05.11.2025:
As of now you can officially run your Autoterm diesel heater on HVO100 fuel. The approval came directly from the manufacturer today.
But what exactly is HVO100, and what does it mean for you as the owner of a diesel camper or motorhome?
What Is HVO100?
HVO stands for Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil. The 100 means that it is pure HVO and not a blend as with the already familiar biodiesels.
HVO100 is synthetic diesel made entirely from renewable or recycled raw materials. These include, for example, vegetable oils, used cooking oils or waste fats – both plant-based and animal-based from slaughterhouse waste.
The molecules created by the hydrotreating process are virtually identical to fossil diesel – for this reason it can be fueled like normal diesel in most diesel engines without modifications or conversions.
Advantages of HVO100 (according to the manufacturer):
- same high performance as conventional diesel
- burns cleaner than conventional diesel (the manufacturer speaks of up to 90 percent lower CO2 emissions)
- less fine dust and fewer particles
- less nitrogen oxide
- almost odorless, as it is free of sulfur, oxygen and aromatics
HVO under critical scrutiny:
Although HVO100 is often advertised as “green diesel” for these reasons, not all assessments are positive. For example, in a recent study the Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH, German Environmental Aid) concludes that HVO100 made from used cooking oil can, across the entire value chain, even be more harmful to the climate than fossil diesel – its use can indirectly contribute to the production of palm oil with the destruction of nature it is known for. (Source: Deutsche Umwelthilfe e.V.)
So HVO100 can offer opportunities, but depending on the origin of the raw materials, displacement effects and the supply chain it can also bring risks. As campers, we can hardly determine the production conditions when refueling.
Refueling and Heating – Can Your Vehicle Run on HVO100 Too?
One of the greatest strengths of a diesel heater in a travel vehicle is that it is supplied directly from the vehicle tank. No additional fuel, no extra container – just refuel and you’re done. That naturally raises the question of whether your vehicle can also handle HVO100, if the heater copes with it.
In fact, many vehicle manufacturers have by now officially approved their engines for HVO100. You can check whether your vehicle is one of them on this overview page:
HVO 100 – Approvals for Vehicle Models
If your vehicle is on this list, switching to HVO100 for driving (and from now on also for heating) is no problem, if you decide you want this fuel.
By the way, the price of HVO100 is on average somewhat higher than that of normal diesel. The premium is currently around 10 to 15 cents per liter. In the future the price could develop favorably for consumers, since HVO100 is not subject to the CO2 tax.
Where Can You Fill Up With HVO100
At filling stations, HVO100 is mostly offered as “Renewable Diesel” or “Neste (that’s the manufacturer) MY Renewable Diesel”.
Here you’ll find a map of the available HVO100 filling stations.
Autoterm Approves HVO100 as Fuel for Auxiliary Heaters
Because HVO100 is promoted as “sustainable, green diesel”, you may have been waiting for the approval of the heater for operation with the synthetic fuel. As of now, filling up your approved camper with HVO100 is no longer a problem, even if your Autoterm diesel heater draws its fuel from this tank.
If you buy an Autoterm auxiliary heater within a short time after today’s approval, you may still get a manual that does not yet include the approval. But that doesn’t mean you have an “old model” of heater, just a manual that hasn’t been newly printed. Nothing has changed about the heaters; they have simply been tested sufficiently with the new fuel and no negative effects were found.
Whether you bet on the clean combustion of HVO100 by paying the premium, or take a critical view of using the synthetic fuel because of the problem shifting – both options are now equally open to you.
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