Renault Introduces Two B30 Light Commercial Vehicles

21 December 2006

The B30 Trafic.

Renault has introduced B30 (30% biodiesel blend)-compatible diesel versions of two of its commercial vehicles. Trafic 2.0 dCi B30 and Master 2.5 dCi B30 are the first expressions of Renault’s commitment to biofuels, made by the company as part of Renault Commitment 2009, whereby all diesel engines sold in Europe by 2009 will be able to run on fuel blends containing 30% biofuel. (Earlier post.)

The Trafic is available with a 90 hp (67 kW) and 115 hp (86 kW) 2.0 dCi B30 engine, while Master is equipped with a 100 hp (75 kW) and 120 hp (90 kW) 2.5 dCi B30 unit. Renault is targeting these models primarily at fleet customers who want to reduce the CO₂ emissions of their vehicles.

Renault Commitment 2009 also makes provision for bringing to market by 2008 one million vehicles emitting less than 140 g/km of CO₂, of which a third less than 120 g/km.

An engine running on 30% biodiesel emits up to 20% fewer CO₂ emissions than on conventional diesel, depending on the biological source, according to Renault. Renault sees biofuels as one of the most efficient and economic ways of controlling CO₂ emissions in the medium term, since it is easy to fit this technology on volume production models.

Renault is launching a 110 hp 1.6 16V Mégane running on E85 bio-ethanol in spring 2007.