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Truck makers have increased the recommended percentage of bio-diesel that can be used in their vehicles, allowing operators to take advantage of lower tax rates. Previously most had suggested no more than a 5% mix of bio-diesel. But Hubertus Troska, Mercedes-Benz, head of Trucks for Europe and Brazil tells MT that it is now possible to run on 100% bio-diesel assuming that you use its newly-launched retrofit kit. This, it says, avoids the previous disadvantages of running with a high concentration  of bio-diesel - namely frequent oil changes to cope with a build-up of sludge. Without the kit, a truck running on bio diesel has its service intervals reduced by 70%, whereas those running with the device are reduced by just 25%.

The kit consists of modified pumps for the fuel injection, a preliminary fuel filter with heated water separator, and an additional tank for conventional diesel to run the auxiliary heating. It costs between £1,500 and £1,800, and can either be retrofitted on existing Axor and Actros trucks or fitted ex-works on new vehicles. Patrick Mosca sales director of Renault Trucks announced at Hanover that a 30% mix of bio-diesel could be used in its Euro 3, 4 and 5 vehicles. And Scania says its engines can operate on 100% RME, which is made from rapeseed oil and blended with diesel. "One advantage of RME is that the fuel requires no technical changes in the vehicle. However, NOx levels and fuel consumption may be somewhat higher than with pure diesel," it  says. And there will be shorter oil change intervals.