Green Diesel Goes Mainstream: HVO 100 & XTL Now Sold at French Pumps—Should You Fill Up?
Remember those early‑2000s rumours about running a Transit on used chip‑shop oil? Your mate Dave tried it, the van smelled of cod for a month, and the fuel lines died of deep‑fried despair. (I do not, I wasn't born)
Well, the idea has showered, shaved, and — in true French style — picked up a fabulous new outfit. HVO 100 and its snappily dressed cousin XTL have landed at mainstream service stations across France, promising 90 percent lower CO₂ and zero fish‑and‑chip aftertaste. Naturally, Lucy and I pointed the Wheely Great noses toward Calais, credit card in trembling hands, to see what all the green diesel fuss is about.
1. So… what actually is HVO 100?
Picture ordinary diesel molecules sent away to a Scandinavian wellness retreat. They’re hydro‑treated (that’s the ‘H’), scrubbed of sulphur, and re‑assembled using waste vegetable oil and animal fats. Drop‑in fuel: you pour it in, the engine doesn’t notice, planet sighs in relief.
XTL is simply EU‑speak for “synthetic diesel not made from crude”. Same spa treatment, different regulatory label.
2. Where can I find this magical elixir?
Autoroute rest stops: TotalEnergies, Avia and a smattering of Shell stations now pump HVO at over 80 locations. They hide it beside the lorry lanes—look for lime‑green nozzles or “Diesel Vert”.
Super‑U & Leclerc hypermarkets: five trial sites as of last week. You can buy a baguette, a wetsuit, and low‑carbon diesel in one delirious trolley full.
Port cities & border towns: Calais, Dunkirk, Bordeaux, Marseille. Handy for the in‑and‑out crowd who still call a service station “the services”.
Heads‑up: The French rollout map changes faster than their politics. The free Géocarburant app updates almost daily - or just comment here and I’ll try and get a map to you.
3. What’s the damage at the pump?
Expect €0.12–€0.20 more per litre than B7 fossil diesel. On a 70‑litre tank that’s the price of two pain au chocolat and maybe a questionable souvenir mug. Only you—and your conscience—can do the maths.
4. Will HVO bump my Crit’Air sticker from orange to something swish?
Alas, non. Crit’Air still judges vans by their original Euro engine rating. Pour in the purest green diesel and your Euro 4 Sprinter is still wearing its embarrassing Crit’Air 3 badge like last season’s ski‑pass. Rumour says the French climate ministry is “studying incentives”, which is bureaucrat‑speak for “maybe in 2030?”.
5. Can my venerable van stomach it?
Euro 5 & 6 diesels (2011‑on): generally good to go. Ford, Mercedes, Fiat, Peugeot, Citroën and VW have all issued blanket approvals.
Euro 4 (2006–2010): many engines cope, but check the manual or ring the maker before you gleefully brim the tank.
Pre‑2006 dinosaurs: rubber fuel lines may sulk, seals might drool. Proceed with caution—or upgrade your hoses.
Tip: If the handbook is buried somewhere under last year’s laundry, consult the crowdsourced HVO‑ready spreadsheet in our resoirces section. (Yes, we made a spreadsheet. Of course we did.)
6. Downsides nobody mentions
Availability roulette: rural Occitanie is still living in 1998. Plan your range accordingly.
Cold‑start blues: HVO gels at slightly lower temps than standard diesel, but alpine skiers should still carry anti‑gel.
Sticker shock: that €0.20 premium stings if you’re hammering autoroutes all summer. Offset it by eating more lentils and fewer motorway croques‑monsieur.
7. Poll time!
We’re nosy, you’re opinionated.
Would you pay extra for HVO/XTL if it were available at every pump?
💚 Absolutely—planet first
🤷 Maybe on special occasions
💸 No way, my wallet’s on strike
Vote in the comments below.
8. How to give green diesel a whirl (without wrecking your trip)
Top up, don’t empty: Mix 20–30 litres with normal diesel first run; your engine ECU won’t even blink.
Keep receipts: Some warranties require proof you used certified ASTM/EN15940 HVO—not garden‑shed moonshine.
Monitor MPG: Many drivers report 1–2 percent lower consumption, others see slight gains. We clocked a modest +12 km on a Lyon‑Grenoble leg—could be science, could be tailwind.
The bottom line
HVO 100 and XTL won’t magic your Crit’Air woes away, but they will scrub your exhaust note, tame soot monsters, and let you brag about 90 percent lower CO₂ over breakfast. If your van can drink it and your budget allows, go green—it’s the closest thing to karma‑neutral diesel we’ve got.
Spot a new green pump on your travels? Tag @wheelygreatnews and we’ll add it to the map. Meanwhile, we’ll be testing HVO’s winter manners in the Pyrenees—because who doesn’t love a cold‑start cliff‑hanger?
See you (and your pleasantly unscented exhaust) down the road.
— Harvey
Wheely Great News
