An environmentally friendly locomotive that runs on used vegetable oil has just been unveilled, and will soon be carrying hybrid cars to France and the Czech Republic.
The train is owned by rail freight operator DB Cargo UK, who have been trialling the hydro-treated vegetable oil fuelled locomotive to minimise carbon emissions in the short term.
The locomotive is now known as an HVO and has been given the name “I’m a climate hero.”
Rail Minister, Chris Heaton-Harris, said “we are boosting British business while cutting carbon. This is what building back greener is all about.”
He added, “trains are one of the most eco-friendly ways to transport goods and, through ingenuity and innovation, DB Cargo are leading the way in making it even greener.”
The HVO service will be transporting Toyotas built in Derby to Europe through the Channel Tunnel and will import Toyotas on its return leg.
Leon van der Merwe, Vice President Supply Chain of Toyota Motor Europe, said “as a company, we are dedicated to making continuous progress towards carbon neutrality and this includes seeking ways to reduce emissions from manufacturing, vehicle use and logistics."
He continued, “by utilising this new rail freight multi-modal opportunity, we are helping to ensure our low emission hybrid electric vehicles built at our British Burnaston plant can be transported to our customers in an increasingly sustainable way.”
Climate change is at the forefront of many people’s minds, with countries around the world starting to experience first-hand the repercussions of global warming.
But the Department for Transport said that compared to diesel, the locomotive can cut carbon emissions by up to 90%, acting as another step in the right direction towards the government’s goal of net zero by 2050.
DB Cargo CEO, Andrea Rossi, said “HVO is one of the world’s purest and greenest fuels and has an important role to play in helping DB Cargo UK and its rail customers decarbonise their operations.”
“This will be the first time we have used HVO on an automotive service and one bound for the continent. It’s a first on many levels for us.”
