Suttons Tankers is testing hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) as an alternative fuel in a newly launched eight-week trial. HVO is a sustainable fuel source with a lower carbon footprint than diesel, reducing CO2 emissions by at least 85%, according to proponents.
The fuel is compatible with existing diesel engines without any need for modifications and the trial phase aims to reduce CO2 emissions by 91000 kgs on just five routes, Suttons said. Full implementation of HVO throughout the Suttons fleet is aimed at reducing 39,000 tonnes (42,990 U.S. tons) of CO2, or 85% of its Scope 1 emissions.
“Sustainability, ESG, and reducing our carbon footprint are at the absolute forefront of our agenda at Suttons, and in order to move this forward we are trialing HVO so that we can fully understand the emissions reductions, costs, and practicalities of this product,” Steve Hassall, fleet director, said in a news release.
“It is naturally more difficult for logistics businesses to reduce their impact on the environment than other industries, but the emergence of alternative fuels such as HVO is a step in the right direction and one that will significantly reduce emissions.”
Suttons aims to become net zero by 2040, and this trial is part of many initiatives within its ESG strategy, which focuses on laying the foundations for a sustainable future.
“Running fleets on HVO brings a lot of advantages,” said Martin Tomlinson, head of media and truck demonstration at Volvo Trucks U.K. and Ireland. “It’s a less water- and land-intensive alternative to biodiesel, and its high quality as a fuel means it can be used in any of our latest Euro-6 diesel trucks.
“Last year we even fueled our own 44-tonne Volvo FH with I-Save demonstrator with HVO when it set a new record of 9.82 mpg around the demanding commercial motor test route, highlighting its suitability as a drop-in replacement for regular diesel.”