Quick Takeaways
  • Stellantis demonstrates how HVO renewable fuel can cut emissions immediately using existing diesel vehicles without waiting for fleet electrification.
  • The Citroën Berlingo trial highlights renewable fuels as a practical, infrastructure-ready bridge toward decarbonized mobility.
On December 17, Stellantis announced a strategic collaboration with France-based SPH3 to demonstrate the real-world potential of HVO renewable fuel using the Citroën Berlingo at its Vigo manufacturing facility. The initiative is part of the HVO Aurora Trial, a Europe-wide program designed to prove how renewable fuels can accelerate emissions reduction today.
The project is touring multiple European locations with two production vehicles, the Citroën Berlingo and the Fiat Ducato, to showcase how HVO renewable fuel performs in both passenger-oriented and commercial vehicle applications. By using vehicles already on the road, the trial underlines a practical path to decarbonization without waiting for fleet replacement cycles.
What the Stellantis HVO Renewable Fuel Trial Demonstrates
The HVO Aurora Trial focuses on tracking real-world fuel usage and estimating carbon emissions in real time. This data-driven approach helps quantify the environmental benefits of switching to HVO renewable fuel, which is produced from waste materials such as used cooking oil and animal fats.
Key objectives of the program include:
  • Measuring real-time emissions reductions compared with conventional diesel
  • Demonstrating compatibility with existing internal combustion engines
  • Validating renewable fuel performance across different vehicle segments

By relying on existing powertrains, Stellantis highlights how renewable fuels can complement electrification strategies rather than compete with them.
Citroën Berlingo as a Testbed for Circular Mobility
The Citroën Berlingo plays a central role in illustrating how circular economy principles can be applied to everyday mobility. Running on HVO renewable fuel, the vehicle converts waste-derived inputs into usable energy, reinforcing the idea that sustainability gains can be achieved through smarter fuel choices.
This approach is particularly relevant for fleets and small businesses that require reliable vehicles but face challenges in rapidly transitioning to new propulsion technologies.
HVO Renewable Fuel and Infrastructure Compatibility
One of the strongest messages from the Stellantis HVO renewable fuel trial is infrastructure readiness. HVO can be used as a drop-in fuel in compatible diesel engines, eliminating the need for new refueling networks or costly vehicle modifications.
This makes HVO especially attractive for commercial vehicles, where uptime, cost efficiency, and operational simplicity remain critical decision factors.
Collaboration Driving Faster Sustainable Mobility
The trial originated within Stellantis’ internal Star Up innovation program, emphasizing the role of cross-functional collaboration and external partnerships in accelerating sustainable mobility solutions. Working with SPH3, Stellantis demonstrates how innovation ecosystems can bring scalable, near-term solutions to market.
As the automotive industry balances long-term electrification goals with immediate emissions challenges, initiatives like this reinforce the role of renewable fuels as a pragmatic bridge technology.
Company Press Release

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