European fleet test for biofuels kicks off

A partnership between Clariant, Haltermann and car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz is to road test biofuels in Germany.

Haltermann takes cellulosic ethanol produced from wheat straw by Clariant and mixes it with conventional fuel components to form a new fuel which, over the next 12 months, will be available to test fleet vehicles at a specially-equipped petrol station on the Mercedes-Benz site in Stuttgart-Untertürkheim.

Clariant claims the production of its cellulosic ethanol is virtually CO2-neutral, while also offering no competition with food production or for agricultural acreage.

‘The fleet test will demonstrate the fuel is ready for market and technically compatible with in-series vehicles at a blending rate of 20% with super petrol. It also shows second generation biofuels based on agricultural residues are now technologically ready and available, not only in production but application as well,’ says Andre Koltermann, head of group biotechnology at Clariant.

‘We see great potential in second generation biofuels with regards to sustainability and reduction of greenhouse gases. Petrol with 20% ethanol can already be used easily in our latest Mercedes-Benz BlueDIRECT engines. This offers ideal potential for best efficiency and high greenhouse gas savings,’ adds Peter Lueckert, a director at Daimler AG.