Maxol is the latest Irish fuel supplier to introduce HVO, or hydrogenated vegetable oil, as a diesel substitute in Ireland. Maxol will brand the fuel as hvoPRO. According to Maxol, the new HVO fuel is made from: “renewable feedstocks, including non-food grade vegetable oils, used cooking oils, and residue fat fractions” and is expected to be 90 per cent lower in overall emissions than using fossil-fuel diesel.
Eight sites across Ireland
The HVO fuel will be available from eight sites across the island of Ireland, with the first supplies having been delivered in April. The sites are M3 Mulhuddart and Turvey in Dublin, Coolshannagh in Monaghan and in Northern Ireland - Mallusk, Townparks in Antrim, Eglinton in Derry, Ballymore in West Belfast and Tannaghmore on the A26 from Antrim to Ballymena, with additional sites to be added later this year. Brian Donaldson, CEO of The Maxol Group said: “Maxol hvoPRO underlines our commitment to customer choice and is a key element of our strategy to be a leading provider of greener fuels in Ireland. We are hugely focused on mobility innovation, and this includes providing lower emission fuels and EV charging solutions for our private motorists, fleet and Fuel Card customers.”
No engine modifications
Maxol claims that no engine modifications are necessary for a diesel-engined car to run the new hvoPRO fuel, certainly for any cars that conform to Euro5 and Euro6 emissions regulations, although you will still need to add AdBlue, as there are still emissions of NOX when running on HVO. The company also says that: “Maxol hvoPRO adheres to EN 15940:2016, a stringent quality standard similar to EN 590. Notably, Maxol hvoPRO has better cold flow properties than regular diesel.” The plan is that 30 per cent of Maxol’s own vehicle fleet will be running on hvoPRO by the end of May, rising to 50 per cent by the beginning of 2025.
Looking to electric power as well
Maxol claims that the fuel meets the latest international sustainability and carbon standards, and that it’s not meant as a replacement for electric cars, but instead it: “aligns with Maxol’s commitment to cleaner fuel alternatives. It complements the Maxol Premium Fuel range and follows the recent launch of Maxol Recharge in Newbridge Kildare, the company’s first Ultra Rapid EV hub in the Republic of Ireland. This cutting-edge hub boasts six high-speed 200kW chargers, enabling a rapid 15-minute charge time.”