Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil

HVO stands for hydrotreated (or hydrogenated) vegetable oil.

But it is often referred to as renewable diesel or HEFA (Hydro processed Esters and Fatty Acids).Thanks to its diesel-like qualities and similar storage stability, HVO can be used as a drop-in fuel to replace conventional fossil fuel diesel, without any engine modifications and providing it meets specification EN15940. HVO is not the same as Biodiesel which is chemically different and produced in a different way.

HVO can be produced using a variety of feedstocks including vegetable oils such as rapeseed, soy beans, non-food oils and waste fats such as animal fats or used cooking oils.

It is made through a two-stage process known as hydro treatment, where feedstocks are saturated with hydrogen at high temperatures of over 300ºC, followed by a further stage which changes the chemical structure, in order to give the end product the desired fuel qualities. This highly controlled HVO fuel production process ensures a consistent and high-quality product which can meet specification EN15940.

The reduction in overall carbon emissions of HVO fuels (when compared to traditional diesel) can be up to 90%. But may vary in line with the feedstock that is used to make the fuel.

Obtaining a chain of custody certificate and buying HVO which is certified to the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) standard can help to ensure that you are buying sustainably sourced HVO.

And now for the all-important question. Can you safely use HVO fuel in your JCB machines?

Well, the simple answer is yes, providing it conforms to EN15940. In fact, JCB is one of the only manufacturers with machines able to run on HVO. Our construction, agricultural and Industrial machines, as well as our generators all have compatible models. Compatible models with JCB 430, 444 and 448 engines from Stage IIIB – Stage V include: excavator loaders, wheel loaders, telehandlers and compact excavators. JCB equipment featuring Cummins, Kohler, Perkins, Volvo, John Deere and Agco/Sisu engines from Stage IIIA- Stage V are also compatible but please contact your local JCB Service dealer to confirm your exact machine model and process before putting any HVO fuel into a JCB machine.