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Automotive industry prepares products for B30 fuel
The automotive industry is trying to adjust its products in line with the government’s policy on the use of 30 percent blended biodiesel (B30).
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A 20 percent-blended biodiesel (B20) gas station. The government plans to introduce B30 in the near future. (Courtesy of/The Indonesian Palm Oil Producers Association (Gapki) )
T
he automotive industry is trying to adjust their products in line with the government’s policy on the use of 30 percent blended biodiesel (B30) in an effort to absorb more palm oil in the domestic market, amid the current international pressure on the commodity.
The government implemented the mandatory use of 20 percent blended biodiesel (B20) in September last year. It is also conducting research on the use of B100 fuel in the transportation and other sectors.
PT Krama Yudha Tiga Berlian Motors (KTB) marketing director Duljatmono said the company, in cooperation with the government, had agreed to carry out a study on the use of B30 on the Mitsybishi Fuso, which will start in the middle of this month.
“We will cooperate with the government to test the Colt diesel [with B30 fuel],” Duljatmono said in Jakarta on Sunday as reported by kontan.co.id, adding that the use of B30 for vehicles was expected to start early next year.
He could not explain what the change of engine specification for the use of the new fuel type and the amount of investment needed for the adjustment would be, but based on experience, when its products started to use B20, the lifespan of the engines’ filters were shorter.
He said after the introduction of B20 fuel, the engines now have two filters.
“So the investment is in additional filters,” he said, adding that they had no complaints from consumers following the move to B20.
Meanwhile, PT Isuzu Astra Motor Indonesia (IAMI) president director Jap Ernando Demily said Isuzu was also preparing to adjust its vehicles to be compatible with B30, adding that the company supported the government’s policy.
“The vehicles would be tested internally and through cooperation with the government. We have started to test several types of vehicles -- the Elf, Giga, Traga and D-Max," said Ernando.
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia (TMMIN) president director Warih Andang Tjahjono said the company needed to cooperate with the government to make its vehicles compatible with B30.
He said all engines that were produced by the company were ready to use B30.
Warih added that the company had even anticipated the possible use of B100 and ethanol 100 (E100), saying the TMMIN had experience in producing engines that were compatible with E100, which were exported to the United States. (bbn)
