Stellantis has backed off its rush to purely electric cars and vans.
In a major u-turn for the company it this week announced that its entire range of cars and light-duty commercial vehicles is fully compatible with Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) Diesel fuel, an eco-friendly alternative to traditional Diesel.
This green diesel is also validated for use in many existing Stellantis vehicles with Euro 5 and Euro 6 engines marked with “XTL” on their fuel filler neck. Additionally, certain non-XTL Euro 6 Diesel vehicles are compatible with HVO when equipped with the following engines:
- 1.3 MultiJet
- 1.6 MultiJet
- 2.0 MultiJet
- 2.2 MultiJet
- New 2.2 MultiJet 4.0
- 3.0 V6 MultiJet
- 2.3 MultiJet (F1A – Fiat Ducato)
By broadening the adoption of green diesel, Stellantis reinforces its commitment to protecting the environment and offering its customers sustainable choices that meet their needs.
What this change will mean for the company’s EV plans for Ellesmere Port and Luton is not known at this stage but it has been suggested their future is in doubt without UK Government backing, however a change of very senior management at the top of the company is likely to signal this change of direction in the face of escalating EV costs and a dramatic slowdown in sales of electric cars and vans.
It will also be a good move for the thousands of medium van users and potentially heavy goods vehicle which would seriously struggle to become pure BEVs for long distance haulage.
In July 2005, Ford announced a deal in the West Country for local authorities to use biofuels.
Ford announced a partnership with the Somerset Biofuel Project, in which they will supply their new Ford Focus Flexi-Fuel Vehicles.
Ford, the first manufacturer to market a bioethanol-powered car in Europe, is sole vehicle provider to the project in which Somerset County Council will take 40 Focus FFVs from early next year.
Ford is currently negotiating with the council, Wessex Water, Avon and Somerset Constabulary and Wessex Grain to introduce Focus FFVs on their fleets.
The Somerset project has been set up to produce bioethanol in the county, making the low carbon fuel for five refuelling stations to fuel the bioethanol-powered Fords.
