Deutsche Bahn meets HVO biofuel target 2 yrs early

German state railway operator Deutsche Bahn AG (DB) has achieved its targeted volume of biofuel usage two years early due to the successful conversion of diesel filling stations to hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) fuel.

The company announced this on Tuesday, saying that it is currently using twice the volume of biofuel in its diesel locomotives – 17 million litres – as originally calculated.

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Chief executive Richard Lutz stated that the company plans to invest around EUR 1.5 billion (USD 1.48bn) in the expansion of new drives and fuels by 2027 in an effort to eventually become climate neutral in 2040. It currently uses HVO biofuel and other alternative fuels for existing diesel vehicles but when it comes to new ones, it relies on new forms of propulsion such as hydrogen and battery technology.

DB says that the HVO biofuel produces 90% fewer CO2 emissions compared to diesel. The group has so far approved some 1,000 vehicles for refueling with the biofuel and expects to do so with regard to the remaining 2,000 diesel vehicles in the next five years.

(EUR 1 = USD 1.060)