Biofuel Vehicles Explained for Fleets

If you’ve been considering low-carbon fuel alternatives for your fleet, you’ve probably heard a lot of discussion around biofuels - including both their carbon-cutting benefits, and potential operational challenges.

In this article, we discuss the real-world statistics around the use of biofuels in commercial vehicles - including how they compare to both fossil fuels, and alternatives like EVs and Hydrogen vehicles.

What are biofuels?

Let’s go back to basics - what exactly are ‘biofuels’, and what are they made of?

To put it simply, biofuels are naturally-derived fuels - usually made from things like food waste, recycled cooking oils, or other organic matter like agricultural refuse.

Some biofuels are used as additives, mixed with fossil fuels like petrol or diesel, and others are used entirely in isolation as a low-carbon alternative to petrol or diesel.

One of the most common biofuels on the market is biodiesel, which has historically been used to fuel large commercial vehicles like lorries, buses, and plant equipment.

What are the different types of biofuels?

There are a number of different types of biofuels on the market, with distinct differences in their chemical makeup. These include:

• Biodiesels (including vegetable oil fuels)

• Ethanol & other alcohols (including methanol and butanol)

• Biogas (like methane derived from food waste)

• Biogasoline (and other renewable hydrocarbon fuels)

How do biofuel vehicles work?

Biofuel vehicles use different types naturally-derived fuels, including Biodiesel, Biogas, and ethanol, which are used to power an internal combustion engine - much like you’d find in a petrol or diesel vehicle.

They’re filled up just like petrol or diesel cars, with an onboard tank to store the fuel, which delivers it directly to the engine.

However, biofuels aren’t commonly found at commercial filling stations, and usually have to be ordered directly from the supplier, meaning drivers or fleets need to store it themselves.

What challenges do biofuels bring for fleets?

While they do come with their benefits, switching to biofuels is a huge transition to make, and brings its own challenges & considerations for fleets. Here are some of the key obstacles fleets face when seeking to transition to biofuel vehicles:

1- Commercial Availability

To begin with, biofuels can be a challenge to source out on the road. They aren’t commonly available at filling stations, meaning fleets are often required to buy and store their own fuel, and adapt the correct infrastructure at their depots.

2- Higher Cost per Gallon

There’s also the cost; fuels like biodiesel can be more expensive per gallon than fossil fuels, due to the expensive nature of their production. This makes it crucial for your fleet to calculate a total cost of ownership effectively, in order to make the right decision for your low carbon future.

3- Lower Fuel Efficiency

Additionally, biofuels are generally less efficient than fossil fuels when used in isolation, meaning vehicles using them may be less powerful, or may achieve fewer miles to the gallon.

However, when used as a fuel additive rather than a substitute, biofuels can actually help to increase fuel efficiency, while reducing carbon emissions.

This again highlights the importance of conducting your own research, and weighing up your fleet’s own priorities, budgets, and operational complexities.

What are the benefits of biofuels?

Biofuels can be an effective way to reduce vehicle carbon emissions, especially in large vehicles like commercial HGVs, buses, or plant equipment.

The level of carbon reduction depends entirely on what kind of biofuel you’re using, and whether you’re using it in isolation, or as a fuel additive. This means it’s important to do your research on the different fuels, their benefits, and their potential drawbacks before making any investment.

For businesses, using biofuels in your vehicles can provide an easier way to transition to a low-carbon fleet, without encountering many of the power/infrastructure challenges found with EVs or Hydrogen vehicles.

How do biofuels compare in terms of emissions?

The level of emissions produced by biofuels depends on the type of fuel being used, and whether it’s being used in isolation, in a specially adapted vehicle, or alongside fossil fuels as an additive.

To give a real-world example, Biodiesel (B100) has been observed to produce around 74% fewer carbon emissions than petroleum diesel throughout its lifecycle. This includes the processes of extraction, refinement, transportation, and its ultimate use in vehicles.

This highlights the initial and most obvious benefit of biofuels - their relatively low lifetime carbon output when compared to fossil fuels. However, how do biofuel vehicles stand up against more modern alternatives like EVs?

How do biofuel emissions compare to EVs?

In contrast to EVs, biofuels aren’t entirely emission free. While they’re responsible for far fewer carbon emissions than fossil fuels, they do emit other harmful greenhouse gases like aldehydes and nitrogen oxides.

Biofuel production is also relatively carbon intensive, relying on a high proportion of grid energy in regions currently reliant on coal/fossil fuel power plants.

EVs, on the other hand, produce almost no carbon during their time on the road - although there are, equally, carbon emission challenges found in their production, especially their batteries.

How do biofuel emissions compare to hydrogen?

To compare biofuels with hydrogen in the context of its use in vehicles, we must first dissect the multiple mediums in which hydrogen is utilised in transportation.

Hydrogen vehicles either rely on hydrogen combustion engines (HICE), which burn hydrogen gas, or hydrogen fuel cells (HFCs), which generate an electric current much like an EV.

- Hydrogen Combustion Engines

Hydrogen combustion engines share much of the same challenges as found with biofuels. Although burning hydrogen is a carbon-free process, it does produce other undesirable greenhouse gases, due to the excess heat generated.

- Hydrogen Fuel Cells

HFC vehicles, on the other hand, don’t rely on a combustion process, meaning they’re practically emission free in day-to-day use. They’re also more efficient than both hydrogen combustion and biofuels, making them an attractive option for low carbon transportation.

However, both varieties of hydrogen vehicles share one key problem with biofuels - the carbon output of their extraction & production. Like with biofuels, producing and transporting hydrogen fuels comes with its own reliance on fossil fuel-sourced energy and infrastructure, bringing their own environmental considerations for fleets.

sopp+sopp - Specialist Fleet & Vehicle Management

Since 2003, sopp+sopp have worked with some of the UK’s largest fleets, commercial insurers, and brokers to deliver bespoke fleet management solutions, vehicle repair, and claims management services.

We recognise that no two fleets are the same - be it in their vehicle makeup, operational goals, or day-to-day complexities. That’s why we take a bespoke, tailored approach to all of our customers - adapting our service to fulfil their unique requirements, and help them enhance their fleet’s day-to-day efficiency.

Partnerships with leading Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) data specialists

Through our direct partnership with AFV specialists Gecko Risk, we help our customers to navigate the wide range of complexities and obstacles associated with their low-carbon transition.

Whether they’re seeking to roll out EVs, hybrid vehicles, or alternatives like biofuels, we have the data, knowledge, and expertise in-house to inform future-proofed, cost-effective purchasing decisions.

This includes real-time insights on repair costs for different models, manufacturers, specifications, and fuel types - putting the commercial vehicle market at our customers’ fingertips. This enables them to make data-driven rollout decisions, and avoid future cost and efficiency challenges with proactive risk management.

Get in touch with sopp+sopp to explore how our range of fleet-tailored management solutions can help to enhance efficiency, reduce claims costs, and deliver insight to your business: