Biodiesel, e-mobility, hydrogen powered cars and thought-driven vehicles

Drivingcamp Innovation Days were about the ingredients of the future

Shifting to green propellants is one of the most significant challenges the automotive industry is currently facing. As the flagship of the environmental awareness, the drivingcamp has invited its partners and relevant stakeholders of the sector to the Innovation Days to introduce the latest trends of the alternative fuels’ sector. Thought-driven cars, biodiesel, hydrogen-powered vehicles - this is no longer a distant future.

The Innovation Days conference at the drivingcamp driving technique center has now become a tradition. “Innovation has always been one of drivingcamp’s most important values. We consider it our mission to address relevant issues that affect the industry during this event. We have chosen the theme of alternative propellants this year to address environmental awareness. However, the purpose of Innovation Days does not only focus on posing this issue and drawing attention to it. We would like the industry to come together in order to make a difference and to protect our environment,” said dr. Reinhard Platzer, the CEO of drivingcamp.

At the opening ceremony, Zsolt Csampa, Deputy Secretary of State emphasized that the government, including the Ministry of the Interior, would like to simplify the life of the driving society by simplifying the administrative processes. By this he referred to automating the process of applying for the first driving license, and making the vehicle transcription less bureaucratic.

Biofuels

“Liquid biofuels will be the cheapest and fastest available alternative in the next next three to four decades, as vehicles with internal combustion engines are still dominating the market”, said Mr.Demeter Héjj, the president of the Hungarian Bioethanol Association. "This technology has spread rapidly because I can refuel the same car at the same petrol station."

According to the EU directive, by 2020 we will have to achieve that 10% of the fuel (E10) has to be made of renewable sources – this rate is currently 5% and 7% for petrol and diesel. For comparison, in Sweden and the United States, the use of E85 has spread among dual-use vehicles

Per capita Hungary is the third largest bioethanol producer in the world, but it remains largely unused. Hungarian biofuel production is also recognized internationally, and it is Also proposes a complex question – not only the environmental aspects are important, but biofuels can drive the country forward in employment, rural development, energy, agricultural and food industries. According to the experts, it would be time to take advantage of this, because these are the trends across Europe, and all the alternatives will be needed in transport.

E-mobility

"We are put under pressure by the government and society simultaneously time in regard to  reducing emissions and energy security," said Zoltán Vígh in his presentation, representing Jedlik Ányos Cluster. Currently, there are nearly 750 e-fuel stations in the country, although unfortunately e-car manufacturing Has not started yet, there are many foreign imports and used cars. The Cluster’s managing director highlighted and welcomed that organizations representing alternative fuels would not consider each other as competitors, but are able to cooperate in order to achieve their goals and ensure the country's competitiveness. He said that these technologies can complement each other by taking into account the aspects / needs of the final consumer.

Electricity and hydrogen powered vehicles

There is a wide range of possible value chain in the usage and production of hydrogen, especially because the global trends go towards an electricity-focused Economy.”, Said Zoltán Mayer, the representative of HFC Hungary. Since electricity cannot be stored in large quantities in an economical way, the hydrogen produced by electrolysis can be involved in this process. The energy that is produced by renewable energy sources but Is not immediately useable, is not meant to be stored, but to be used for the production of hydrogen.

One of the biggest obstacles of the industry’s development is the fact that it is a nearly brand new and expensive technology - currently 20,000 hydrogen powered cars are produced annually, and in Hungary only two charging stations have to be established by the end of 2020. However, it is definitely promising that 1800 hydrogen powered cars were ordered for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and the same energy source will be used to supply the Olympic Village. Toyota, the main sponsor of the Olympics, is also the first to offer its 24,000 full hybrid patents for free use by all vehicle manufacturers.

Compressed natural gas - CNG and LNG

“The biggest misconception about the fuel is that lack of filling stations. These vehicles are dual-fueled, which means they also have a CNG / LNG and petrol tank, consequently they can travel approximately 1000 kms. "Compressed natural gas is available at 20 filling stations in Hungary," said Tamás Molnár from the Hungarian Gas Cluster Association. LNG (Liquid Natural Gas), which is more common in transportation, has the advantage of being refrigerated, it is in a liquid state, so much more energy can be stored in the same volume.”

In addition to LNG, the other solution is CNG (Compressed Natural Gas), which was mentioned by Krisztina Zsandarova, representing the Blue Green Way stations. “Cars with CNG can be parked in the underground garage, because CNG is lighter than the air, meaning it goes up in case of a leak, so it is also a solution in passenger transport. Although CNG has been present since 2010 many have turned away from this option due to the excise tax. However, market regulation has eased as the number of filling stations increased. Currently, there is the state does not support this alternative, but Blue Green Ways are trying to inform and convince as many consumers as possible through educational campaigns and discounts.

Free choice

In his presentation, Maul Ferenc talked about the introduction of a new approach: Peugeot gives its customers a free choice to purchase a petrol / diesel, hybrid or electric car within the same model. By 2023, all its models in each category will be available in these designs.

From Shell Hungary Ltd., Lajos Veér, sales manager of Shell Fleet Solutions, said it was a major success that together with drivingcamp, they were able to bring together partners who are ready to develop their plans for a more sustainable transport, along with a discussion on future mobility. All the speakers agreed that a strategic and deliberate government support system should be used to promote alternative fuels. Incentives and educational campaigns are needed in order to motivate users to switch.

We would like to say thank you to Shell Hungary Ltd. for the support, who has been this year’s major sponsor of drivingcamp Innovation Days.