Comparing e-Fuels and Electrification for Decarbonization of Heavy-Duty Transports

Abstract

The freight sector is expected to keep, or even increase, its fundamental role for the major modern economies, and therefore actions to limit the growing pressure on the environment are urgent. The use of electricity is a major option for the decarbonization of transports; in the heavy-duty segment, it can be implemented in different ways: besides full electric-battery powertrains, electricity can be used to supply catenary roads, or can be chemically stored in liquid or gaseous fuels (e-fuels). While the current EU legislation adopts a tailpipe Tank-To-Wheels approach, which results in zero emissions for all direct uses of electricity, a Well-To-Wheels (WTW) method would allow accounting for the potential benefits of using sustainable fuels such as e-fuels. In this article, we have performed a WTW-based comparison and modelling of the options for using electricity to supply heavy-duty vehicles: e-fuels, eLNG, eDiesel, and liquid Hydrogen. Results showed that the direct use of electricity can provide high Greenhouse Gas (GHG) savings, and also in the case of the e-fuels when low-carbon-intensity electricity is used for their production. While most studies exclusively focus on absolute GHG savings potential, considerations of the need for new infrastructures, and the technological maturity of some options, are fundamental to compare the different technologies. In this paper, an assessment of such technological and non-technological barriers has been conducted, in order to compare alternative pathways for the heavy-duty sector. Among the available options, the flexibility of using drop-in, energy-dense liquid fuels represents a clear and substantial immediate advantage for decarbonization. Additionally, the novel approach adopted in this paper allows us to quantify the potential benefits of using e-fuels as chemical storage able to accumulate electricity from the production peaks of variable renewable energies, which would otherwise be wasted due to grid limitations.

Investigation of the cooperative-effects of Lewis- and Brønstedt acids in homogeneously catalyzed OME fuel synthesis by inline-NMR monitoring

“…where n X is the relative number of molecules, p X the respective proton count, X X the molar ratio, r M the density of the reaction mixture and M X,i is the molecular mass of the ith species. OME 2+ was calculated based following eqn (7) with the signal areas of OME 2+ and OME 3+…”

“…In particular in the transportation sector, e.g. , for aviation, 5 maritime transport 6 and heavy duty vehicles, 7 direct electrification remains challenging. In these fields, synthetic, carbon neutral fuels deliver a possible solution.…”

Reuse of Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) Batteries from a Life Cycle Assessment Perspective: The Second-Life Case Study

“…The biofuels on which Italy has focused were rejected by the European Commission (EU) (based on a rather ideological approach), as according to the body, they will always have a very large carbon footprint (CF). Although e-fuels are a promising solution for all modes of transport, as they are chemically the same as fossil hydrocarbons [8], and thus without significant investment in either new refueling infrastructures or cars, to date, they are not yet available in roadside petrol stations, and their production is not yet feasible, as they are still very expensive and very energy-intensive [6]. Although it is reasonable to assume that by 2035, the production of e-fuels is unlikely to become simultaneously economical, sustainable, and scalable, car manufacturers are developing business plans well in advance, and most of them have already announced that the combustion engine will be abandoned well before 2035, not least because it would be inconvenient for them to invest in two technologies (electric cars and e-fuels) at the same time, concentrating mostly on the already proven electrification.…”

Reliability Assessment of Integrated Power and Road System for Decarbonizing Heavy-Duty Vehicles

“…Although roll-out of electric trucks (ETs) is a potential solution for heavy-duty vehicles, there are still several limiting factors to be addressed [8]. Different from passenger vehicles, the heavy-load and long-distance features imply that ETs will not only need significantly large battery capacity, but will also demand higher-power charging devices, which will lead to a significant increase in capital and operational costs [9,10]. To address this bottleneck, an electric road system (ERS) that supplies dynamic charging power is considered to be a promising solution for future road decarbonization [11].…”