Government Europa discusses the measures being taken to reduce GHGs from pollutant transport and the potential for alternative fuel conversion technologies.
The European Commission reports that 75% of transport’s greenhouse emissions are from road transport. The climate and energy package for Europe outlines targets for 2020 regarding energy efficiency and the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Developed under the European Economic Recovery Plan, the Green Vehicles Initiative aims to support the development of innovative and sustainable forms of road transport for Europe, including through the use of alternative fuel conversion technologies.
In this respect, the commission is backing three alternative fuels and propulsion technologies – biofuels, liquids and gases, hydrogen and fuel cells, and battery electric and hybrid electric vehicles – in the run up to 2020. Government Europa discusses the measures being taken to reduce GHGs from pollutant transport, such as freight and public transport, and the potential for alternative fuel conversion technologies.
The Green Vehicles initiative
Emitting a range of pollutants – from nitrogen oxides (NOx) to particulate matter (PM) – road transportation poses a significant threat both to human health and the environment. As a result, the EU has established limit values delineating the maximum amount of air pollution to which citizens should be exposed.
However, the proliferation of passenger cars and vans circulating in urban areas means that many cities register values well above these safe limits. Under the Work Programme 2018-2020, the Green Vehicles call focuses on research and innovation for road transport and aims to address this through two key strategies. These are:
- Improvements in energy efficiency; and
- The utilisation of innovative non-conventional energies, such as electricity, compressed natural gas (CNG), liquified natural gas (LNG), renewable and tailored fuels).
As a result, the research and innovation priorities listed under this call includes:
- Advanced power-train technologies;
- New vehicle architecture; and
- Interfaces between vehicle and recharging infrastructure.
Electrification of public transport
Founded in Munich, Germany, FlixBus aims to make sustainable bus travel comfortable and affordable. In April, the company’s first electric bus will enter into operation, on routes between Paris and Amiens, France. Moreover, a second vehicle will be used for a route between Hessen and Baden-Württemburg, Germany.
Founder and CEO of FlixBus, André Schwämmlein, told Transport Engineer: “Although e-buses are currently much more expensive to buy, we are convinced that this will be worthwhile investment in the long run, for our company, our customers and the environment. As a provider, we are demonstrating that this is a potential turning point in mobility.
“FlixBus is proud to be a pioneer in helping to propel this change and reliance on transportation with fossil fuels by providing some of the most climate friendly mobility options in Europe,” Schwämmlein added.
Alternative fuel conversion technologies
In November 2017, the European Commission proposed the allocation of €800m in funds from the EU budget to finance projects which will improve infrastructure, including increasing the number of charging points for cars utilising the power of alternative fuels, such as electricity.
Commission Vice-President for the Energy Union, Maroš Šefčovič, spoke to journalists about alternative fuel conversion technologies in Brussels ahead of the announcement: “If we talk about electric cars, we need by 2020 somewhere around 800,000 charging points. So far we have 200,000 charging points. We clearly need to accelerate the roll-out of alternative infrastructure.”
Throughout the first six months of 2017, only 1.2% of the cars sold in the EU ran on electric power, whilst the vast majority of cars were fuelled by petrol or diesel.
A case study of alternative fuel conversion technologies
Italy reports that 880,000 vehicles are powered by natural gases, which accounts for around 80% of the total car fleet running on gas in Europe, according to data from ENI. The process of retrofitting cars – converting them to use natural gas – has been an active endeavour in Italy since the 1970s. In the 1990s, popular passenger vehicles became available on the market in a version which facilitates compressed natural gas fuelling.
The endeavour of retrofitting vehicles in Italy has been supported by:
- Reduced tax on natural gas as a fuel; and
- Subsidiary programmes from the government, running from 2008 to 2010.
Since 2008, the number of natural gas-powered vehicles has increased by 68%, whilst the number of CNG stations has nearly doubled. Throughout Italy, there are around 1,060 stations which facilitate refuelling of natural gases, with 1,010 of these accessible to the public.
Changing the fuel of choice for fleets
This year, UK-based same day delivery service CitySprint launched the trial of its hydrogen-powered van in London, whilst also doubling the fleet of cargo bikes. By 2020, CitySprint aim to have a fleet which produces no emissions, relying on hydrogen power and alternative fuel conversion technologies.
The CitySprint van was developed with French-based automobile manufacturer Renault. As a result, client Mitie will operate the vehicle in the city until June. Following the trial, CitySprint will compare the van’s performance to other green vehicles within its fleet.
The hydrogen-fuelled van offers a range of 200 miles and runs on electricity generated by the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen within the vehicle. Subsequently, the only product of the chemical reaction is water.
CitySprint has a fleet of 22 cargo bikes, of which can carry the same load as a small van – around 50kg. The carrier claims that each bicycle can save four tonnes of GHG emissions each year, as well as completing delivery routes in the city 50% faster than small vans.
As reported in Freight in the City, CEO of CitySprint, Patrick Gallagher, said: “Since the launch of our green fleet this August, we’ve already cut back on our CO2 emissions by as much as ten tonnes. The trial of a hydrogen van is on a long list of environmentally friendly vehicles we have tested over the years.
“We hope that along with our growing cargo bike fleet, this can prove to be a sustainable option and continue our commitment to reducing air pollution across the UK cities we operate in.”
