What’s the Difference between Renewable Diesel and Petroleum Diesel?

For decades, petroleum diesel has been the standard fuel for trucks, heavy equipment, and commercial fleets. As environmental regulations tighten and businesses aim for more sustainable operations, Renewable Diesel has emerged as a superior alternative that doesn’t compromise performance.

Unlike traditional diesel, which is refined from crude oil, renewable diesel is made from waste oils, fats, and other renewable feedstocks. Through a process called hydrotreatment, it’s refined into a clean-burning fuel that is chemically identical to petroleum diesel, so it can be used in existing diesel engines and infrastructure with no modifications.

But renewable diesel doesn’t just match but also outperforms petroleum diesel:

• Higher cetane rating (typically 70-90) leads to smoother engine starts, quieter operation, and improved fuel efficiency.
• It burns cleaner, significantly reducing particulate matter, NOx emissions, and engine deposits. This translates to lower maintenance costs and longer service intervals.
• Renewable diesel offers superior cold-weather performance compared to traditional biodiesel blends, eliminating concerns about fuel gelling in low temperatures.
• Most importantly, several sources cite that renewable diesel delivers up to 80% reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions, helping your business meet sustainability targets without sacrificing reliability or power.

As more fleets make the switch, those who adopt early are gaining a competitive edge, lower operating costs and cleaner fleets.

At Energie Fuel, we’re making renewable diesel accessible for fleets of all sizes. Several sites throughout the Commercial Fueling Network (CFN) provides access to renewable diesel at wholesale prices that are exclusive to businesses like yours.

Contact us today to learn how we can help your business transition to Renewable Diesel and start reaping the benefits of cleaner, high-performance fuel.