?
I'd guess that using the waste oil would be significantly lower as it's already close to a usable state.
Using waste food oil is a good idea as it may as well be used for something and it won't affect the world food supply.
However, using "new" vegetable oil could cause issues if food is being used to move trucks as those trucks already have a fuel that we can't eat.
We may end up in a situation where growers get paid more to supply for fuel rather than food.

"

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7. Posted by Italian Job, 23/09/2022 18:20

"Sounds very good, even if it does remind me of following an old Landcruiser (or similar) which smelt like a fish and chip shop!
Seriously though, and ignoring the FIA's headlong rush to ever higher levels of thermal efficiency in F1 cars, at the time of putting this fuel in the trucks, does it cost more or less than ordinary diesel? Also, and here I might be a heretic, does using bio-diesel instead of real diesel do our world any good overall?"

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8. Posted by Max Noble, 23/09/2022 13:46

"Ummmm… Electrify the entire thing, and all good. Otherwise, refer the Jane’s Addition line of reasoning…"

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Trial of biofuels reduces Mercedes land freight CO2 emissions by 89%

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