More expensive, electrified and complex cars: this is how the industry adapts to the demanding 2021 emissions limit

Trends among consumers are changing, and car manufacturers are also adapting their products both to the needs of their customers and to current legislation, which is increasingly restrictive in terms of pollutant emissions and _CO2, responsible for the so-called “greenhouse effect”.

European Union (EU) legislation establishes that the average number of vehicles placed on the market by each manufacturer must be less than 95 g/km of _CO2 by 2021. But at the moment the battle is being lost. To cite an example, in Spain the average _CO2 emissions of newly registered cars in the first half of 2019 increased by 1.7% compared to the same period of the previous year to reach 118g/km, after having also experienced increases in the last two years.

To compensate for this, the presence of electric and electrified cars in the offers of the different brands is increasingly common – according to the environmental NGO Transport & Environment in 2021 there will have to be three times more models than exist today. It should be remembered that an electric vehicle is computed as zero emissions -and supposes an extra bonus in the face of the new regulations-, while a hybrid or plug-in hybrid also allows to significantly reduce the emissions of the same engine compared to a model that equips only a combustion engine.

With the aim of reducing _CO2 , the aerodynamics of the models are being improved, with the generalization of solutions such as the active grille for radiator cooling. It is also choosing to deepen the well-known practice of downsizing: reduce the size of the engines to spend less fuel, with turbochargers so as not to jeopardize their performance. Currently, almost 70 percent of new vehicles sold in Europe come equipped with a turbocharger, and according to the latest studies, the production of vehicles with this technology will be 62.5 million units in 2022 when manufacturers are already applying the new EU legislation.

However, the reduction in engine size means that they have to operate in more demanding situations, such as in extreme temperatures and with high pressures, at which times when compact engines with turbochargers are prone to serious engine problems.

“The new European legislation on _CO2 emissions from vehicles is an important turning point for the automotive industry, and more so in Spain, where the latest data show an increase in _CO2 emitted, especially due to the increase in the sale of vehicles with gasoline engines. Thanks to this new regulation we are seeing a new generation of modern and more powerful engines, designed to consume less fuel and therefore emit less _CO2“, says Paula Matías, B2C Technical Advisor at Shell Lubricants.

As a solution to the potential problems that can be caused by high pressures and temperatures, Shell has created a range of low viscosity products, Shell Helix Ultra 0W, designed to protect engines and help manufacturers, mechanics and drivers meet the new emissions targets set by the EU. A turbocharger spins at over 150,000 revolutions per minute and can reach up to 1,000°C, so Shell Helix 0W not only helps keep the engine cool, but also lubricates the turbocharger bearings, which are prone to clogging and can cause damage.

In addition, the low viscosity and lower friction formulation saves up to 3% more fuel. By using this range, a car can reduce _CO2 emissions up to 70kg per year, calculating an average annual distance of 14,500km per year, or what is the same, the amount that would be generated by preparing 7,000 cups of coffee.

These oils not only help the maintenance of the turbocharger but also in that of new engines that need specific oils to meet the increasingly stringent requirements of the sector. For example, low-speed pre-ignition (LSPI) is an abnormal combustion situation caused by high pressures in the combustion chamber, common in modern engines, which can occur while driving in low-speed, high-torque conditions.

“Motor oils play a critical role in vehicle and engine performance, and we want to collaborate with manufacturers, workshops and drivers in the vehicle maintenance process, while improving the life of their vehicles. Aware of the changes in engine design, we have developed a range of superior quality engine oil, Shell Helix Ultra 0W, which can provide long-lasting performance in these new conditions,” adds Paula Matías.

Ad Blue for diesels

Diesel engines generate less polluting products and _CO2, but the same does not happen with nitrogen oxides (NOx) and benzopyrenes present in the ash generated by the combustion of diesel.

benzopyrenes are solid particles that adhere to the tissues of the respiratory system and are highly carcinogenic, hence it has become mandatory to install particulate filters in diesels to trap them completely mechanically, installing a sieve in the exhaust pipe of the car.

However, NOx cannot be physically eliminated, so they require a chemical reaction that transforms them once generated so that they do not leave the atmosphere.

The Euro 6 standard, which came into force on 1 September 2014, limits NOx emissions from diesel engines to 80 mg/km. Manufacturers that fail to get their cars to meet the new limit will be required to include a reservoir for the AdBlue additive to help reduce polluting emissions from diesels.

It is a compound that helps reduce the polluting products derived from the combustion of the engine. It is a liquid that does not pollute the environment, colorless, odorless and is not flammable or toxic, since it is composed of deionized water with 32.5% urea.

According to RACE experts, the exhaust pipe present in the back of cars serves, as the name suggests, to let escape the gases resulting from the combustion that occurs in the engine. The task of AdBlue is to transform the NOx particles that are expelled by the exhaust, thanks to a chemical reaction, into a mixture less harmful to the environment composed of nitrogen and water vapor.

The addition of AdBlue can only be done on diesel vehicles. In them we have next to the entrance of the fuel tank an opening to fill the tank, exclusive for AdBlue. We have to fill this tank when the dashboard witness tells us to. It should also be borne in mind that you should not wait until it is completely exhausted, because at that time we could not start the vehicle. In addition, you have to be very careful not to mix AdBlue with the fuel, since the consequences for the engine would be dire.

You also have to be very careful not to spill the product on the paint of the vehicle due to its high PH, of 9.5, which would act as a corrosive agent. The most common is to find it in service stations, where they are sold in containers of 10 or 2 liters, as well as in dealerships.

Microhybridization

Lightweight hybrid engines also achieve a significant reduction in both consumption and emissions. With the introduction of the “Mild hybrid” technology or also called microhybridization, it is sought to prevent the alternator from always working and thus reduce the energy it absorbs from the engine, improve the starting processes and take advantage of the kinetic energy of the car that is wasted in braking and when we release the accelerator.

Broadly speaking, a 48-volt hybrid (the current battery in this type of model) is a car powered by a thermal engine that works in parallel with an electric one. The electrical system allows you to stop the heat engine when traveling at constant speeds, during braking or while stopped, and reactivate it quickly when we need to resume driving. In this case, the hybrid system will never connect to the grid to be powered, but will recover energy from the vehicle’s movement when it brakes or decelerates to charge its battery. This is detailed from the hybrid and electric website.

The benefits of using a 48-volt electrical system are numerous, as it is a technology that perfectly combines energy sufficiency at low cost with minimal risk. As a result, the industry says that one in five cars sold by 2025 will equip this type of technology.

LPG and CNG

CNG natural gas for vehicles, also called NGV (Vehicular Natural Gas) and Liquefied Petroleum Gas LPG, constitute a more economical and sustainable alternative to traditional fuels. In a short time, hybrid cars powered in a combined way to gasoline and gas are occupying their space in a society that is increasingly concerned with the environment and pollution. But even if it is gas, CNG and LPG are not the same.

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is a gaseous fuel of fossil origin not derived from petroleum. Its chemical composition is based mainly on methane, CH4, a hydrocarbon with a high hydrogen index (H/C Ratio) generating less carbon dioxide per unit of energy produced during combustion compared to other heavier hydrocarbons.

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CNG is obtained from oil fields or independent fields and its composition and characteristics vary depending on the field from which it is extracted, but the physical-chemical properties are practically similar. It has a boiling temperature at atmospheric pressure of -161 ºC so at room temperature it is in the gas phase. Hence, the need to store it at high pressures, usually between 200 and 250 bar for use as fuel in vehicles. The relative density of CNG is lower than that of air so in case of leaks, its tendency is to accumulate in the upper parts.

Source: ABC