PLASSER & Theurer has confirmed that all of its new track maintenance machines are compatible with hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) 100 biofuel, helping to substantially reduce CO2 emissions without changes to operation or training of personnel.
Plasser says that HVO100 has similar properties to conventional diesel. However, use of HVO100 reduces CO2 emissions by 70-90% compared with diesel, while also lowering local emissions, including particulates, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrous oxide. Production of HVO100 is virtually climate-neutral and is based on animal and plant residues as well as renewable raw materials, meaning there is no competition with food production.
Plasser has conducted field tests of HVO100 with German infrastructure manager DB Network (now DB InfraGo) using the alternative fuel on a GAF 746.0 track machine. It reports the use of the fuel as having “no negative impact” on the machine’s components or overall system. It says that fuel consumption, engine behaviour and machine operation were to “a large extent” equivalent to that on diesel-fuelled machines.
Plasser’s use of HVO100 meets EN 15940 standards and is compliant with EU directives, including the Clean Vehicle Directive and the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II/III), as well as the ban on palm oil. The supplier hopes using the alternative fuel will offer a sustainable alternative where it is not possible to use electric track maintenance fleets.
