Countries worldwide are pledging support to combat climate change. One of the most important industries is automobile manufacturing. To meet the goals of governments and stakeholders in the automotive industry, the latter is bent on reducing carbon emissions through technological innovation. Volkswagen, Volvo, and Daimler have set goals for carbon neutrality by 2050. Volkswagen has invested millions of dollars in electric vehicle (EV) technology. At the same time, it along with other automotive manufacturers continue to produce fossil-fuel-burning vehicles. It’s a conundrum. To stay in business the industry has to be in both camps or face bankruptcy.
In the standard internal combustion engine (ICE), exhaust gasses make up almost 80% of life-cycle emissions. Hence, electrification represents a primary way for the industry to reduce its carbon footprint. Porsche has committed to electrifying over half of its fleet by next year. But this is easier said than done. The industry faces several challenges in moving its fleet from ICE to electric-powered vehicles. Despite investing money in EVs and a charging infrastructure that can eventually be as abundant as the gas and diesel stations we see today, the automotive industry is still far from lowering emissions to make a meaningful impact on climate change. The transition is huge requiring a new mindset for manufacturers.
Green hydrogen is a fuel that produces power by converting the chemical energy of hydrogen gas into mechanical energy. As a manufacturing strategy, building automobiles and trucks that run on green hydrogen has advantages over gasoline and diesel. Green hydrogen fuel stations aren’t that different from the ones we see today that pump gas and diesel. Pull up to a pump and in a few minutes you are full and ready to go. EVs as yet cannot duplicate the turnaround efficiency but hydrogen-powered vehicle infrastructure can.
The larger challenge for hydrogen is sourcing it from green suppliers. Electrolyzers are used to harvest green hydrogen by splitting water into its component atoms. For the hydrogen to be green it has to either come from natural-occurring sources which are rare or from producing it using renewable energy generated by hydro, solar, onshore, and offshore wind turbines. Building an electrolyzer infrastructure would be key to creating hydrogen-powered vehicles for long-distance travel with quick refuelling turnarounds. The trucking industry is likely the best candidate for the use of this fuel and technology.
About 99% of global transportation today runs on ICE with 95% of the energy coming from liquid fuels made from petroleum. Experts at Yanmar Replacements Parts, a diesel engine aftermarket supplier, state that, “while hydrogen-powered and electric vehicles will be on the rise, ICEs will continue to remain the norm and will be for the foreseeable future.” That’s why companies are reluctant to abandon ICE to make the technology more compatible to lower carbon emissions. By choosing different materials during manufacturing, automotive companies believe that production emissions can be abated by 66%.
EVs run on batteries, electric motors, and electronics. They require far fewer parts than ICE vehicles which depend heavily on thousands of mechanical parts. This is leading to a revolution in vehicle design using better aerodynamics and lighter materials to improve vehicle efficiency and range. The industry today is using highly sophisticated materials and software since very few mechanical parts are needed. This is making it easier to construct and maintain the EV models being produced. This means suppliers and manufacturers are benefiting from reduced carbon footprints while saving money.
Supply chains are getting disrupted as the industry converts from ICE to EVs and green-fuel alternative transportation. This started in 2023 and persists to the present day. The shift to EVs is changing what goes into a vehicle. There is an increased demand for components like batteries and semiconductors. Fewer mechanical parts mean production lines can be streamlined and automated. Manufacturers, as a result, are relying less on their traditional suppliers and finding new ones. There is less need for assembly line production workers and a constant need to retrain them as EVs rapidly evolve. This is percolating into the supply chain where redesign and retraining are further disrupters.
One key trend in the automotive industry is the adding of mandatory and optional safety features, the former required by governments, and the latter representing the state of the art in advanced driver assistance systems. These features are software-driven and include lane departure warning, autonomous emergency braking, and driver monitoring. In addition, new standards involve comprehensive testing procedures to increase safety performance.
