A new initiative, Tour d’Europe, is currently underway to spotlight the role of renewable fuels in driving the decarbonisation of Europe’s road transport sector. The three-month journey, which began on 25 March, brings together 20 companies, associations, and institutions from across the automotive and fuels value chain to demonstrate the viability, availability, and effectiveness of renewable fuels in achieving the EU’s climate neutrality goals.
Led by industry players such as Neste — a producer of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel — the tour will pass through 23 countries, making stops at Neste service stations in the Baltics, and visiting refineries in Porvoo, Finland, and Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
The Tour d’Europe aims to raise awareness among citizens, industry stakeholders, and policymakers about the immediate potential of renewable fuels to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As an existing, scalable solution, renewable fuels can be used in both light- and heavy-duty vehicles without requiring major infrastructure changes — making them an accessible and technology-neutral pathway to reducing transport-related emissions.
Vehicles participating in the tour are marked with the “Tour d’Europe” logo and are equipped with a ‘Digital Fuel Twin’ (DFT) — a verification system that tracks and confirms the use of renewable fuels and the corresponding CO₂ reductions achieved during the journey. The tour will include city stops with events aimed at engaging local communities, encouraging open dialogue on climate action, and promoting shared responsibility in mitigating climate change.
Among the key messages conveyed throughout the initiative are:
- Renewable fuels can achieve net-zero GHG emissions in the use phase, as the carbon emitted during combustion equals the amount previously absorbed or captured.
- These fuels are compatible with the existing vehicle fleet and fuel infrastructure.
- Their use is verifiable at the vehicle level via digital monitoring tools like DFT.
- EU policy should embrace all proven technologies, supporting a technology-neutral approach to achieving climate objectives.
- Renewable fuels offer an affordable, immediate, and inclusive route for all Europeans to participate in the energy transition.
The tour, which traverses from north to south and east to west, will conclude in Brussels on 23 June with a final showcase outside the European Parliament. The closing event will include the presentation of a report detailing the verified use of renewable fuels during the tour and the measured GHG emissions reductions, demonstrating the practical value of digital verification tools like the DFT.
Participating organisations include major automotive and fuel industry names such as BMW, Bosch, Daimler Truck, Hyundai, Volkswagen, Repsol, Enilive, PRIO, FuelsEurope, Ford Trucks, IRU, and academic institutions including the Universities of Darmstadt and Karlsruhe.
