Woodland Group trials Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil for HGVs

HVO is a type of “biofuel” which can be used as a direct replacement for fossil fuel-derived diesel.  

In March 2024, the supply chain provider launched a 10-week trial to use HVO in collaboration with aluminium packaging company Ball Corporation.  

The company completed 1,100 trips on Ball’s regular supply routes using HVO fuel. The partnership found that the use of HVO led to a CO2e saving of 207 tonnes and a 90.44% reduction in emissions.  

If this was applied to a 12-month period, Woodland Group and Ball projected a reduction of a 1,067-tonnes in CO2e emissions on the selected route. The partnership has said they plan to extend the use of HVO to other routes going forward. 25% of the fleet is now running on HVO. 

The trial found also that: 

• Diesel dominates the HGV market due to range and infrastructure but has much higher CO2 emissions per kilometre than electric vehicles (EVs) and HVO. 

• EVs offer lower CO2 emissions per kilometre than diesel but are currently limited by range and grid decarbonisation. 

• HVO is the most promising intermediate solution today, offering the best CO2 emissions per kilometre and compatibility with existing engines. 

• Hydrogen technology like HVO could be a potential long-term solution. 

Woodland Group and Ball have also said they are exploring the use of electric heavy good vehicles (EHGVs) to further improve their carbon emissions. The introduction of Volvo EHGVs to the fleet over a 30-day period showed a 65.66% reduction in its carbon footprint compared to traditional diesel vehicles. 

Mark Haslam, logistics director for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa at Ball Corporation, emphasised the need for collaboration: “We know that there’s not one single or one-size-fits-all solution to reduce fossil fuels consumption. No single company can tackle the challenge alone; working together is crucial.”