World's heavy-duty vehicle suppliers and Middle East motoring experts focus on green issues; US Energy Department boosts bio funding; new innovation in ethanols; Canadian transport cleans up and majors launch new products.
The focus on climate change was not just in Copenhagen at the end of 2009. The world's leading heavy-duty vehicle and engine manufacturers met in Brussels to discuss the future of the sector.
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Image: There was clear agreement amongst the delegates - including the likes of Caterpillar, Cummins, Hino, Mack, MAN, Scania and Volvo - that a global approach to fuel quality, emissions standards and renewable specifications was the best way forward.
The global approach, which would need to involve manufacturers and politicians alike, was deemed to be the best approach to fuel efficiency from the road freight sector. Conflicting regional regulations were highlighted as a particular barrier to technological progress. The meeting made a number of recommendations relating to certification, hybrid vehicles and fuel standards.
Sustainability was also top of the agenda in Dubai, where the Dubai International Motor Show brought together leading automotive experts to discuss the future of Middle East motoring. Once again, fuel efficiency was the hot topic along with other green initiatives such as eco-friendly engine oils and, like their heavy-duty colleagues in Brussels, calls were made to politicians to legislate for new technologies.
News from biotechnology research and product development seems to support the general expert opinions. The US Department of Energy announced a $564m funding boost to 19 projects aiming to turn biomass into power, chemicals and fuel. The projects range from major organisations to startups, including Amyris who announced a £200m investment in new facilities to produce sugar cane-based ethanol. The project, sited in Brazil brings Amyris together with local ethanol makers Cosan, Bunge and Acucar Guarani.
Also benefitting from funding is Elevance Renewable Sciences in Iowa who are planning a $15m plant to convert poultry fat into the jet fuel, lubricants and speciality chemicals. According to the company, the fat from 50 chickens can produce one gallon of fuel.
UND's Energy and Environmental Centre in the US announced a licencing deal with Washington-based Whole Energy Fuels to build a plant for the innovative manufacture of ethanol fuel additives. The product - using grass, twigs and other plantlife - apparently overcomes the usually high processing costs of fiber-based, cellulosic ethanols by creating an additive using only catalysts rather than the traditional heat or fermentation methods.
In Canada, lubricants recycling experts Safety-Kleen Canada have won a three year contract to recover and re-refine the Toronto Transit Commission's (TTC) used lubricants from its fleet. TTC have already been using Safety-Clean re-refined lubricants and the new contract, which will handle some 600,000 litres of used lubricants, means Safety-Clean will complete the entire lubricants recovery and supply process for the organisation's fleet.
Amongst the mainstream producers, ExxonMobil launched it Mobil SHC Pegasus range worldwide. The series is aimed at the natural gas engine market, with a claimed focus on fuel consumption, engine cleaning, extended drain intervals and component protection. Chevron completed tests on its Delo 400 LE SAE 15W-40 heavy-duty diesel engine oil and the product is now available for the 2010 market. ConocoPhillips added a high-performance synthetic, GT-1® Ultimate, to its Kendall Motor Oil range. And John Deere launched its Plus-50 II Premium Engine Oil. The oil replaces its Plus-50 product for high-speed four-stroke diesel engines in heavy-duty agricultural and off-road equipment.