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

  • Innovative asphalt plant from Benninghoven
    February 28, 2018
    Benninghoven claims that its innovative asphalt transfer system boosts the capabilities of the firm’s ECO mixing plant range. The newly developed alternating chute unit is fitted to the firm’s ECO asphalt plant and is said to be a key development for the sector, with a patent pending. The ECO asphalt plant is offered with output ranging from 100-320tonnes/hour and is said to combine the latest Benninghoven technology and quality. Designed for mobility, the plants fit inside standard shipping containers
    Read More
  • Tackling road safety in India
    February 7, 2012
    Introducing an Indian business leader committed to combating the 'perfect plague' of deaths on the country's roads
    Read More
  • Sand, gravel and asphalt, building Poland’s roads
    February 24, 2012
    A new quarry is producing top quality aggregates for Poland's massive road construction programme writes Claire Symes. Wakoz Beton's Glazica sand quarry in Poland is a major source of high quality sand and gravels for the Gdansk construction market. The site is modern and only opened in 2006 but Wakoz Beton has continued to invest in facilities to improve its efficiency and output quality. The installation of a CDE mobile washing plant at the site last year is allowing it to provide materials for concrete.
    Read More
  • Collaboration on road research and infrastructure innovation
    April 2, 2014
    Transnational collaboration on road infrastructure innovation is the aim of the ERA-NET Plus (EN Plus) Infravation event. The Infravation 2014 Call for this collaboration of 11 countries on road infrastructure innovation will be launched on 3rd March 2014. It will pool funding of some €9 million, of which one-third comes from the European Commission (EC). For the first time, the US Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will also contribute funding to an EN Plus Call however. This is a major development and
    Read More

Highlighted Content