According to industry insiders, substandard green fuels are causing damage to lorry engines, leading to significant repair costs for hauliers and substantially increasing their energy expenses. Government mandates require that diesel is mixed with renewable fuel to reduce CO2 emissions from road transportation. Unfortunately, truck drivers assert that low-grade renewable fuels are inflicting harm on engines, resulting in firms incurring repair costs of up to £20,000 per vehicle.
Additionally, the transport industry estimates that these regulations add approximately £56 million to their annual fuel expenditure, as renewable fuels have lower energy output, necessitating the purchase of extra diesel to traverse the same distance.
A study by the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA), representing prominent commercial transport firms in the Republic, discovered last year that nearly a quarter of samples did not meet the European EN 590 standard mandated for road diesel.
Lab tests revealed that an additional 20% of the samples were borderline acceptable, reported the association. JHG Analytical Services, an independent firm, compared samples from the Republic with those from other EU countries. All failed and borderline samples were from Ireland, while samples from outside the Republic passed all tests.
The IRHA spokesperson clarified that renewable fuel samples contained excessive amounts of animal fats. While this substance is commonly found in the Republic, an over-abundance can harm engines by clogging filters, among other issues.
The cost of engine repairs due to this damage ranges from £15,000 to £20,000, according to hauliers. They also warned that if diesel does not meet the EN 590 standard, manufacturers may void warranties on engines as they stipulate the use of approved fuel.
The Irish Government requires that 21% of the petrol and diesel supplied to motorists be renewable. The National Oil Reserves Agency (Nora) oversees this scheme. However, hauliers claim there is no official body ensuring the quality of the fuel sold.
The IRHA spokesperson highlighted that numerous government entities have a role in the supply of motor fuel, including Nora, the Departments of Environment and Transport, Revenue and Environmental Protection Agency, yet none are willing to accept responsibility. They urge the state to step in and rectify this issue.
Lorry operators have taken their concerns about fuel quality to the government and related departments, but no workable solution has been offered to safeguard the fuel sold to the businesses they represent.
Diesel-driven lorries and heavy vehicles, which constitute the backbone of the Republic’s economy, facilitate the transportation of goods within and beyond the borders, underlined the IRHA.
Fuel for transport derived from renewable sources can consist of many things, encompassing the processed remains of cooking oil and other refuse, as well as several types of plants. There has been a surge in criticism against the government for its lacklustre oversight of the renewable transport fuels obligation.
A spokeswoman from the Department of Transport verified that the freight association had brought the issue to their attention and introduced the truckers’ apprehensions to the fuels industry.
“It is our understanding that the industry and lorry operators continue to talk about this issue,” she elaborated.
The spokeswoman indicated that her institution, in conjunction with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, were considering methods to guarantee the compliance of motor fuel with quality benchmarks. She elaborated that the Department Environment, Climate and Communications supervised fuel tests to ensure they meet air quality regulations.
However, she conceded that, “Not all aspects of fuel quality are covered by this directive.”
She further indicated that the EN 590 standard requires diesel, when sold as motor fuel, to possess specific physical and chemical characteristics.