Ways out of the fossil fuel era

Alternative drives

CO₂-neutral by 2050: The TRATON GROUP will primarily use battery-powered drive systems to reach this goal. However, these systems are not the only way under discussion to make commercial vehicles more climate-friendly than their diesel-powered cousins. Here are five examples.

Hydrogen

Biofuels

E-Fuels

E-Highway

Most trucks and buses run on diesel fuel. As a result, the transport sector ranks among the world’s largest producers of CO₂ emissions. These emissions must be reduced if we intend to win the battle against climate change. To do its part, the TRATON GROUP will primarily rely on battery-powered drive systems.

The process is ready for use today and will ultimately become the technology of choice for most applications in the transport sector, thanks to its high level of energy-cost efficiency once the right infrastructure is put into place. A comparison of total cost of ownership underscores the superiority of this technology for the clear majority of applications (more information about the strengths of battery-powered drive systems).

Nonetheless, no discussion would be complete without investigating other potential technologies, including fuel cells and biodiesel. We will now introduce some other alternatives to fossil-burning combustion engines and examine the strengths and weaknesses of each.

Hydrogen fuel cells

Use:

Comparable to battery-powered drive systems but based on chemical and not electric energy. In addition to producing water, the recombination of hydrogen with oxygen in the cell generates electricity that drives an electric motor.
Production:

Through electrolysis of water using renewable electricity (green), by steam reforming from fossil fuels (gray), and several other processes
Climate footprint:

Green hydrogen is CO₂-neutral and locally emission-free

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It’s all about the color: Hydrogen is green when it is produced through electrolysis of water using renewable electricity from solar, wind, or hydropower. Green hydrogen is CO₂-neutral.

The hydrogen that has been most frequently used around the world is gray. It is produced by steam reforming from fossil fuels like natural gas. A significant amount of CO₂ is produced in the process.

Gray hydrogen with subsequent CO₂ capture is referred to as blue hydrogen. Under ideal circumstances, this variety is low emission.

A wide range of other colors is also used to characterize the origin or the production process of hydrogen. Each one has its own impact on the environment.
Efficiency:

Roughly 25% today, the remainder is lost in the chain of hydrogen production, storage & transport, and regenerative power generation

Hydrogen combustion engines

Use:

Combustion in a modified diesel engine
Production:

Through electrolysis of water using renewable electricity (green), by steam reforming from fossil fuels (gray), and several other processes
Climate footprint:

With green hydrogen CO₂-neutral ➝ not locally emission-free but low emission, depending on the variety

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It’s all about the color: Hydrogen is green when it is produced through electrolysis of water using renewable electricity from solar, wind, or hydropower. Green hydrogen is CO₂-neutral.

The hydrogen that has been most frequently used around the world is gray. It is produced by steam reforming from fossil fuels like natural gas. A significant amount of CO₂ is produced in the process.

Gray hydrogen with subsequent CO₂ capture is referred to as blue hydrogen. Under ideal circumstances, this variety is low emission.

A wide range of other colors is also used to characterize the origin or the production process of hydrogen. Each one has its own impact on the environment.
Efficiency:

Efficiency is currently less than diesel

Biofuels This category includes HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil), biodiesel (methyl ester of fatty acid), bioethanol, biomethane, and biogas.

Use:

In existing conventional engines (also as an additive)
Production:

From organic, primarily vegetable materials. Biomethane and biogas from agricultural waste, effluent sludge or organic waste. Fields used to grow food for human consumption are also used to produce older variants of HVO, biodiesel, and bioethanol, a decision that has triggered passionate public debate.
Climate footprint:

CO₂-neutral: Only the CO₂ that was previously bound in the organic material is released ➝ not locally emission-free
Efficiency:

Efficiency approaching diesel, HVO nearly equal

E-Fuels

Use:

In existing conventional diesel engines (also as an additive)
Production:

From hydrogen and carbon (power-to-liquid)
Climate footprint:

Green hydrogen releases only the previously used CO₂. Not locally emission-free

i

It’s all about the color: Hydrogen is green when it is produced through electrolysis of water using renewable electricity from solar, wind, or hydropower. Green hydrogen is CO₂-neutral.

The hydrogen that has been most frequently used around the world is gray. It is produced by steam reforming from fossil fuels like natural gas. A significant amount of CO₂ is produced in the process.

Gray hydrogen with subsequent CO₂ capture is referred to as blue hydrogen. Under ideal circumstances, this variety is low emission.

A wide range of other colors is also used to characterize the origin or the production process of hydrogen. Each one has its own impact on the environment.
Efficiency:

Today < 15%, the rest is lost through conversions

E-Highway

Use:

An overhead power grid supplies energy to the battery-powered drive system during the trip.
Provision:

Stringing power lines along major long-distance highways, a broad network whereof is necessary for significant uptake of pantographs (current collectors) on trucks
Climate footprint:

Depending on the source of the electricity, potentially
CO₂-neutral
Efficiency:

Up to 80% efficiency of the electric drive, comparable to battery-powered drive systems based on charging infrastructure

Efficiency

Every conversion of energy into another form results in conversion losses. For instance, a diesel engine loses more than half of the energy contained in the fuel as waste heat. Its efficiency is less than 50%.

By comparison: State-of-the-art electric motors in vehicles have more than 90% efficiency. The entire power system can reach up to 80% efficiency.