Škoda has started fuelling its diesel cars with the environmentally friendly fuel HVO
Skoda Auto has started using the sustainable fuel HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil) as a factory filler for new diesel vehicles produced in Czech factories, as well as for fuelling internal logistics vehicles. Unlike biodiesel, which is made from agricultural crops, HVO is made from waste - for example, used vegetable oil and fats of vegetable and animal origin.
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HVO belongs to the category of synthetic diesel substitutes and is produced by hydrogenation. The fuel is transparent, virtually odourless and has a significantly higher cetane number than conventional diesel (70 vs. 51), which ensures more efficient combustion and reduces harmful emissions, especially soot. HVO is also free of sulphur, aromatic compounds and high boiling point hydrocarbons, which also has a positive effect on diesel engine performance - especially in terms of less frequent particulate filter regeneration. In older engines, HVO can provide quieter and smoother operation. It can be freely blended with conventional diesel fuel.
All Skoda diesel models from the 2022 model year onwards (production from the 25th calendar week of 2021) are officially approved for HVO. Such cars can be recognised by the XTL marking on the fuel filler cap. Owners of earlier vehicles are advised to check compatibility with authorised brand dealers. HVO and its blends with diesel are now widely available on European markets.
Karsten Schnake, Skoda Auto's board member responsible for procurement and sustainability, said Skoda was the first brand in the Volkswagen Group to switch to factory-fill HVO in passenger cars and logistics support vehicles. Between August and December 2024, these vehicles used around 46,000 litres of HVO, corresponding to annual savings of around 300 tonnes of CO2.
Source: Skoda
