Biofuels- paving the way for low carbon future in mobility
In our exploration of propulsion alternatives, biofuels emerge as vital for emission reduction amid the global shift towards sustainable mobility. While EVs gain traction, biofuels like ethanol serve as interim solutions, reducing emissions for existing vehicles. Ethanol, central to India’s biofuel initiative, holds prominence. With a focus on ethanol’s role, this article underscores its significance amidst the evolving landscape of transportation technologies.
As part of our series, ‘The Alternatives in Propulsion Technology’, wherein we delve deeper into the spectrum of alternatives, namely Hydrogen-ICE, FCEV, CNG, Ethanol-Methanol, Hybrid systems, and BEVs, this article will focus on biofuels, one of the more easily accessible pathway for emission reduction and understand how they can play a key role in the country’s sustainable mobility transition.
Globally there has been an increasing focus on low or zero emission powertrains, driven by climate concerns. This has brought into focus technologies such as electric, hybrid and hydrogen. Electric vehicles in particular have been gaining increasing attention with the penetration in new sales expected to be ~18% for 2023. While this transition will be crucial in reducing emissions, even by 2030, a large part of the global vehicle parc, especially in the developing world, will continue to be dependent on fossil fuels.
Biofuels in the sustainable mobility spectrum
Further, while the transition to zero emission technologies takes place, there will be a need for interim solutions. Biofuels can play a crucial role in solving both these challenges, reducing emissions for the existing vehicle parc, while also providing an interim solution as the transition to zero emission vehicles takes place. Among liquid biofuels, ethanol is the most widely used for blending with petrol, while biodiesel and bio methanol are produced globally at a y lower scale. Given its key role in the Indian biofuel program, ethanol will be the focus of this article.