Current EVs, hybrid and ICE vehicles today come with advanced sensors, cameras, radar, and lidar. EVs detect cyclists and nearby pedestrians to alert drivers. They come with data recorders that gather information on vehicle performance and can prove useful in the case of an accident.
One thing is certain, the vehicle you drive off a showroom lot today bears little resemblance to ones from a decade ago. The industry transitions don’t just deal with what fuel is powering the car or truck. The transitions are about combatting climate change through lower carbon emissions which means moving away from burning diesel and gasoline.
The benefits for automobile manufacturers in transitioning from ICE to EVs, hybrids and hydrogen are not limited to being in step with the rest of the global economy in its efforts to achieve a low-carbon future but also include significant cost-benefit reductions as the industry retools.
It may still take a few years for the world to see EV and alternative greener technologies surpass ICE sales, but the commitment from governments and the steps automakers are making will help bring about a huge change.
]]>This is Suleman’s first contribution to the Techso Mogro. He has taken on an interesting subject, the current usage of diesel fuel for transportation, diesel alternatives, and their continuing relevance for the future as climate change compels the global economy to decarbonize.
Diesel engines have long been the backbone of transportation, industrial machinery, and power generation. While their reliability and efficiency are unmatched, their environmental impact poses significant challenges in an increasingly carbon-conscious world. The path to decarbonizing diesel involves a multi-faceted approach combining innovative fuel alternatives, enhanced engine technologies, and strategic policy implementations.
Rudolf Diesel invented traditional diesel engines in 1893. Since then the technology has come a long way from initial designs. Modern diesel engines are significantly cleaner and more efficient than their predecessors, but the fundamental challenge remains their carbon footprint. The transportation sector contributes approximately 24% of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. A significant portion comes from diesel-powered vehicles.
One of the most promising pathways to decarbonization is renewable diesel, also known as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO). Unlike conventional biodiesel, renewable diesel is chemically identical to petroleum-based diesel, making it a true “drop-in” replacement requiring no engine modifications.
Produced through hydro-processing of vegetable oils, animal fats, or waste cooking oil, renewable diesel can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by as much as 80% when compared to conventional diesel.
Renewable diesel advantages extend beyond environmental benefits. These include:
Engine manufacturers are developing innovative technologies to reduce emissions and improve efficiency:
According to IPD Pars, a distributor of Cummins parts for diesel engines, “Modern diesel engines employ sophisticated electronic control units (ECUs) that optimize fuel injection timing, pressure, and quantity in real-time. These systems can reduce both emissions and fuel consumption by ensuring optimal combustion conditions under varying loads and operating conditions.”
Advanced waste heat recovery systems can capture and utilize thermal energy that would otherwise be lost through exhaust gasses. These systems can improve overall engine efficiency by 4-5%, significantly reducing fuel consumption and emissions.
The integration of electric hybrid systems with diesel engines offers substantial benefits for specific applications. In urban delivery vehicles, for example, hybrid systems recover energy during braking and provide electric-only operation when in low-speed zones. This reduces diesel consumption, emissions and noise pollution.
Beyond renewable diesel, several alternative fuel technologies show promise. These include:
The successful decarbonization of diesel depends heavily on supportive policy frameworks and infrastructure development such as:
Several challenges must be addressed to achieve widespread diesel decarbonization. These include:
The decarbonization of diesel engines will be a crucial step forward to help achieve global climate goals. The combination of renewable fuels, advanced engine technologies, and supportive policies should lead us there. The challenges described above are not insurmountable and the benefits of pursuing this transition extend well beyond environmental considerations to include improved air quality and energy security.
Low-carbon diesel appears to be increasingly achievable through the diverse mix of solutions mentioned above. The key to success is maintaining the momentum in technology development while ensuring solutions are practical, economically viable, and truly sustainable to meet the global low-carbon transition.
The diesel of the future will not be your grandfather and father’s diesel.
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