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

  • Drivewyze: US e-inspections on the rise
    May 31, 2022
    Momentum is growing for electronic inspections at weigh stations, according to Drivewyze, operator of the largest public-private weigh station bypass network in North America.
    Read More
  • Hamm is widening its line-up of new generation soil compactors
    January 6, 2017
    Hamm continues to develop its sophisticated soil compactor range with the addition of models aimed at the 11-16tonne weight classes. These are powered by Tier 4 Interim/Stage IIIB compliant diesels and share the same design concept as well as features and many components with the existing 18-15tonne rollers. The high compaction performance and unobstructed sight lines from the cab of the larger machines have also been carried over into the smaller units. The H11i, H13i and H16i compactors have 2.14m wide d
    Read More
  • Hamm is widening its line-up of new generation soil compactors
    February 13, 2013
    Hamm continues to develop its sophisticated soil compactor range with the addition of models aimed at the 11-16tonne weight classes. These are powered by Tier 4 Interim/Stage IIIB compliant diesels and share the same design concept as well as features and many components with the existing 18-15tonne rollers. The high compaction performance and unobstructed sight lines from the cab of the larger machines have also been carried over into the smaller units. The H11i, H13i and H16i compactors have 2.14m wide d
    Read More
  • We're here to help
    July 16, 2012
    Formed at the end of the Cold War, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has raised, and loaned, billions to revitalise infrastructure from central Europe to central Asia as Patrick Smith reports One of the highlights of the year for Thomas Maier has been the recent trip to Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, where history was made. As the Business Group director in charge of the infrastructure sector at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) he was present when contract
    Read More

Highlighted Content