KOHLER, WI — All Kohler diesel-fueled engines are approved to use HVO in the United States, in line with ASTM D975 standard. This confirmation comes just a few months after European compliance was announced. In February, in fact, Kohler had announced approval to use HVO for all its diesel engines in Europe, in line with the EN15940 standard.

The use of HVO, hydrotreated vegetable oil, whether pure or blended with conventional diesel, does not require any specific engine modifications or upgrades. However, exhaust gas aftertreatment system remains necessary where already provided.

Unlike conventional biofuels that take resources away from agriculture and contribute in part to deforestation, HVO is a renewable fuel that can be produced from various vegetable oils and fats: it is derived from biological waste and, free of fossil-derived oils, is a 100 percent recycled product. In addition, depending on the raw material used in its production, it leads to a reduction in overall CO2 emissions of up to 90 percent. Engine exhaust emissions also benefit directly, given the very low sulfur content.

This announcement marks another step toward Kohler’s new roadmap, which for the first time outlined its strategy for a more sustainable future at the Bauma Media Dialog in Munich. Among the new pillars of the strategy, alternative fuels are aimed at raising awareness of low-carbon, more economical and logistically manageable fuels. The emphasis, as always, is on innovation and the use of technologies to guide the company toward the green transition, without losing sight of the different needs of OEMs, and keeping engine performance high thus maximizing machine productivity.