Renewable fuels straight from the factory
Since January 2025, all BMW models with diesel engines produced in Germany have been filled with renewable HVO100 diesel fuel for the first time, and now the use of synthetic fuels is also planned for gasoline engines. Specifically, these are eFuels, which are produced entirely from non-fossil CO₂. The first filling of new models in selected German plants is planned for 2028. A prerequisite for use is E10 approval of the engines in question.
Background and objectives of the cooperation
The BMW Group emphasizes that the most effective approach to reducing CO₂ emissions lies in the use of all available technologies. In addition to electric mobility and advanced combustion engines with renewable fuels, various drive concepts are to be pursued in parallel. The cooperation with Lother GmbH and German eFuel One GmbH is intended to help tap the potential of renewable fuels and enable CO₂-reduced mobility.
Gitta Connemann, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, praised the project as a driver of innovation for sustainable solutions in mobility: “The BMW Group, Lother GmbH, and German eFuel One GmbH are joining forces for climate protection through technological openness… E-fuels from green eMethanol can make a decisive contribution to the decarbonization of transport – especially where electrification reaches its limits.”
Expansion of eFuel production in Germany
German eFuel One GmbH plans to build the first commercial production plant for eFuels in Germany. Here, imported eMethanol will be used to produce a fuel using the methanol-to-gasoline (MtG) process, which, in accordance with the DIN EN 228 standard for E10 gasoline, consists entirely of non-fossil CO₂. This eFuel should be able to be used in existing vehicles without any technical modifications. According to the company, the CO₂ intensity of the synthetic fuel will be reduced by up to 90 percent compared to fossil gasoline.
Christian Hanke, CEO of German eFuel One GmbH, emphasizes: “With this cooperation, we are sending a strong signal for the market ramp-up of eFuels in Germany. BMW is thus demonstrating that renewable fuels are an essential component of tomorrow’s mobility.”
Call for recognition of renewable fuels
The BMW Group is calling for a technology-neutral revision of European CO₂ fleet legislation. It is calling for the recognition of renewable fuels and the creation of a new vehicle category for vehicles powered exclusively by renewable fuels.
Glenn Schmidt, Head of Sustainability at the BMW Group, emphasizes the importance of different drive technologies for climate protection: “All drive systems can and must reduce CO₂. In addition to electric mobility, efficient combustion engines running on renewable fuels continue to play an important role.”
HVO100 as a pioneer in diesel vehicles
Since the beginning of 2025, all BMW Group diesel models manufactured in Germany have been fueled with Neste MY Renewable Diesel™ HVO100. HVO stands for “Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil,” a diesel fuel derived entirely from renewable raw materials. According to the company, this can achieve a CO₂ reduction of up to 90 percent (“well to wheel”) compared to fossil diesel. The fuel meets the requirements of EN 15940 for paraffinic diesel fuel.
Sustainability in motorsport
The collaboration between BMW Motorrad Motorsport and NORDOEL, a brand of the Lother Group, was announced back in 2023. The result of this partnership is RacE-Fuel WSBK R40-A, a fuel with a minimum 40 percent renewable content. This fuel has been used successfully in the Superbike World Championship (WSBK) since the start of the 2024 season and has contributed to reducing CO₂ emissions in motorsports.
Outlook
With the signed LOI agreement and ongoing projects for the use of eFuels and HVO100, the BMW Group and its partners are demonstrating a technology-neutral approach to decarbonizing mobility. The introduction of renewable fuels in production and motorsport is intended to open up new avenues for CO₂ reduction.
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