By Tong Na
The global vehicle manufacturers are committed to increasing the economical efficiency of the existing fuel and developing the alternative energy. They are practicing the new energy system strategy further. Against this background, more and more new energy vehicles with commercial outlook have gone beyond the laboratory stage and are stepping into the commercialization rapidly. The flexible fuel vehicles are one of the products which are developing fast.
At present, in the markets of America, Canada, Europe and Brazil, the GM's vehicles which can use different fuels flexibly have reached 3.5 million, among which 2.5 million vehicles can use E85 fuel (namely the gasoline fuel with 85% ethanol). In addition, in Brazil, over 90% vehicles sold by GM can use the fuel with 100% ethanol and such types of vehicles have reached 1 million. Presently, GM has produced over 1 million flexible vehicles in its global facilities. As for the most outstanding advantages of such vehicles, they can overcome the weakness that various new energy vehicles have to be made at the very high cost and equipped with the ordinary fuel tank but they can use the fuel mixed by unleaded petrol and ethanol or methanol by all kind of ratios. In other words, among various alternative proposals concerning the new energy vehicles, they are the most possible ones to become commercialized within a short period, besides they can reduce the vehicles' dependence on the oil to some extent with less emission as well.
At the "China International Conference on bio-fuels" on the 20th of October, GM revealed that they would explore the commercial feasibility of non-grain ethanol. That means GM is seeking the feasibility of developing the Chinese market for such flexible fuel vehicles and preparing for that now. Mr Chen Shi, Vice President of GM in Chinese branch said that among a variety of ways, the bio-fuel was the most feasible approach for new energy vehicles. GM hopes to launch the non-grain ethanol vehicles in China as soon as possible. At present, the technology of ethanol fuel has been mature and has got certain commercial basis.
It is understood that China is the third largest producer of ethanol fuel only behind America and Brazil. According to GM's research in the vehicle energy research center founded by Tsinghua University, GM has begun to assess the potential of sustainable bio-fuels in the field of vehicle energy in China. They believe, "The sustainable bio-fuels are the most feasible solution in the near future."
According to the "Medium and Long Term Renewable Energy Development Plan", by the year of 2010, China will increase by 2 million tons of annual consumption of the fuel ethanol made from non-grain raw materials with the total consumption of 3 million tons. By the year of 2020, the annual consumption of the bio-fuel ethanol will reach 10 million tons. Mr Ren Dongming, Vice Director of the Renewable Energy Development Center, Energy Research Institute of National Development and Reform Commission said at the Bio-fuels Conference that, one of the biomass energy's approaches is to develop the bio-liquid fuel. As for the developing situation of this industry, Dr. Chang Shiyan of Tsinghua University told the reporter, "At present, there are altogether 4 manufacturers of fuel ethanol in China. This industry is just beginning." The promotion of bio-fuel vehicles, the breakthrough of new fuel manufacturing technology and the reduction of cost in the way of technological progress is undoubtedly a col.
The relative data shows that the key point to solve the dispute on the lands between bio-fuel and food is to find a kind of non-edible organic material and turn it into fuel so as to avoid the invasion and occupation of a large number of agricultural lands. Because at present, the technology of turning the non-crop into the bio-fuel is not mature yet, the crops are still the main raw materials to produce the bio-fuel. If people can find the newer technologies to turn the abundant but inedible cellulose regarded as "waste" including the straw, branches and the rest material of forestry into ethanol, then can find a feasible approach for the development of the world's bio-fuel industry.
Presently, many countries and large energy companies are competing to explore the technology of turning the cellulose into ethanol. In January and May of this year, GM respectively announced that they would build up the strategic alliance with American companies Coskata and Mascoma in the field of new generation ethanol fuel technology so as to accelerate the commercial process. It is reported that, Coskata will start the trial production of cellulose ethanol gasoline in 2009. After the mass production, the cost of cellulosic ethanol fuel will be lower than 1 U.S. dollar per gallon after deducting the cost of building the factory. The energy generated from every gallon of cellulose ethanol will be 7.7 times as much as the energy consumed during its production process, but its emission of wasted gas can be reduced up to 96%. GM said they are optimistic about the potential of the next generation cellulosic ethanol fuel in the Chinese market, and they are making efforts to promote the rapid commercialization of this project. One important step is to continue pushing forward their cooperation with their Chinese partners. Wes Bolsen, Chief Marketing Officer and Vice President of Coskata also came to China with GM at this time. He told the reporter that they are supposing to pass through the technology licensing and seek partners so as to make the technology large-scale quickly. Of course, this needs the support of policy especially.
For GM, there are more severe tests in the process of pushing forward the development of cellulose bio-fuels' commercial value chain. Through the cooperation with the government, fuel suppliers and retailers, GM has helped 15 states and Colombia to install 300 sets of E85 ethanol fuel pumps since 2005. In America, there are already over 1800 sets of E85 ethanol fuel pumps. To promote the new energy vehicles, the gasoline and fuel refilling network is the key point for the R&D, production, commercialization and operation of the alternative fuel vehicles. This network includes fuel supply, public and private gasoline and fuel refilling facilities, standards, customer service, education and training, and the establishment of norms and regulations etc. For the promotion of the flexible fuel vehicles in China, this will be a stage that cannot be evaded and must be crossed over.
