Fuels Technologies for Low-Emission Mobility

Authors

Dr. P. Sauermann, BP Europa SE, Bochum; I. Sharp, BP Europe SE, Sunbury

Year

2018

Print Info

Fortschritt-Berichte VDI, Series 12, No 807

Summary

Increasing prosperity and the desire for individual mobility will result in a doubling of the current global passenger car fleet to approximately 1.8 billion vehicles by 2035. The rising demand for goods and air travel mean that heavy duty, shipping and aviation also show significant growth during the same period. Technological improvements will further increase engine efficiency, but even so overall global fuel demand is expected to rise.
The Paris Agreement of the UN Climate Change Conference 2015 agreed to the aim of limiting anthropogenic global warming to well below 2°C, with the EU committing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80-95% by 2050 compared to 1990 levels. This tough target, combined with the current discussion on regional and local measures to improve air quality, especially in city centres, present major challenges for the energy and automotive industries.
Although electrification of the car fleet maybe one possible answer to this challenge, it is indisputable that the internal combustion engine still has considerable potential to make a major contribution to cleaner mobility for several decades. Therefore, it is necessary to develop ways to reduce fossil CO₂ with alternative raw materials, new combustion processes and manufacturing pathways.
Targeted research and development of new fuels, internal combustion engines, electric vehicle and hybrid technologies are required to reduce CO₂ emissions and improve air quality in a meaningful, cost-effective and user-friendly way.
BP recognises and faces the challenges of providing low carbon and green mobility.