C2G Ultra Biofuel has exceeded expectations in terms of cost, carbon savings and substitution rates in a two-year low carbon truck demonstration.

Funded by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) and the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK, and evaluated by the Department for Transport (DfT), the C2G Ultra Biofuel trial tested 12 low carbon vehicle systems in real world conditions. All of the other systems in the trial, bar Ultra Biofuel, use gas.

The trial and subsequent report identified carbon savings as; Tank to Wheel (TTW) 86%, Well to Wheel (WTW) 84%, and a substitution rate of 85%, with no efficiency loss.

The advanced bio fuel system delivered by C2G and currently being used by United Biscuits is the most sustainable alternative fuel since it runs on used cooking oil (UCO).

It delivers 97% greenhouse gas savings against mineral diesel, a 14% improvement on biodiesel/UCOME savings, reduces exhaust particulates by 40% and lowers fleet running costs. It has also been proven suitable for the next generation of Euro 6 engines.

“The used cooking oil systems have proved to be a real success story, demonstrating extremely high CO2 through the Low Carbon Truck Trial,” said Steve Carroll, technical specialist with the trial study team at CENEX.

“We now look forward to seeing Convert2Green capitalise on its compelling evidence base for trucking on used cooking oil - and hopefully to start supplying its products into more fleets and cutting more carbon,”

The C2G Ultra Biofuel solution is a unique combination of dual fuel technology and Ultra Biofuel, an advanced biofuel processed from used cooking oils (UCO) and animal fats, and is suitable for use in any diesel engine, but is tailor-made for heavy mileage vehicles such as LGVs.

United Biscuits (UB) has been running its distribution fleet on Ultra Biofuel for three years, using used cooking oil from the UB and KP Snacks manufacturing process, supported by Convert2Green and the University of Leeds Energy Research Institute, but it is a two-year trial funded by OLEV and Innovate UK that has demonstrated its environmental benefits.

Rob Wright, head of distribution for United Biscuits, said: “The benefits of recycling waste cooking oil from our food factories into Ultra Biofuel, makes perfect commercial sense for United Biscuits. 

“The exceptionally high carbon savings at 97% and operational simplicity of the system has provided us with an award winning environmental advantage. 

“We have had no repair, maintenance or cold weather issues, and fuel consumption is virtually the same. With this track record, any professional and responsible fleet operator will want to get on board with this.”

Richard O’Keefe, managing director of Convert2Green, is convinced that Ultra Biofuel is the way forward not only for LGVs, but for trains and marine transport too, and says that the demonstration results have unlocked the door to considerable international interest.

He said: “The UK alone produces 250 million litres of UCO each year, let alone animal fats; so the potential to use this system to convert that waste in to a fuel of this calibre is incredibly exciting.

“The trial proves that we can make a really significant difference to carbon emissions on our road, rail and marine networks and we plan to do so.”

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