Europe’s roads is increasing. According to
the European Automobile Manufacturers’
Association (ACEA) the number of medium
and heavy duty commercial vehicles
registered across the European Union during
the first half of 2019 increased on average by
over 16% compared with the same period
in 2018, with Belgium, Germany, France and
the UK with increases above the average5. By
law, these vehicles employ the latest engine
designs, taking into account the latest Euro
VI emission requirements.
MYTH: ALL DIESEL FUELS ARE
ESSENTIALLY THE SAME. IT’S
REALLY JUST A MATTER OF
FINDING THE CHEAPEST PRICE.
There is a belief that all diesels are the same
and price is therefore the most significant
criteria for making a purchasing decision.
However, all diesel fuels are not equal. For
example, many bulk diesel deliveries do not
contain detergent additives, and those that
do are normally designed to help prevent
the formation of deposits on fuel injectors,
which otherwise degrade engine power and
fuel economy over time. Some diesel fuels
are optimised to not only keep injectors
clean but also clean up existing deposits.
The additional detergency contributes to
improved fuel efficiency and may reduce
the need for maintenance. Fuel efficiency
is important for medium and heavy duty
commercial vehicles given the significantly
lower miles per gallon consumed compared
with light duty vehicles. Given the high cost
of long-haul diesel truck engines and the
significant investments operators make in
their fleets, owners should prioritise quality
when choosing fuel, especially if they want
to maximise the longevity of their vehicles
and reduce costly maintenance.
MYTH: DIESEL HAS LOST ITS
APPEAL AND POPULARITY.
Recent conversation around diesel might
suggest it has lost its popularity but according
to recently published research, 96% of
medium and heavy commercial vehicles (over
3.5t) in the European Union run on diesel1, a
figure that will likely come down over time.
The reasons for diesel’s continuing popularity
in the commercial vehicle sector are clear:
compared with other types of fuel it currently
has a higher energy content, offers great
driving range and fuel efficiency, stronger low-
end torque for towing and hauling, is quick
to refuel and supports good truck engine
durability. Diesel units also remain some of the
most efficient combustion engines available.
And with the latest technology, they have
become cleaner, too.
In fact, the latest Euro VI requirements are the
most stringent ever. As well as special filters
that significantly reduce particulate matter
(PM) emissions, they also feature technology
that converts most of the nitrogen oxide
(NOx) from the engine into harmless nitrogen
and water before it leaves the vehicle. A
recent study showed a 93% reduction in NOx
emissions for Euro VI diesel hybrid buses
compared with Euro V conventional diesel
buses2.
MYTH: ALTERNATIVE FUELS AND
ENGINES WILL REPLACE DIESEL IN
THE NEAR FUTURE.
It is true that biodiesel, natural gas, fuel cells
and electricity are all gaining traction. Public
transport is a high-profile example. As of
March 2019, there were 3,669 hybrid buses,
155 electric buses and 10 hydrogen buses
operating in London, out of a total fleet of
9,1423. In addition, the German Federal
Ministry of Transport has recently set up a
€300 million fund that will see electric buses
on the streets of 11 of the country’s cities by
20224.
However, in the commercial vehicle sector
alternative fuel options have made less
headway, especially in the long-haul market;
in fact, the number of heavy trucks on
DIESEL CONTINUES TO PLAY
A VITAL COMMERCIAL ROLE
WORLDWIDE
Diesel engine and fuel technology will
continue to evolve, as will alternative
options. This will ensure that fleet owners
have increasing access to the solutions
they need to meet both commercial
and regulatory requirements without
compromising operations.
ExxonMobil is collaborating with engine
manufacturers to develop fuel technologies
that help meet the current and future needs
of diesel engines. Furthermore, ExxonMobil
is supporting the Logistics Emissions
Reduction Scheme in the UK, which is
working with members to reduce emissions
from freight. 6
However, the bottom line is that diesel
remains critical to the commercial vehicle
market – now and into the future. Fleet
owners should therefore work with suppliers
that offer consistently high quality diesel to
ensure they get the full benefits of the latest
performance-enhancing formulations.
Issue 42 PECM
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