The Mercedes F1 team has run its trucks on biofuel

The Mercedes Formula 1 team ran its trucks on biofuel in the last three European races of the season (Spa-Zandvoort-Monza) and was thus able to reduce CO2 emissions by 89%.

HVO100 biofuel was used in 16 Mercedes racing trucks for the Spa-Zandvoort-Monza route. The trial was designed to understand the level of carbon saving and positive impact that can be achieved by using biofuels, as well as supply challenges across Europe, to help develop the strategy of Mercedes aiming to maximize the use of sustainable fuels for European races in 2023.

The test took place between the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa, the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort and the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, a distance of approximately 1400 km. Analysis conducted after the end of the trial showed that the use of HVO 100 biofuel saved 44,091 kg of CO2 and reduced freight emissions by 89%.

One of the Mercedes team trucks was first tested and successfully powered by HVO100 biofuel from the Hungarian Grand Prix to Mercedes headquarters in Brackley, UK. Following this trip, 13 racing trucks that summered in Belgium and three trucks from the UK used locally sourced biofuel to travel 300km from Spa to Zandvoort and then 1100km from Zandvoort to Monza , with only the last 20 km requiring the use of diesel due to supply issues.

“Sustainability is at the heart of our operations. Experimenting with the use of biofuels for our ground freight is another example of our commitment to integrating sustainability into every decision we make and the actions we take.” explained Toto Wolff, Mercedes team principal in Formula 1.

“We aim to be at the forefront of change and hope to make the adoption of sustainable technologies possible, as we are all in the race towards a sustainable future.”

Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil Fuel (HVO 100) is a 100% renewable, fossil-free product derived from vegetable oils, waste oils and fats. Using HVO100 can significantly reduce CO2 emissions and reduce the impact of freight on local air quality by reducing NOx and particulate emissions.

Bioenergy currently accounts for around a tenth of the world’s total primary energy supply, with demand for biofuels expected to increase by 28% by 2026. Biofuels are already used in motorsport, with Formula 1 introducing the use of E10 biofuels as part of the transition to 100% sustainable fuel in F1 cars from 2026.

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