Toyota Motor Europe, BMW Group, Bosch, and Repsol have kicked off a six-month pilot in Spain to test whether standard petrol vehicles can run entirely on 100% renewable gasoline. Because who doesn't love a good old-fashioned field trip for their cars?

The program uses a fleet of about twenty vehicles, including Toyota and Lexus passenger cars supplied by Toyota España, plus some BMWs, all fueled with Repsol's Nexa 95 renewable gasoline. Bosch has supplied a digital fuel-tracking system called a "Digital Fuel Twin," which sounds like something from a sci-fi movie but is actually just a way to verify that the renewable fuel is being used by collecting and cross-checking refueling records from vehicle systems, filling stations, and fuel card transactions.

Spain was chosen for the pilot because it has renewable fuel availability, the partners were willing to play along, and Toyota España provided operational support. Pascal Ruch, Toyota Motor Europe's corporate & governmental affairs vice president, said: "We believe renewable fuels can play a key role alongside electrification in reducing CO₂ emissions. As the transition progresses, it is becoming clear that there is a growing risk that 100% zero-emission vehicles by 2035 may not be fully achieved." In other words, they're hedging their bets.

The pilot aims to demonstrate how renewable fuels can contribute to decarbonisation today, for both new and existing vehicles. Nexa 95 is produced from feedstuffs compliant with the Renewable Energy Directive and reduces greenhouse gas emissions substantially compared with conventional fossil fuel. It also works with existing engines and fuelling infrastructure without modification, which is convenient.

The companies said the project is based entirely on vehicles and infrastructure already in use, with no new automotive technology or infrastructure investment required. As EU policy has largely focused on electrification, the pilot is intended to generate evidence for wider discussions about technology neutrality in reducing emissions from the automotive sector. Interim data and findings will be shared with EU policymakers, industry participants, and media organisations, contributing to the broader discussion about whether VEEF vehicles (Vehicles running Exclusively on Eligible Fuels) might be recognised within regulatory frameworks.

Stefan Heller, BMW Group VEEF programme development head, added: "Our BMW and MINI vehicles as a part of this future oriented pilot, will help to gain valuable data helping us to offer our global customer the best and most efficient powertrain also in the future." Because if there's one thing BMW loves, it's a future-oriented pilot.