[Current Status of Biofuels Seen from the US]①
"Electric Vehicle Slowdown... Ethanol Must Be Used Strategically"
Urgent Need to Establish Eco-Friendly Operation Plans for Existing Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles
As the completed car industry begins to adjust the pace of electrification transition, interest in environmentally friendly fuels is increasing. Electrification centered on electric vehicles has been the core axis for carbon neutrality in the transportation sector, but demand for electric vehicles is expected to slow down for an extended period. Since it has become difficult to reduce carbon emissions through renewable energy sources, the role of bioethanol, which has spread mainly in the United States and Brazil, is gaining attention.
Stefan Mueller, a professor at the Energy Resources Center of the University of Illinois at Chicago, met with Korean reporters on the 3rd and said, "Expectations for electric vehicles have been high for several years, but the proportion of people choosing electric vehicles is slowing down, and automakers are taking a step back to observe," adding, "Currently, using ethanol to reduce carbon emissions is the most strategic method."
Bioethanol is made by processing plants such as corn or sugarcane. Ethanol can be mixed with gasoline according to certain standards and used. It can be used in vehicles that run on conventional gasoline, and it has little impact on vehicle performance and durability, making it a realistic alternative that can be implemented immediately. In the United States, E10, which mixes 10% ethanol with gasoline, has been introduced and made mandatory. In Korea, the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is implemented to reduce carbon emissions, but only biodiesel is applied instead of ethanol.
Until last year, the spread of electric vehicles in the United States was smooth. As Tesla’s home market and existing automakers accelerated the electrification transition, new electric vehicles were continuously launched. However, as new car supply normalized and signs of economic recession emerged, the situation changed. Local manufacturers such as General Motors (GM) and Ford reduced facility investments related to electrification transition and slowed down new car development. Hyundai Motor Group, which is building a new factory in Georgia, USA, revised its plan to allow mixed production of hybrid vehicles as well as electric vehicles at the dedicated electric vehicle plant.
Professor Stephan Mueller of the University of Illinois at Chicago met with Korean reporters on the 3rd to explain about bioethanol and other topics. [Photo by U.S. Grains Council]
Hybrids use motors and batteries as auxiliary power sources, resulting in high energy efficiency. However, since they are based on internal combustion engines, carbon emissions cannot be completely eliminated during operation. Nevertheless, hybrids are free from charging concerns and have reached a certain level of technological maturity and market size, making them cheaper compared to electric vehicles. While hybrids were once considered a 'transitional' technology during the electrification drive, many now believe their use will last a long time.
The fuel used in hybrid vehicles can be replaced with ethanol-blended fuel instead of gasoline. Additionally, ethanol can be used in existing internal combustion engine vehicles, which is an advantage. As vehicle durability has improved and it has become common to drive cars for over 10 years, experts point out that it is necessary to simultaneously switch the fuel used in currently operating vehicles to environmentally friendly options. Although electric vehicle adoption has increased in recent years, their share among all registered vehicles in Korea remains only about 2.5%.
In the United States, where ethanol blending is mandatory, the productivity of corn, the raw material, has increased, enhancing the carbon reduction effect compared to the past. According to research by Michael Wang, head of the System Assessment Center at Argonne National Laboratory under the U.S. Department of Energy, the carbon intensity (CI) of typical gasoline is about 93gCO2e per MJ.
On the other hand, bioethanol’s carbon intensity decreased from 58gCO2e per MJ in 2005 to 45gCO2e per MJ in 2019. Carbon intensity measures carbon emissions assuming the same amount of energy used; a higher number means more carbon emissions. However, the researchers added that these figures reflect agricultural and power generation conditions in the U.S. and differ from the situation in Korea.
Dr. Lee-Seong Yi of the National Argonne Laboratory explained, "Corn productivity has improved compared to the past, and the amount of ethanol obtained from the same amount of corn has increased," adding, "A 40% reduction has already been secured, and it is possible to further reduce emissions by using renewable energy in the ethanol production process."
Dr. Lee Eui-seong of the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory explained the life cycle analysis results of ethanol and various fuels during a meeting with Korean reporters on the 3rd. [Photo by U.S. Grains Council]
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