‘Tour d’Europe’ Road Trip Proves Significant GHG Reductions from Use of Renewable Fuels

(ePURE) Cars and trucks running on renewable liquid fuels travelled 77,500 kilometres in 16 countries, using 100% renewable fuels for 84% of the total journey, enabling GHG savings of 67% for the total kilometres travelled. This real-life project demonstrates the valuable, immediate contribution of renewable fuels to transport decarbonisation and their potential for doing even more with supportive EU policies in place

BRUSSELS, 23 June 2025 – A pan-European road trip featuring cars and trucks powered by renewable fuels logged 77,500 kilometres across 16 countries in a real-world demonstration that these fuels deliver significant greenhouse-gas (GHG) reductions and should be a part of the EU drive to decarbonise transport.

The three-month project crossed the finishing line in Brussels today with two days of events in the European Parliament and the Autoworld museum, where policymakers and stakeholders from the EU automotive value chain and renewable fuels sectors are meeting to discuss the best way forward for decarbonising road transport.

The GHG savings from the Tour d’Europe were certified using a software tool, a ‘digital fuel twin’ (DFT), that verified the use of renewable fuels and the resulting reductions in CO2 emissions.

The collected data were then analysed by the Technical University of Darmstadt and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and summarized into a report, which concludes that renewable fuels have a “simple and genuinely feasible CO2 savings potential as of today, with actual and verifiable CO2 reduction of up to 77% on a well-to-wheel basis”. The report furthermore makes it clear that the EU approach should be technologically open and better leverage renewable fuels, which are already available across Europe and fully compatible with today’s vehicle technology and fuelling infrastructure.

The vehicles – 11 cars and 5 trucks – travelled 77,500 km along five different routes throughout Europe. They refuelled 289 times with a variety of renewable fuels: HVO and B100 to power diesel engines, E85 and renewable gasoline to power petrol and hybrid engines, BioLNG for trucks running on gaseous fuels, and different blends when no 100% renewable fuel specification was available.

The report clearly shows that renewable fuels offer an immediate, flexible, and technology-open pathway to decarbonising road transport—complementing solutions like electrification and hydrogen.

The Tour d'Europe partners are united in their conviction: renewable fuels are critical to achieving climate goals. They are already cutting greenhouse gas emissions in existing vehicles, and they will continue to play a vital role in powering new vehicles on the road to a sustainable future.

ABOUT THE TOUR D’EUROPE: The Tour d’Europe project brings together 24 companies, associations and institutions from across the automotive and fuels value chain, including: AVIA, BMW, Bosch, Collective du Bioéthanol, DAF Trucks, Daimler Truck AG, EBB, Enilive, EWABA, ePURE, TJA, FuelsEurope, Honda, Hyundai, Iveco, IRU, Moeve, Neste, PRIO, Repsol, Shell, Toyota, Transportes Aguieira, VDA.

For more information about Tour d'Europe events and the benefits of renewable fuels, visit www.tourdeurope.eu READ MORE

Excerpt from Neste: Neste is proud to be part of the European-wide initiative, showcasing how renewable fuels have a critical role to play in decarbonising road transport.

What?

The Tour d'Europe is a pioneering initiative by the European automotive value chain that highlights the role of renewable fuels in reducing GHG emissions from road transport.

By traveling across multiple European cities between March and June 2025, the initiative aims to showcase how renewable fuels are already available, accessible and compatible with existing fleet and infrastructure and capable of delivering significant emissions reductions. Tour d’Europe also underlines how a policy framework open to proven technologies will allow European industries to remain global leaders, protect jobs and strengthen energy security.

The journey will culminate in a final event in Brussels in June 2025, reinforcing the need for a technology-inclusive approach to decarbonising transport.

Why does it matter?

Europe aims for climate neutrality by 2050. Tour d’Europe initiative demonstrates how renewable fuels can contribute to reducing transport emissions by leveraging existing technologies. Renewable fuels offer a key to reduce GHG emissions while maintaining the 13.8 million jobs in the European automotive industry. This initiative demonstrates how renewable fuels, combined with digital certification technology, can serve as a more sustainable solution beyond 2035, offering a technology-neutral approach to achieving the EU's climate goals.

What is Neste’s role?

As a leader in renewable fuels, Neste contributes to the Tour d’Europe by showcasing how solutions like Neste MY Renewable Diesel^TM can deliver immediate emission reductions using existing infrastructure. By participating in the Tour d’Europe, Neste underscores the practicality, availability and impact of renewable fuels, emphasizing the role in supporting both climate goals and economic stability.

Key highlights

Stuttgart, Germany - April 10, 2025

HVO100 took the spotlight in Stuttgart, as part of the Tour d’Europe initiative. This was clear at a well-attended event organised by association VSL – Verband Spedition & Logistik BW together with Neste, SVG Süd, and EDi Energie-Direkt Hohenlohe GmbH. Hear more about what participants have to say about the role of renewable fuels.

Porvoo, Finland - April 29. 2025

Great visit to the Neste’s Porvoo refinery, where we proudly hosted a stop on the Tour d’Europe. From engaging discussions on the crucial role of legislation to insights on how renewable fuels are helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and accelerating the EU’s climate goals, hear more from our speakers. READ MORE