AGQM launches B10 fleet trial in Europe

The German biodiesel quality management association (AGQM) announced Dec. 5 that the organization and its partners have launched a B10 fleet trial to give more drivers the opportunity to make a contribution to climate protection by using a higher proportion of biodiesel (B10).

B10 is 10 percent fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), also known as biodiesel, blended with petroleum-based diesel fuel.

For years, B7 has been the maximum blend permitted by the Fuel Quality Directive for sale in the EU.

“The increased use of biofuels in the transport sector is essential to overcome the climate crisis,” AGQM stated.

Based on the current framework conditions, AGQM stated that it can be assumed sales of vehicles with diesel combustion engines will decline significantly by 2035.

However, a considerable number of vehicles with diesel engines will remain.

The ambitious European climate-protection targets can only be achieved by consistently reducing the carbon footprint of this existing fleet and current diesel vehicles.

In the passenger-car sector, a notable increase in the use of purely renewable fuels is not currently expected, according to AGQM, which is why a higher admixture of renewable fuels such as FAME biodiesel in diesel fuel is considered to be expedient.

The updated Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) therefore also specifies B10 (diesel fuel with an admixture of up to 10 percent biodiesel) as the future standard diesel fuel.

The revision of the German 10th BImSchV (federal emission-control ordinance) will also enable customers to fill up with B10 at public filling stations.

A number of car manufacturers, and all French automakers, have already approved their engines for use with B10.

Some German manufacturers in Europe, however, have yet to give their approval.

The project now launched by AGQM in cooperation with Coburg University of Applied Sciences is intended to investigate the technical feasibility and, above all, the practical suitability of using B10.

The aim is to convince manufacturers to approve current and future vehicles, ideally also in the existing fleet.

In addition to tests on fuel mixtures (FAME, paraffinic fuels, diesel), fuel aging and fuel/engine oil aging, the B10 project also includes chassis-dynamometer tests and real-world driving in which various driving profiles are to be examined, particularly regarding the issue of engine-oil dilution.

The project is supported by Volkswagen AG, the Renafan Group and the Association of the German Biofuel Industry (VDB).