A report from Technical Insights, Frost & Sullivan’s international technology analysis business, examines automotive technology developments in Europe that lower exhaust emissions and improve fuel efficiency.
Automotive catalysts have emerged as a winning solution that can control pollutants such as sulphur and particulates, according to the report, “European Automotive Industry-Environmental Regulations and Related Technology Developments.”
Diesel oxidation catalysts check diesel emission at source or through after-treatment, explains Technical Insights research analyst R. Sathyaraj. High-activity nanocatalysts increase the efficiency of hydrocracking and hydrodesulphurization processes.
“Catalysts help carmakers adhere to environmental regulations while also improving gasoline yield, and with fuel prices in Europe at least three times higher than they are in the United States., fuel efficiency is vital,” Sathyaraj notes.
"Several Western European countries and auto manufacturers have agreed to voluntary commitments to improve fuel consumption on a national level because national markets in Europe are still not homogenous," notes Sathyaraj. "This is because the markets are mainly driven by different taxation schemes."
Using renewable raw materials helps reduce dependency on fossil fuels, which aids in improving the environment and develop new areas of employment such as in the agriculture industry.
Sathyraj notes that biomass is a convenient source of energy that can be obtained from a variety of plant and animal materials. It includes energy crops; crop residues, and organic residues such as slurry, industrial wood waste and sewage sludge. It can be used to obtain propellant fuels, electricity, heat and combined heat and power.
"Different types of phytomass and zoomass result in specific energy and environmental balances and these must be reconciled, following evaluation, with the most suitable conversion technology," he says.
