“One of our core tasks is the engineering of sustainable mobility that is also viable for the future. By promoting fuels made from jatropha, we are making yet another contribution. At the same time, by supporting village communities we are also creating economic prospects for socially weak regions of this earth”, Herbert Kohler, VP of E-Drive & Future Mobility and Chief Environmental Officer of Daimler said.
If you’re wondering why Daimler didn’t start growing something else, than you should know jatropha has been selected after in 2007 Daimler found it is suitable for the production of high-quality biodiesel.
The carmaker already tested the product with modern common rail diesel engines from Mercedes-Benz and found it has similar properties to fuels from other oilseeds and also has a positive CO2 balance and offers an ecological advantage over fossil diesel fuels.
“Daimler is ensuring financial support to the farmers in the communities over a period of five years by providing surety for small loans. With these funds, the farmers can buy jatropha seedlings and fulfill their tasks till the first harvest after four years. The income from the sale of the seeds, which Daimler ensures through a purchase guarantee, enables the loans to be paid back from the fifth year onwards,” the carmaker concluded.
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