The mobility industry continues to introduce sustainable technologies, and this automaker from China has levelled up with the invention powered by liquid ammonia. Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd has unveiled its combustion engine, which challenges and possibly goes beyond hydrogen power. Using ammonia as fuel, challenges norms and explores various alternatives to the mobility industry. Ammonia fuel is commonly used in agricultural transportation, and GAC looks to explore it in both vehicles. The use of it in passenger vehicles is researched, along with its potential and limitations in a sustainable-driven environment.
GAC’s ammonia-powered engine and its potential
The Chinese automaker, Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC), makes a mark in sustainable-focused energy with its 2.0-litre engine. Running on liquid, a 2.0-litre combustion engine is initiated at the GAC’s annual technology event. The combustion engine has a horsepower of 161, making a low carbon footprint, which is 90% less than the normal petrol engines.
Ammonia fuel has been trialled and tested in trucking, transportation, and shipping vehicles; however, the GAC innovation explores passenger vehicles. The success of this ammonia-powered engine may change how vehicles operate and how engines are perceived. The GAC spokesperson says:
“We believe ammonia-powered engines can be a game-changer in reducing carbon emissions while maintaining performance.”
This innovation brings great focus to sustainable change in the mobility sector. While ammonia has a low energy density, emissions aren’t a concern as carbon, hydrocarbon, or CO2 are not produced. While the engine seems to be the ultimate game changer towards a green future, there are limitations associated with ammonia, such as its toxicity in non-optimised engines.
The challenges of ammonia as a fuel
Although ammonia-powered engines are categorised as a progressive innovation with environmental benefits, their risks are not ignorable. The main concern is toxicity, as the ammonia needs to be transported safely in storage. Not doing this will cause health hazards. Second on the list is the emission from ammonia. Nitrogen oxides can result from carbon emissions if there is a lack of optimization.
Concerns are raised about the risks ammonia faces, and an industry analyst says:
“Ammonia is promising, but its safe implementation in passenger vehicles requires extensive research and development.”
Moving from air pollution, ammonia’s lower energy density results in costly advances, as more refuelling is needed than vehicles powered by petrol. While these limitations have been expressed, the Guangzhou Automobile Group continues to show resilience as it optimises the technology to tackle the issues. Situated in the GAC are the engineers who are finding strategies to minimise the challenges expressed so that ammonia becomes a leading energy source.
The future of sustainable automotive technology
Ammonia is one of the industry’s leading energy sources with a sustainable focus. The GAC’s ammonia-powered engine marks technologies aiming for a reduced carbon footprint, with electric vehicles and alternative fuels on the topic. Ammonia-powered engines provide an alternative to traditional petrol engines. The combustion alternatives are going green and boasting great power and torque.
The combustion-based alternatives have encouraged further discussion amongst automotive manufacturers and scientists who work towards developing greater initiatives in the industry. Ammonia-powered engines may be portrayed as mainstream in different machinery or a niche technology; either way, the work done by GAC continues to shine as a sustainable move in the mobility industry.
Introducing ammonia as an alternative in combustion energy is a bold move considering the high risks associated with the element. While this hurdle stands in the GAC’s way, the organisation will stop at nothing to further its innovation in the industry. The sustainable fuel technology aims to reduce carbon emissions, however, issues such as toxicity, NOx emissions, and its dense energy are issues the GAC acknowledges and is finding a way to work through. The engine’s design finds itself in green mobility, and its success may be alongside electric vehicles in the future.
