ALTERNATIVE FUELS

• INTRODUCTION
• ALTERNATIVE FUELS
Biofuels (Biodiesel, Bioethanol, Biogas)
Natural Gas
Hybrid Electric Vehicles
• ADVANTAGES OF ALTERNATIVE FUELS
• SHOW CASES
 INTRODUCTION
● In the EU, transport is responsible
for an estimated 21% of all
greenhouse gas emissions.
● Fossil oil is the main energy source
with a 98% contribution to all
transport fuels.
● Drivers can greatly reduce these
impacts:
– choosing cleaner vehicles
– driving more efficiently
● In most cases these measures will
lead to:
– financial savings
– environmental benefits
More information
 WHAT ARE BIOFUELS?
Biofuels (Biodiesel, Bioethanol, Biogas )
● Biofuels: fuels from a variety of sources of biomass:
– plant materials
– certain types of crops
– recycled or waste vegetable oils
● Biodiesel/bioethanol:
– They can replace conventional diesel/petrol entirely respectively
– They can be blended with diesel/petrol in different proportions:
• Engines require no modification to use 5% blends
• For biodiesel, blends up to 20-30% are possible, but it invalidates many manufacturers’
warranties
• Bioethanol can be used as:
– E85 (85% ethanol, 15% petrol) in Flexible Fuel Vehicles
– Additive ETBE (ethyl-tertio-butyl-ether) up to 15%
● Sunfuel/Synfuel:
– Gas to liquid fuels: from gasified biomass or biogas via Fischer Tropsch Synthesis.
 WHY PROMOTE BIOFUELS?
● Transport biofuels have risen to prominence in recent years. The main
reasons for promoting biofuels are:
– To contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions;
– To contribute to the security of energy supply;
– To promote a greater use of renewable energy;
– To diversify agricultural economies into new markets.

To promote the used of biofuels, many member

states are relying on fuel tax exemptions.
 MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT BIOFUELS
SUGRE Clarifying Misconceptions

● What may FAME be made of in Europe?

– Animal fat 25%
Answers from www.greenfleet.info
25%
– Used cooking oil Animal fat

– Sunflower
Cook oil
Sunflower
Cotton

– Cotton 27% 23%

● The only wrong answer is Cotton.

● There are a wide variety of feedstocks that can be used to produce biodiesel.
Since the type of feedstock heavily influences the fuel characteristics,
differences in quality and emissions are common.
 BIOFUELS: BIODIESEL, BIOETHANOL
Internal Analysis

low price/tax exemptions

domestic resources
Strengths
low cost or adapting refuelling stations
blending options

limited offer of OEM vehicles

Weaknesses
scarcity of refuelling stations
 BIOFUELS: BIODIESEL, BIOETHANOL
External Analysis

global/local global warming concerns

Opportunities
long term increase of petroleum prices

availability of OEM products

Challenges stable regulatory and fiscal environment
broad public marketing
IS NATURAL GAS AN ALTERNATIVE FUEL?
Natural Gas
● Natural Gas as an alternative fuel: clean burning qualities of the product.
● It has to be stored in a compressed state (CNG) or in a liquefied state (LNG):
– Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)
– Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).
● Methane is the major part of Natural Gas.
Filling stations are expensive, but fuel
costs are low. For fleet owners with a
large share of “home based” vehicles it is
feasible to purchase an own filling point,
and for smaller fleets there might be
possibilities in joint purchase and joint use
of a filling point, or to use one from a
nearby fleet.
MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT NATURAL GAS
SUGRE Clarifying Misconceptions

● Is Natural Gas lighter than air at ambient conditions?

– Yes, always Answers from www.greenfleet.info

41% 31%
– Only in warm climates Yes

– No, never
In warm
No

● The right answer is yes. 28%

● This means that natural gas would not accumulate on the floor level in case of
leakage, which is important when we use natural gas vehicles in underground
zones.
 METHANE: NATURAL GAS, BIOGAS
Internal Analysis

low price/tax exceptions

low emissions
Strengths
domestic resources (in some countries)
may be blended into the CNG network

high cost of filling (refuelling) stations

limited offer of OEM vehicles (in some segments)
Weaknesses
scarcity of refuelling stations
higher initial cost of vehicles (partly)
 METHANE: NATURAL GAS, BIOGAS
External Analysis

global/local environmental concerns

Opportunities global/local global warming concerns (for biogas)
long term increase of petroleum prices

availability of OEM products

stable regulatory and fiscal environment
Challenges broad public marketing
technical development of competing diesel engines
(emissions)
 WHAT ARE HEVs?
Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV)
● Hybrid car: battery engine and internal combustion engine.
● Hybrids are sold at a premium compared to their non-hybrid equivalents
but can bring large fuel savings in start and stop operation (city traffic).
In most EU countries hybrids qualify for purchase grants and/or
reduced taxes.

Significant potential to reduce

emissions for start and stop traffic.
For high mileage users they can
make sense in economic terms.
Advantages in terms of access to
inner cities.
 MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT HEVs
SUGRE Clarifying Misconceptions

● Does a serial hybrid vehicle need a gearbox?

– Yes, always Answers from www.greenfleet.info
27%
42%
– No, optional
– With in wheel motors only
● The right answer is no. Yes, always
No, optional
31% In wheel motors

● Caused by the high torque of electric motors, hybrid electric vehicles are easy to
drive in urban environments and off-road.
 HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Internal Analysis

fuel savings in stop and go traffic

conversion path exists from existing ICE concepts
Strengths
(micro hybrids)
same refuelling infrastructure (except for plug in hybrids)

limited offer of OEM vehicles (in some segments)

Weaknesses
high initial cost of vehicles
 HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLES
External Analysis

global/local environmental concerns

Opportunities global/local global warming concerns
long term increase of petroleum prices

availability of OEM products (especially for city cars)

stable regulatory and fiscal environment
Challenges
(zero emission zones favour plug in hybrids)
technical development of ICE (efficiency)
 ADVANTAGES OF ALTERNATIVE FUELS

● More than 50 % of the

conventional fleet owners
will purchase alternative
propulsion vehicles.

● Measures regarding the following aspects are ranged by fleet operators

as very positive and important:
Socio-ecological aspects Financial and policy aspects
Company image
Competitive advantages
General advantages for the ecology
National legislation and policy
Curiosity towards new technology
Local legislation and policy
Support through local networks
 SHOW CASES
Alternative fuel use in the
Municipal Transport Company
(EMT) of Madrid (Spain)
– Use of biofuel
• 209 vehicles use biodiesel obtained
from rapeseed and sunflower and 5
use bioethanol
– Use of Compressed Natural Gas www.emtmadrid.es
(CNG)
• 202 CNG vehicles and 62 refuelling
posts
– Hybrid systems (diesel – electric)
• 20 buses
– Use of Fuel cells
• H2 Refuelling station able to fill the
tank of the bus in 15 minutes and
350 bar pressure
More information
 HOW SUGRE MIGHT HELP YOU?
● Offering Site Visits Twice a Year with Workshop
– www.greenfleet.info
● Holding Training Workshops
– in certain cities, presenting strengths, weaknesses
and opportunities for alternative fuels and alternative
propulsion
– going beyond biodiesel including PPO/SVO pure
plant oil, E95 ethanol in diesel electric, hybrid electric,
battery electric..
● Training Materials Download
– at www.greenfleet.info