Biodiesel
Biodiesel is a blend of diesel fuel and vegetable oil produced from plants such as oilseed rape, sunflower, soy or palm oil. This oil is chemically transformed into VOME (Vegetable Oil Methyl Ester), which is then mixed with diesel fuel. European regulations allow 5% VOME in diesel fuel.
Using B30 biodiesel cuts CO2 emissions by 18% and particulate emissions by 22%.
Bioethanol
Bioethanol is a blend of petrol and ethanol, an alcohol produced by the fermentation of sugar (beet or sugar cane) or starch produced from cerelals (wheat,corn, etc.). Citroën has developed petrol engines able to use fuel containing up to 10% ethanol (E10 fuel). The use of E10 fuel cuts CO2 well-to-wheel emissions by around 6%.
On some markets, such as Brazil and Sweden, we also sell vehicles using FlexFuel technology, which can run on fuel containing up to 85% ethanol.
Citroën is aware of the issues relating to food farming and energy farming. It is closely watching studies on second-generation biofuels, which are still at the research stage (use of the whole plant, use of biomass, seaweed, etc.). We aim to ensure the compatibility of our engines with these fuels as soon as they reach the industrial production stage, by around 2020-2030.