Diesel engines are changing – and with it, they’re powering a shift towards greener, cheaper driving, especially for fleet cars. That’s all down to the introduction of AdBlue, a new generation of diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) that will be sprayed into the exhaust gas of all new cars in order to meet the new Euro 6 standards.
An equation that turns harmful to harmless
AdBlue is an environmentally friendly exhaust fluid that will make your cars cleaner by removing harmful NOx (nitrous oxide) gas.
Created during the reaction between nitrogen, oxygen and hydrocarbons, NOx can be harmful; negative side effects include air pollution and the aggravation of asthma. AdBlue alleviates this by stopping the gas from leaving exhaust pipes and converting 90% of the harmful nitrous oxides into harmless nitrogen and steam. As a result, those dangerous side effects are prevented.
Euro 6 and AdBlue
From 1 September this year, AdBlue became more important than ever before with the launch of the new Euro 6 legislations, which have tighter emission limits. Specifically, they call for a 67% reduction of NOx in diesel engines, compared to the last set of standards released in January 2011.
In addition to being much stricter, there’s another difference when it comes to Euro 6: all new cars registered (rather than just commercial vehicles, as per previous Euro legislations) will have to meet the standards. This, combined with the fact that being compliant with EURO 6 keeps your car tax down, means that it pays to know more about AdBlue.
Do you need AdBlue?
Not necessarily. While all new cars will need to comply with the Euro 6 standards, not all cars need to be fitted with AdBlue technology. In preparation for the reduction on how much NOx a car can legally emit, some car manufacturers – including Kia – have developed Euro 6 compliant engines that do not require AdBlue. A smart move, considering these standards will be impacting more and more cars over the next few years.
Following UK rulings on air pollution connected to NOx, the UK especially is under a microscope when it comes to being cleaner and greener with diesel cars. Cars that have already fitted the technology to minimise this offer significant savings and convenience to fleet managers. Choosing the alternative of AdBlue could mean a regular – possibly weekly – top-up depending on mileage. And that could get expensive.
The need-to-know
When it comes to making a decision on complying with Euro 6, it pays to find out if your fleet already has AdBlue technology fitted. Look for a blue cover close to the diesel tank or in the boot, under the carpet, or in the engine compartment.
The benefits of AdBlue are stacked high, but there is a word of warning to mention, too. Although manufacturers will top-up the AdBlue tank at the time of service, consumption can vary enormously from vehicle-to-vehicle, so you might need to top up in between. AdBlue behaves in the same way as fuel, so various driving conditions can affect how quickly it is used up. These include:
- vehicle type
- vehicle model
- vehicle load
- environmental conditions
- driving requirements
- driving style
Because of its similarity to fuel, the speed at which AdBlue is used is quicker for some cars or vans than others. If drivers don’t respond to a warning light to fill up the fluid reservoir when it runs low, there’s a chance of ending up stranded, as vehicles simply won’t start once it’s run out.
To stay on top of AdBlue levels, encourage your drivers to keep an eye on the tank levels and let them know that the more economically a car is driven, the less AdBlue will be used. Vehicles using AdBlue are equipped with special dashboard warning lights, so it’s a case of making sure all your drivers know the risks of ignoring that message.
How to upgrade your fleet
AdBlue can be bought at dealerships or service stations, with some manufacturers providing AdBlue free of charge if supplied through one of their dealerships. You’ll also be able to buy it from Amazon.
As well providing a useful add-on for expanding your fleet in an environmentally conscious way, buying AdBlue, or investing in the cars that don’t need it, ensures that your fleet complies with the most recent environmental regulation too. A no-brainer.
Content on this page is paid for and provided by Kia Fleet sponsor of the Guardian Small Business Network Accessing Expertise hub.
