Mercedes F1 cuts logistics emissions by 67% through biofuel use

The Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team has announced that through the adoption of biofuel within its logistics operations, it has cut emissions for race and hospitality trucks and generators by 67% over the course of the 2023 Formula One (F1) European season.

Throughout the European leg of the competition, the use of HVO100, a biofuel made from renewable feedstocks such as vegetable oil, resulted in a saving of 339tCO₂e. According to the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, every kilometre travelled on HVO100 saves 90% of CO₂ emissions compared to standard diesel.

A target of a 200tCO₂e (60%) reduction was set before the start of the season, which was surpassed. The majority of the emissions reductions (307tCO₂e) came from its fleet of trucks, which travelled 386,000km of the total 460,000km fuelled by HVO100.

The generators used to power the team’s engineering and hospitality units in the F1 paddock also used biofuel, making up the remaining emissions reduction of 32tCO₂e. HVO100 comprised 35% of all generator fuel used during the European races this season. 

This follows the announcement in June that DHL, which has been the official logistics partner of the Formula One World Championship since 2004, had deployed a fleet of 18 HVO100-fuelled trucks to assist with the logistics operations of the remaining European races in the 2022 season.

That year, the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team trialled the use of HVO100 which resulted in an 89% reduction in CO₂ emissions across three races. It’s sustainability strategy outlines a goal of achieving “net zero for Race Team controlled emissions by 2030”.

Alice Ashpitel, Head of Sustainability at the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, said: “We are
delighted to achieve such a positive set of results and reduce our freight and generator emissions
significantly over this season’s European races. The use of biofuels is one of our key pioneering
initiatives as part of our overarching sustainability strategy for achieving net zero for our Race
Team controlled emissions by 2030.

“We had to overcome complex logistical hurdles on this project. To achieve such a significant
reduction in freight and generator emissions demonstrates the strong collaboration between the
team, PETRONAS, and our logistics partners. This project marks a significant step forward and a
strong proof point supporting the wider adoption of HVO100 across sport, entertainment, and
logistics industries.”

As well as off-track emissions reductions, F1 cars are set to be powered by “100% advanced sustainable fuels” from 2026.

Toto Wolff, Team Principal and Chief Executive of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, added: “Formula
One is the most well-known global sport in the world, so it is vital we can use our platform to pioneer change. We can no longer compromise on the impact we have on our planet, and we need to adapt to reduce our emissions.

“We are a team of innovators and have an ambition to be the world’s most sustainable sports team. Results like this show we are on the right track to achieving that milestone with sustainable fuels central to the team’s strategy to achieve net zero.”

Source: logisticsmanager.com