Bell E-series ADTs ready to run on HVO fuel

16 March, 2023

Smiths (Gloucester) recently worked on a contract that required a sustainable fuel solution for all plant and equipment and successfully ran two Bell B30Es on HVO fuel for the duration of the project

New articulated dumptrucks with Mercedes Benz engines fully compatible with hydrotreated vegetable oil

ALL new Bell Equipment E-series articulated dumptrucks (ADTs) fitted with the Mercedes Benz OM471LA, OM473LA, and OM934/6LA engines are fully compatible with hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) fuel, without needing dilution with diesel or impacting on engine service intervals.

According to Bell Equipment ADT product manager, Brad Castle, this includes the E-series small truck range available in the Northern Hemisphere, the complete E-series large ADT truck range, and its VersaTruck derivatives, including the latest water tankers.

HVO fuel is a paraffinic fuel made entirely of renewable waste materials and can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 90%. Bell say this marks a significant step forward in the company’s commitment to reducing the environmental impact of its machines and supporting the transition to a more sustainable future.

‘HVO fuel is completely biodegradable, non-toxic, and odourless, making it a safe and clean alternative to traditional fossil fuels,’ said Mr Castle. ‘By using HVO in our Bell ADTs, customers will reduce their own carbon footprint and contribute to the reduction of global emissions.’

One of the challenges with earlier types of biodiesel has been its compatibility with diesel engines. However, the current Bell E-series large trucks have been specifically designed and tested to run on HVO fuel without any negative impact on engine performance or service intervals. This means that Bell customers can switch to HVO fuel without any additional costs or downtime for their machines.

A case in point is UK construction company Smiths (Gloucester), who recently worked on a contract that required a sustainable fuel solution for all plant and equipment and successfully ran two Bell B30Es on HVO fuel for the duration of the project. The company’s plant manager, Rob Davis, said: ‘There was no detriment to the performance, and we’ve been able to successfully refill the machines with diesel for subsequent jobs.’

Mr Castle added: ‘We are proud to be at the forefront of the transition to HVO fuel and to offer our customers a sustainable and environmentally friendly fuel option for their ADTs. We’re extremely pleased and encouraged by the positive response from customers who have already made the switch and we are confident that more customers will switch to HVO fuel to reduce their carbon footprint and contribute to a more sustainable future.’