Eni and FCA join forces to reduce CO2 emissions
Italian energy company Eni and car maker FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) announced they have signed an agreement that focuses on new technological applications for sustainable mobility. The chief executives of the two companies, Claudio Descalzi and Sergio Marchionne signed the Memorandum of Understanding in Rome, in the presence of Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni.
The companies will work toghether on the development of research projects and technological applications aimed at reducing CO2 emissions from road transport vehicles. They will combine their respective expertise, experiences and technological know - how in order to significantly reduce the sector’s level of CO2 emissions.
Eni and FCA will cooperate on the following fields:
- The development of technologies and materials to absorb natural gas. Absorbed Natural Gas (ANG) will allow to improve existing technologies linked to compressed natural gas (CNG) in the automotive sector, permitting its transport at a much lower pressure, reducing the weight of tanks and increasing the mileage per refill.
- The development of new technologies for the use of compressed (CNG) and liquefied (LNG) gas, as well as of methanol in transport. Methanol allows emission reductions when it is added to traditional fuel. Eni has developed a new type of petrol containing alternative fuels (15% methanol and 5% bioethanol) which produces lower emissions and is currently being jointly tested with FCA. Use of this new petrol can ensure a reduction of more than 4% of CO2 emissions.
- The realization, in collaboration with MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), of technologies and devices for the capture and temporary storage of part of the CO2 produced by internal combustion engines. With road transport vehicles responsible for around 23% of total CO2 emissions, and the share of light vehicles alone reaching about 10%, this would result in a significant reduction of the transport sector’s CO2 emissions.
- To further reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions, the parties also confirmed their shared interest in assessing new fuel types for use in existing vehicles, without the need for substantial mechanical changes. Among other things, this includes diesel types with a higher proportion of hydrotreated vegetable oils (HVO), petrol with higher alcohol content, including from renewable sources and/or waste, and the use of new “friction - reducing” additives.
Finally , the two companies have agreed to launch and implement new partnerships with Italian and international universities aimed at creating and training new professional profiles for the future.
Photo: Sergio Marchionne (FCA) Paolo Gentiloni (Italian Prime Minister) and Claudio Descalzi (Eni)
