Hydrogen, a water-based fuel substance, is known to be the future of green fuel. This is true because many automakers are utilising it and making it work within car engines. However, one of the world’s greatest and most technologically advanced countries, China, says otherwise. China says that hydrogen is not the future, and the nation proves this by introducing an engine we have never seen before.
In the Chinese market, Geely just introduced the methanol hybrid Emgrand. The fourth-generation B-segment Modular Architecture (BMA) Emgrand car from Geely serves as the foundation for the methanol hybrid. A non-hybrid Emgrand powered by methanol is also available from Geely. According to the firm, problems with extreme cold environment performance have been resolved with the next generation of methanol powertrains.
The groundbreaking E-Fuel: What sets it apart
Synthetic fuel, or e-fuel, is made by mixing hydrogen produced from renewable energy sources with trapped carbon dioxide. Geely’s e-fuel is unique because, unlike hydrogen or electric vehicles, it can run in conventional combustion engines without requiring major infrastructural changes. The hybrid is powered by a 1.8L naturally aspirated methanol engine that produces 97kW (130HP) and is also utilised in the non-hybrid version.
A 3-speed Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT) Pro connects the engine and powerful e-motor. It increases efficiency at low speeds by using only electric power to propel the vehicle, ensures smooth cruising by using the engine as a range extender with the e-motor powering the wheels, and provides bursts of power for high-speed overtakes with a gear ratio of up to 4920 Nm.
Geely has innovated by developing a gasoline that is carbon neutral while maintaining the functionality of current automobile systems. Because e-fuel reuses carbon emissions, it reduces environmental damage compared to battery-electric vehicles that rely on lithium and other rare earth elements. This is a game-changer for nations looking to switch to cleaner energy without having to pay for expensive infrastructure upgrades.
The environmental advantage and carbon neutrality
Methanol is one of the “green fuels” that are becoming more popular, and the Geely Group has been making significant investments in it since 2005. The company has adopted a comprehensive strategy in their usage of green methanol as fuel, taking into account every aspect of the methanol fuel ecosystem, from active use cases throughout China to production using renewable resources.
Geely’s involvement in the manufacturing of “green methanol” dates back to 2015, when they made an investment in Carbon Recycling International (CRI), a little-known Icelandic business. CRI, which is based just outside of Reykjavik, has been investigating ways to exploit the carbon dioxide that the island’s volcanic activity naturally produces in a useful way.
By extending the lifespan of millions of vehicles currently on the road, the fuel’s compatibility with internal combustion engines also helps to reduce waste from decommissioned automobiles. E-fuel offers a viable substitute for areas that find it difficult to implement electric or hydrogen-powered solutions because of logistical or financial limitations by utilising current infrastructure and automobiles.
An audacious move past electric and hydrogen cars
Although hydrogen has long been hailed as the fuel of the future, issues with safety, the high cost of production, and the requirement for specialised infrastructure have hindered its widespread use. Similar issues with battery disposal and raw material shortages affect electric vehicles (EVs). By fusing the dependability of conventional engines with the efficiency of renewable energy sources, Geely’s e-fuel avoids these problems.
It offers a flexible choice for both passenger and commercial vehicles, lowering reliance on particular energy sources and paving the way for broad international adoption. This audacious action upends accepted wisdom and establishes Geely as a pioneer in environmentally friendly transportation. The Emgrand M100 Hybrid can run on pure electric energy at low speeds and use both electric and methanol power when necessary for a combined 264 horsepower.
Source: eldiario24.com
