Clean fuel option with Komatsu

Komatsu says that the company has made a decision to switch to hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) as factory-fill fuel for Komatsu equipment produced in Europe.
August 1, 2023 Read time: 2 mins
Komatsu machines can now run on HVO fuels

This is in line with Komatsu’s long-term goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Komatsu is commencing this switch at its Komatsu Germany, Construction Division (KGC) plant in Hannover, Germany, and at the Komatsu UK plant in Birtley, England, with other Komatsu Europe plants to follow.

The combustion engines in Komatsu machines can be operated with HVO with no modifications required. The switch to this renewable, paraffinic fuel as a sustainable alternative to traditional diesel fuel is a major step that Komatsu is taking towards reducing its environmental impact. It shows that the company's machines can run on a cleaner and more sustainable fuel, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improving air quality.

HVO is produced from renewable raw material such as cooking oil and animal fats wastes. It is a simple drop-in replacement for fossil diesel, but with high cetane, no oxygen and no aromatics. It can lower the amount of greenhouse gas emitted by Komatsu equipment by up to 90%, if the machine is fuelled with Neste MY Renewable Diesel (= HVO 100) from Neste, one of Komatsu’s main suppliers of HVO.

"HVO not only grants lower emissions during operation by superior chemical composition. said Ingo Büscher, managing director of KGC. “Komatsu’s HVO first fill product (Neste MY Renewable Diesel) is mainly made of waste material limiting consumption renewable resources such as vegetable oils." He added: "We are committed to support our customers in achieving their long-term sustainability goals as a one team approach. We believe that HVO is an effective and economical option to both reduce emissions and save limited resources.”

Komatsu’s switch to HVO factory-fill fuel is just one of the many steps that the company is taking towards sustainability, along with the research and development of new technologies and solutions such as electric and hydrogen-powered machines, to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and achieve its zero-emission goal. 

For more information on companies in this article

Komatsu

Related Content

  • Steel for Loch Ba bridge
    February 6, 2012
    Allerton Steel, on behalf of R J McLeod, has fabricated the steelwork for a replacement bridge at Loch Ba on Rannoch Moor in the Highlands as part of its A82 upgrade scheme for Transport Scotland. R J McLeod is the civil contractor on the £2.2 million (E2.6 million) scheme which replaces the existing three-span reinforced concrete bridge.
    Read More
  • Asphalt paver offers wheeled or tracked options
    April 11, 2012
    Well known in the compaction field, BOMAG continues to raise its profile in the paving sector with the launch of another new machine, the BF300 paver. This model replaces the earlier Marini-developed BF331 and is said to be a combination of the best German and Italian engineering as well as sharing some features with the BF600 series launched by BOMAG during last year. Developed for the 7-8tonne class the BF300 is versatile and manoeuvrable and has a transport width of just 2.5m, even including its mounted
    Read More
  • VDMA questions emissions future
    February 28, 2012
    The German construction equipment manufacturer's association, the VDMA, has stated that the new EU-exhaust emission directive presents a major challenge for its members.
    Read More
  • Engine technology continues to advance, with lower emissions being one focus
    May 13, 2015
    Engine technology is advancing, with lower emissions, lower fuel consumption and longer service intervals being key developments - Mike Woof reviews some of the latest developments A huge investment in diesel engine technologies in recent years has seen manufacturers develop low emission diesels that are quieter, cleaner and use less fuel, while in many instances delivering more power. For machine manufacturers this has been a major benefit, allowing them to meet tougher regulations on noise and exhaust
    Read More

Highlighted Content