Focus on Alternative Fuels

The principal task of R&D activities on alternative fuels for vehicle manufacturers is to reduce dependency on fossil fuels by transferring to the use of primary energy sources that are renewable,  secure, sufficiently abundant and more environmentally compatible. In the shortmedium term this means developing and providing more energy efficient vehicles which use fuels of lower fossil carbon content. In the medium-long term, clean fuels derived from renewable primary

energy sources are required which will

Challenges of the future and the path to sustainable mobility.

need the development of the respective powertrain propulsion systems. In this context, potential alternative fuels include the broad range of liquid and gaseous biofuels, as well as hydrogen and electricity from renewable sources to power electric and plug-in-hybrid vehicles.

Scenarios for alternative fuels and strategies for their market introduction

Reliable and up-to-date facts and figures are required to enable market introduction scenarios for alternative fuels to be assessed and a common strategy to be defined. The focus should be on the development of CO2-neutral fuels from renewable energy sources, together with the vehicle technologies required for their efficient use. Besides renewable fuels, also the refining of conventional fuels requires further investigation with regard to resolving the today’s imbalance of gasoline and diesel fuel demand in Europe.

The electrification of vehicles will also play a key role in the medium- to long-term, as is described subsequently. Different scenarios considering various alternative fuels need to be evaluated with respect to electricity, recognising that energy in the form of electricity from renewable sources may be produced more directly than biofuels. Investigations on vehicle technologies and on smart operating models for the renewable electricity infrastructure will help catalyse the development and implementation of new solutions for road transport. In the long-term perspective, a further increase in renewable electricity production will also open up the potential for the new hydrogen infrastructure required by fuel cells vehicles.

Preparation of specifications of alternative fuels

Quality standards and specifications concerning the                               development of alternative fuels need to be defined including: The impact of alternative fuels on engine performance: degradation potentials concerning the fuels E10, B7+ Hydro treated vegetable oil / Biomass to liquid (HVO/BTL), The effect of alternative fuels on exhaust composition and the impact on future emission regulations.

Research on the ideal composition of alternative fuels

Optimisation of powertrains for alternative fuels

One specific focus of this research area is the combustion behaviour of alternative fuels including the characterisation of the fuels themselves and evaluation of the scope for optimising the powertrains and fuels in combination. For future gasoline engines, the potential for using alcohol blends, natural gas and biomethane, as well as hydrogen and its blends with natural gas, will be the focus of further investigations with respect to:

• Efficiency improvement,

• Adaptation of future downsized, turbocharged direct injection (DI) engines and powertrain components with high octane blends,

• Material compatibility.

For the optimisation of future diesel engines, R&D activities should focus on renewable diesel fuels including biodiesel, Hydro treated vegetable oil (HVO), Dimethylether (DME), as well as on the potential to run diesel engines using gasoline type fuels such as E95 (95 % ethanol). In addition highly important research is required to investigate in parallel the technologies for passenger car and heavy duty diesel engines considering:

• Analysis of further potential for efficiency increase by simultaneous emission reduction,

• Increased robustness of the after treatment on fuel properties,

• Material compatibility.

Standardised tools for combustion modelling of blends are essential to improve understanding and determine cost effectiveness.

Integrated safety of alternatively-powered vehicles

The rapidly increasing interest in alternative propulsion systems for vehicles urgently requires in depth studies concerning specific risks that arise with the operation and maintenance of electric or hybrid vehicles. Tests and simulations of components (e.g. batteries, tanks) as well as the analysis of the full vehicle crash behaviour must be carried out in order to improve safety-standards for vehicles with alternative propulsion systems, e.g. for the safe integration of e-drive components (packaging, cooling solutions, shutdown strategies for power electronics, etc.) and for the appropriate safety tests required.

Regarding the post-crash phase, general recommendations for rescue and emergency medical services are needed, including standards for handling e-drive vehicles following an accident.