A major six-month partnership has been launched in Spain between Toyota Motor Europe, BMW Group , Repsol, and Bosch looking into how existing combustion engined vehicles could operate on 100% renewable petrol.
Starting this month, both BMW and Toyota models will be powered by Repsol’s Nexa 95 – a blend produced using raw materials that comply with the European Union’s Renewable Energy Directive – said to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional fossil fuels.
Around 20 vehicles from both brands will be used, with data gathered using Bosch fuel tracking technology – with the study aiming to prove combustion engines running on fuels of this kind can be deployed at scale, to help with the continent’s current decarbonisation targets without an immediate mass-shift to electric.
“With our ‘Digital Fuel Twin,’ Bosch is bringing full digital transparency to the entire fuel value chain,” the company’s Dr Marko Babic said. “By precisely monitoring fuel usage on individual vehicles in real-time, we are building the foundation of trust and regulatory compliance needed for higher acceptance of renewable fuels in the mobility and transport sector.”
The data gathered will be shared with EU policymakers and industry bodies, with the study also looking at the availability of renewable fuel. Repsol is currently the only fuel provider in Spain to sell a 100% renewable blend to the public.
Although not focussed on bikes, any policy breakthroughs spawned could potentially give motorcycle manufacturers additional breathing room while more effective long-term solutions are found for the packaging and weight constraints of large-capacity machines.
Dan is a fully-trained journalist, with a Gold Standard Level 3 Diploma from the National Council for the Training of Journalists. He has a passion for motorcycles of all capacities, but feels at home aboard a sportsbike. He's been working for MCN in print and digital for the best part of 10 years, with regular contributions to RiDE Magazine on the side.
News Editor, trackday fan, lover of 90s sportsbikes