Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/630225
A s fl eets con nue to add renew- able diesel to their alterna- ve fuel line-up, major diesel engine manufacturer Cummins says it's exercising cau on as it con nues to test the biofuel. "Cummins is still evaluating the use of renewable diesel and is not yet in a position to approve or disapprove the use of renewable diesel fuels," reads a statement the company provided last month to Hard Working Trucks. "The environmental benefi ts look promising and we support the efforts to reduce the GHG (green- house gases) and overall emission footprint of our products." Renewable diesel is produced from various plant and animal mat- ter. In earlier tests, the synthetic fuel produced impressive emissions re- sults that beat conventional diesel. Piquing even more interest is the fact that the alternative fuel can be used as a direct diesel substitute, requiring no engine modifi cations, according to the Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association (EMA; the T is omitted). The biofuel's compatibility and its reduced emissions have made it a popular alternative fuel among a growing number of fl eets, including global package delivery giant UPS. (Refer to HWT article "Renewable diesel attracting more fl eets.") In a July press release, UPS re- ported that renewable diesel "offers superior performance and benefi ts, much like how synthetic lubricants are used in cars instead of petro- leum-based lubricants." However, other than lowering emissions, Cummins does not expect renewable diesel to have an impact on engine durability. "Provided a fuel meets the vari- ous global and OEM specifi cations, the fuel should not have any impact on engine durability, negative or |Tomorrow's Trucks | Synthetic diesel benefi ts, drawbacks still unclear, engine makers say By Tom Quimby 14 www.studentdriverplacement.com February '16