Linde Material Handling has approved the use of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) for both its current industrial trucks and most predecessor series.

The company explains that fleet operators utilising diesel forklifts can now reduce their CO2 emissions by up to 90% through the use of biofuel. This fossil-free fuel has the additional benefits of providing extra power to the engine and giving cleaner combustion, while not requiring any adaptations to the refuelling infrastructure and offering the option of being blended with regular diesel.   

HVO diesel is made from 100% renewable raw materials and does not release any new carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. 

“By approving this fuel for our diesel forklift engines, we are giving our customers the chance to massively reduce the carbon footprint of their diesel forklifts without having to invest a single cent in additional infrastructure,” says Frank Bergmann, senior product manager, counterbalance forklifts. 

The cost per litre of HVO diesel in most markets is slightly higher than that of standard diesel, but experts say this is more than offset by the improved sustainability factor.  

“All customers who are unable to switch to electric forklifts in the short term can now improve their carbon footprint by changing to HVO,” says Bergmann.