WRITTEN QUESTION E-0904/01

by Elisabeth Schroedter (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(28 March 2001)

Subject: EU authorisation for diesel cars using cold-pressed rape-seed oil

Article 24 of the German highway code says that using cold-pressed rape seed oil in diesel vehicles does not affect authorisation to drive such vehicles.

Accordingly, every week in Germany several hundred diesel cars are being converted to cold-pressed rape seed oil. However, owners of such vehicles are wondering whether this will restrict their freedom of travel in the European Union.

Can the Commission answer the following:

- Which EU Member States refuse authorisation for diesel cars converted for the use of cold-pressed rape seed oil?

- Are there any plans in those Member States to do away with restrictive rules?

- If so, when?

- If not, why not?

- What action has the Commission taken hitherto to ensure that standard rules apply for the registration of cars powered by rape seed oil which permit cross-border travel?

- What action has the Commission taken to promote the use of rape seed oil as a substitute for diesel?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(13 June 2001)

There is at present no Member State in which it is possible to obtain type approval for a diesel vehicle running on rape-seed oil.

Rape-seed oil is one of the methyl esters and can be used as an extender or replacement for diesel fuel. Sunflower, palm, soya or cooking oils or animal fats can be used in the same way. Some types of new cars may be designed to be fuelled with diesel containing a low proportion of methyl ester, specifically for some markets such as France, where methyl esters are added to diesel fuel. However, motor vehicle manufacturers are rather cautious about the use of methyl esters as a fuel for diesel vehicles.

Compared to pure diesel fuel, the use of methyl esters can lead to higher deposit formation in an engine, greater deterioration of engine seals and other elastomer materials, and to increased corrosion, since methyl esters are hygroscopic.

It has also been found that emissions of nitrogen oxides in vehicles using methyl esters are higher than when pure diesel fuel is used.

If an owner runs his diesel vehicle on methyl ester fuels such as rape-seed oil, that does not invalidate the type approval for that vehicle, as the manufacturer has no means of monitoring the choice of fuel in the case of vehicles which have already been registered. Responsibility for the correct running of vehicles lies with the owner. However, the authorities in the Member States are responsible for ensuring the proper use of methyl esters in vehicles.

The cross-border movement of vehicles, however, is not thereby restricted. A vehicle which has filled up with rape-seed oil in, for instance, Germany can continue to travel to another Member State and fill up there with normal diesel fuel.

The intention is for the problem of using methyl esters in diesel fuels to be discussed under the annual work plan of the Commission's Motor Vehicle Emissions Group (MVEG). If appropriate, specific requirements may be drawn up for emission limits, and hence related requirements for vehicles using rape-seed oil or any other type of methyl ester. Specifications may have to be devised for diesel fuels containing methyl esters.

If such requirements are considered necessary, the emission directives will be adapted as soon as possible, in order to extend the scope of the European type approval for motor vehicles to include the use of new fuels such as methyl esters.

For nearly 20 years, the Community's research and development programmes have been intensively promoting biofuels, including rape-seed oil. More than half of all projects involving the production and use of rape-seed oil have received Community funding. These programmes have thus contributed greatly to the success of the forthcoming market launch of biodiesel.

The Commission is currently preparing a Communication on biofuels containing a proposal for a Directive on the introduction of biofuels. This directive is still at the initial stage of preparation, but rape-seed oil as a diesel substitute will play a major role in it.

Furthermore, the Commission has recently published a call for tenders for a study into the overall environmental effects of different future vehicle fuels/concepts. This study will concentrate on transport crossing the borders and will include concepts aimed at meeting the climate change threat while also improving the situation concerning other environmental problems or at least not jeopardising the benefits already achieved.