Biofuel

A biofuel is a liquid fuel for transport, produced from biomass: oils, fats, residues or waste. In a fleet, HVO and B100 are for diesel engines, and E85 for compatible gasoline engines. Each one comes with its own conditions of use, distribution and compatibility.

What is a biofuel?

Under EU law, it is “liquid fuel for transport produced from biomass”. This definition appears in Article 2 of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 on renewable energy.

The same directive singles out advanced biofuels. They are produced from the feedstocks listed in Part A of its Annex IX, such as certain residues and waste.

You already use them without knowing it. According to France's Ministry for the Ecological Transition (in French), B7 diesel (gazole B7) contains at most 7% FAME by volume. SP95-E10 gasoline contains up to 10% ethanol by volume.

FAME stands for fatty acid methyl esters (EMAG in French), the most common form of biodiesel. Ethanol, for its part, is blended into gasoline.

HVO, B100, E85: what are the differences?

High-biofuel blends differ both in composition and in how they are distributed. This table draws on the information published by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition.

Fuel	Composition	Engines	Distribution and points to check
HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil)	Vegetable oils or animal fats treated with hydrogen	Diesel, if the manufacturer allows it	Check that the engine is approved for it
B10	Up to 10% FAME by volume	Compatible diesel engines	Check the compatibility stated by the manufacturer
B30 and B100	Up to 30% or 100% FAME	Diesel engines approved for this fuel	Reserved for captive fleets, not sold at service stations
E85 (superéthanol)	Between 65% and 85% ethanol by volume	Dedicated vehicles	Sold at service stations in France since 2007

A captive fleet refuels at its own facility, at the depot. The typical case is a trucking company or a local authority that manages its own fuel tank.

What rules apply?

A biofuel must meet sustainability criteria to be counted. According to the ministry, it must cut emissions by at least 50% compared with fossil fuel. The threshold is higher for recent production plants.

The share of conventional, crop-based biofuels is capped at 7% of the energy contained in fuels (ministry). This cap limits how much is available at scale.

In France, since January 1, 2025, vehicles running on E85 have had a 40% allowance on their CO₂ emissions for the CO₂ tax. The allowance does not apply above 250 g/km or above 12 fiscal horsepower, known as chevaux administratifs (Service-public.fr and BOFiP, both in French). The obligations to green company fleets are covered in our article on the LOM law.

Does biofuel really cut fleet emissions?

Yes, provided you document the fuel you actually buy. The gain depends on the feedstock and the production process. Ask your supplier for the origin of the feedstock and for proof of sustainability.

The question of origin is not theoretical. The ministry reported that 95% of the HVO blended into fuel in France in 2019 came from palm oil (source).

In your fleet carbon footprint, apply the emission factor specific to the biofuel you use. Take it from the public database of ADEME, the French Agency for Ecological Transition, and note its version.

Biofuel complements electrification for vehicles that are hard to replace. It cannot take its place everywhere, because supply remains limited.

What should you check before switching to biofuel?

• Compatibility: the manufacturer's approval of the engine, model by model.
• The contract: the leasing company's agreement for vehicles on long-term lease, and the warranty conditions.
• Supply: a station you can reach on your routes, or a tank at the depot for a captive fleet.
• Traceability: invoices by fuel and proof of sustainability, kept for your greenhouse gas (GHG) report.
• Monitoring: consumption before and after the switch, to measure the actual effect on your vehicles.

How Dadycar helps

Dadycar assigns every fuel consumption record to the right vehicle. The Fleet plan includes fuel tracking, fuel cards and expenses. Vehicle records and CO₂ tracking are available from the Free plan up.

The ESG sustainability dashboard and the energy transition analysis inform your energy choices, vehicle by vehicle. With telematics, anomaly and fraud detection flags inconsistent consumption.

Discover fuel consumption tracking and the fuel card connection. The data is hosted in France, by OVHcloud.

Frequently asked questions

Can any diesel vehicle run on HVO?

No. Check in the vehicle's documentation, or with the manufacturer, that the engine is approved for this fuel. For a vehicle on long-term lease, also get the leasing company's agreement before any change of fuel.

Does a vehicle running on E85 (superéthanol) pay less CO₂ tax?

Yes, in France. Since January 1, 2025, its CO₂ emissions have been subject to a 40% allowance. The allowance does not apply above 250 g/km or above 12 fiscal horsepower (Service-public.fr).

Where can you get B100?

According to the ministry, B100 is reserved for captive fleets and is not sold at service stations. Supply therefore goes through a tank at the depot. Alternative fuels offer other options.