Renewable HVO fuel reduces CO2 in some Audi models by up to 95% compared with fossil diesel. Audi has announced that some of its V6 diesel engines have been approved for use with renewable fuels, as part of a drive to reduce the carbon emissions of its internal combustion engined vehicles.
In Europe, renewable fuels like HVO are more prevalent than they are in Australia. Since June 2021 the 4-cylinder diesel engines in Audi A3, Q2 and Q3 have been compatible with this fuel. Sweden, Denmark and Italy have been the countries with the greatest demand for engines that can use HVO.
The renewable fuel approved for use is called Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO). This is created by collected waste and residue oil that undergoes hydrogenation to make its properties suitable for use in diesel engines. In addition to being more environmentally friendly, this fuel is claimed to be a cleaner and more efficient fuel that enhances engine performance, especially during cold starts.
HVO can be added to diesel or used unmixed. All Audi vehicles eligible to use this fuel will have an XTL sticker in the fuel cap to indicate the car’s compatibility. XTL is used to indicate compatibility with different types of renewable fuels, the acronym encompasses different ways these fuels can be made.
The company has said V6 diesel engines with power up to 210kW in Q7, and Q8 models manufactured from mid-February 2022 are approved to run on HVO fuel. Audi claims the use of HVO reduces CO2 emissions by 70 to 95 percent compared to diesel.
This announcement is part of an ongoing plan to use more synthetic fuels and reduce carbon emissions. At the start of March new Q5s and A6 Allroads will be included in the HVO lineup and some Volkswagen Touareg models will be able to use this fuel too.
