1. ALTERNATIVE FUELS INTRODUCTION ALTERNATIVE FUELS
Biofuels (Biodiesel, Bioethanol, Biogas)
Natural Gas
Hybrid Electric Vehicles
ADVANTAGES OF ALTERNATIVE FUELS
SHOW CASES

2. INTRODUCTION
In the EU, transport is responsible for an estimated 21% of all greenhouse gas emissions.
Fossil oil is the main energy source with a 98% contribution to all transport fuels.
Drivers can greatly reduce these impacts:
choosing cleaner vehicles
driving more efficiently
In most cases these measures will lead to:
financial savings
environmental benefits
More information

3. WHAT ARE BIOFUELS? Biofuels (Biodiesel, Bioethanol, Biogas )
Biofuels: fuels from a variety of sources of biomass:
plant materials
certain types of crops
recycled or waste vegetable oils
Biodiesel/bioethanol:
They can replace conventional diesel/petrol entirely respectively
They can be blended with diesel/petrol in different proportions:
Engines require no modification to use 5% blends
For biodiesel, blends up to 20-30% are possible, but it invalidates many manufacturers’ warranties
Bioethanol can be used as:
E85 (85% ethanol, 15% petrol) in Flexible Fuel Vehicles
Additive ETBE (ethyl-tertio-butyl-ether) up to 15%
Sunfuel/Synfuel:
Gas to liquid fuels: from gasified biomass or biogas via Fischer Tropsch Synthesis.

4. WHY PROMOTE BIOFUELS?
Transport biofuels have risen to prominence in recent years. The main reasons for promoting biofuels are:
To contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions;
To contribute to the security of energy supply;
To promote a greater use of renewable energy;
To diversify agricultural economies into new markets.
To promote the used of biofuels, many member states are relying on fuel tax exemptions.

5. MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT BIOFUELS
SUGRE Clarifying Misconceptions
What may FAME be made of in Europe?
Animal fat
Used cooking oil
Sunflower
Cotton
The only wrong answer is Cotton.
There are a wide variety of feedstocks that can be used to produce biodiesel. Since the type of feedstock heavily influences the fuel characteristics, differences in quality and emissions are common.

6. BIOFUELS: BIODIESEL, BIOETHANOL
Internal Analysis
Strengths
low price/tax exemptions
domestic resources
low cost or adapting refuelling stations
blending options
Weaknesses
limited offer of OEM vehicles
scarcity of refuelling stations

7. BIOFUELS: BIODIESEL, BIOETHANOL
External Analysis
Opportunities
global/local global warming concerns
long term increase of petroleum prices
Challenges
availability of OEM products
stable regulatory and fiscal environment
broad public marketing

8. IS NATURAL GAS AN ALTERNATIVE FUEL?
Natural Gas as an alternative fuel: clean burning qualities of the product.
It has to be stored in a compressed state (CNG) or in a liquefied state (LNG):
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).
Methane is the major part of Natural Gas.
Filling stations are expensive, but fuel costs are low. For fleet owners with a large share of “home based” vehicles it is feasible to purchase an own filling point, and for smaller fleets there might be possibilities in joint purchase and joint use of a filling point, or to use one from a nearby fleet.

9. MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT NATURAL GAS
SUGRE Clarifying Misconceptions
Is Natural Gas lighter than air at ambient conditions?
Yes, always
Only in warm climates
No, never
The right answer is yes.
This means that natural gas would not accumulate on the floor level in case of leakage, which is important when we use natural gas vehicles in underground zones.

10. METHANE: NATURAL GAS, BIOGAS
Internal Analysis
Strengths
low price/tax exceptions
low emissions
domestic resources (in some countries) may be blended into the CNG network
Weaknesses
high cost of filling (refuelling) stations
limited offer of OEM vehicles (in some segments)
scarcity of refuelling stations
higher initial cost of vehicles (partly)

11. METHANE: NATURAL GAS, BIOGAS
External Analysis
Opportunities
global/local environmental concerns
global/local global warming concerns (for biogas)
long term increase of petroleum prices
Challenges
availability of OEM products
stable regulatory and fiscal environment
broad public marketing
technical development of competing diesel engines (emissions)

12. WHAT ARE HEVs? Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV)
Hybrid car: battery engine and internal combustion engine.
Hybrids are sold at a premium compared to their non-hybrid equivalents but can bring large fuel savings in start and stop operation (city traffic). In most EU countries hybrids qualify for purchase grants and/or reduced taxes.
Significant potential to reduce emissions for start and stop traffic.
For high mileage users they can make sense in economic terms.
Advantages in terms of access to inner cities.

13. MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT HEVs
SUGRE Clarifying Misconceptions
Does a serial hybrid vehicle need a gearbox?
Yes, always
No, optional
With in wheel motors only
The right answer is no.
Caused by the high torque of electric motors, hybrid electric vehicles are easy to drive in urban environments and off-road.

14. HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Internal Analysis
Strengths
fuel savings in stop and go traffic
conversion path exists from existing ICE concepts (micro hybrids)
same refuelling infrastructure (except for plug in hybrids)
Weaknesses
limited offer of OEM vehicles (in some segments)
high initial cost of vehicles

15. HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLES
External Analysis
Opportunities
global/local environmental concerns
global/local global warming concerns
long term increase of petroleum prices
Challenges
availability of OEM products (especially for city cars)
stable regulatory and fiscal environment (zero emission zones favour plug in hybrids)
technical development of ICE (efficiency)

16. ADVANTAGES OF ALTERNATIVE FUELS
More than 50 % of the conventional fleet owners will purchase alternative propulsion vehicles.
Measures regarding the following aspects are ranged by fleet operators as very positive and important:
Socio-ecological aspects
Financial and policy aspects
Company image
General advantages for the ecology
Curiosity towards new technology
Support through local networks
Competitive advantages
National legislation and policy
Local legislation and policy

17. SHOW CASES Use of biofuel Use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)
Alternative fuel use in the Municipal Transport Company (EMT) of Madrid (Spain)
Use of biofuel
209 vehicles use biodiesel obtained from rapeseed and sunflower and 5 use bioethanol
Use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)
202 CNG vehicles and 62 refuelling posts
Hybrid systems (diesel – electric)
20 buses
Use of Fuel cells
H2 Refuelling station able to fill the tank of the bus in 15 minutes and 350 bar pressure
More information

18. HOW SUGRE MIGHT HELP YOU?
Offering Site Visits Twice a Year with Workshop
Holding Training Workshops
in certain cities, presenting strengths, weaknesses and opportunities for alternative fuels and alternative propulsion
going beyond biodiesel including PPO/SVO pure plant oil, E95 ethanol in diesel electric, hybrid electric, battery electric..
Training Materials Download at