Fifteen different cars took part in the trial, running on Diesel regenerativ, a new type of renewable diesel blend. (Earlier post.) The Diesel regenerative fuel used in the trial contained either 93% or 98% Neste Oil’s NExBTL renewable diesel and 7% or 2% of conventional FAME-type biodiesel, both produced from rapeseed oil.

The trial, which took place in Coburg and Munich, reduced particulates, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions by 5-15%. An analysis by researchers from the Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut showed that use of the fuel resulted in 50% lower emissions of greenhouse gases compared to fossil diesel.

In addition to Neste Oil, the project involved a number of German authorities, universities, research institutions, and automotive manufacturers:

• Bavarian State Ministry for the Environment and Public Health
• Coburg University of Applied Sciences
• Volkswagen AG
• AUDI AG
• Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut (vTI)
• OMV
• Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants (UFOP)

The fuel also showed its performance potential at the ADAC 24-Hour Race held at the Nürburgring circuit in Germany this summer, where two teams competed successfully with cars powered by Diesel regenerativ.