Scania, Lund, Chalmers and KTH Collaborating in Research on More Efficient, Lower-Emitting Heavy-Duty Engine Fueled by Biofuels
04 October 2010
Scania has been granted SEK 30 million (US$4.4 million) by Sweden’s Strategic Vehicle Research and Innovation Initiative (FFI) to develop a biofuel engine intended for heavy commercial vehicles. Scania will focus on developing an engine that can operate on both alcohol- and gaseous methane-based fuels that will combine the higher efficiency of diesel (compression ignition) technology with the exhaust aftertreatment systems of Otto (spark ignition) technology.
This research includes systems for premixed combustion, gas exchange systems, optimized valve performance, exhaust gas recirculation and the use of advanced catalyst technology for efficient exhaust aftertreatment.
Such an engine will be optimal in responding to the challenge of achieving low emissions of greenhouse gases, combined with reduced emissions of harmful nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and particulates.
—Jonas Hofstedt, Senior Vice President, Powertrain Development
In its project, Scania is working together with experts in combustion and emission technology at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm, Lund University and Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Scania has been granted FFI funding for the phase of the research project that involves the development of innovative technology for both alcohol- and methane gas-based fuels.
The project is part of a bilateral arrangement between Sweden and Brazil in which Scania has been engaged for some time in environmental collaboration with Vale Soluções em Energia S.A. (VSE) on the further development of ethanol- and gas-fuelled industrial engines.
The Strategic Vehicle Research and Innovation Initiative (FFI) is a partnership between the public sector (the Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems, VINNOVA; the Swedish Transport Administration; and the Swedish Energy Agency) and the vehicle industry (Scania, AB Volvo; Volvo Car Corporation; Saab; and FKG, a trade association representing Scandinavian suppliers to the automotive industry).
Its purpose is to jointly finance research, innovation and development activities, with a focus on the fields of climate and environment as well as on safety. Initially set to run from 2009-2012 with no definite ending year. FFI has R&D activities worth approx. SEK 1 billion per year (US$148 million), of which half is governmental funding.
"Such an engine will be optimal in responding to the challenge of achieving low emissions of greenhouse gases, combined with reduced emissions of harmful nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and particulates."
They still cannot grasp the REEL issue at hand. It is to change our use and sources of ENERGY. Not GHG. This is a good project that will utilize renewable energy resources - which is where the emphasis should be IF the project is to gain traction with business leaders.
How to make this PR effective? Tell it like it is. This is an engine optimized to run renewable fuels. It will help grow alternative energy JOBS, provide energy independence and reduce the need for foreign oil. Stay on message people.
Posted by: Reel$$ | 04 October 2010 at 11:16 AM
Reel$$
I don´t understand you comment. What is it in this article that you don't like?
Posted by: Peter_XX | 04 October 2010 at 02:01 PM
@Peter,
Reel$$ doesn't like the GHG words. He prefers the mention of job creation via the use of renewable fuels.
He does have a point: Job creation is of more immediate importance to most voters than the more abstract notion of GHG causing AGW, which tends to drag on for decades if not for centuries.
To each his/her own reason(s), but let's stay united and together we shall prosper!
Posted by: Roger Pham | 04 October 2010 at 10:17 PM
Biofuels can create more jobs than the oil industry, but they can also reduce imported oil and an uncertain energy future. People like to know that there is a good future that they can count on. When you are 70% dependent on foreign oil, that is not the case.
Posted by: SJC | 05 October 2010 at 09:30 AM
In my opinion, the "perfect" engine that really utilizes the properties of alcohol fuels is not yet on the market. MIT has proposed a direct-injection spark-ignited option that utilizes internal cooling to enhance "virtual octane" of the fuel, which has a very interesting potential. PPC is another alternative but there are more options. Maybe this project could bring some insight into the potential of the proposed concepts.
Eventually, there might be be better biofuel options than ethanol but that is a completely different story...
Posted by: Peter_XX | 05 October 2010 at 09:58 AM
Synthetic gasoline can be made from methanol, which can be made from natural gas and biomass. The 15% gasoline in M85 can be made from methanol. It costs only a few hundred dollars per car for the manufacturers to make each and every new car sold in the U.S. an FFV that is able to run on M85, E85, gasoline or any mixture of the three.
There are a lot of people that know a lot about energy and foreign policy that are urging rapid adoption of this idea. It is the one change that we can make right away that will have huge benefits. We will wonder why we did not do this decades ago. Once tens of millions of FFVs are on the road in a few years, the alternate fuels industry can take off. The market will just be too big to ignore.
Posted by: SJC | 05 October 2010 at 10:30 AM