Europe is testing an alternative fuel source that is not hydrogen but something that the world has rarely seen. The automotive sector has been forced to pursue alternative fuel options to replace the ever troublesome fossil fuel industry. Some car makers are still exploring their options while others have made their commitments to their alternative fuel of choice and invested heavily into it. One thing is for certain, the world is fast approaching the end of the traditional engine and what emerges out of the dust will be the fuel of the future.
What are my options as far as alternative fuels for my car at the moment?
In recent years the alternative fuel sector has come along way. Most major manufacturers have invested sizable percentages of their annual research and development budgets to the alternative fuels of their choosing. Some have even invested in multiple types of fuel for their lineups. With some countries banning imports of traditional internal combustion engines that use gasoline or diesel.
The EV is the obvious choice for the climate conscious driver. The rise of Tesla was evidence that the consumer market was open to the alternatively powered vehicle. Since then, there have been companies created solely to explore and innovate the electric vehicle. Nearly every main car manufacturer in the world have created sub-divisions within their company for EV design and production.
Another fuel option that has caught the attention of the worlds engine manufacturers is hydrogen. Hydrogen is seen as the next best option after the EV. Whether it be the hydrogen fuel cell that delivers power to the electric motors, or the newer hydrogen powered internal combustion engine that has amazed the world, hydrogen is a viable choice. But all these fall behind a certain fuel type that the world seems to have forgotten. Well maybe not everyone.
Who is Škoda and what makes their new engines so special?
Škoda have a long history. The company began way back in the 1890’s in the Czech Republic. They originally made bicycles and motorbikes before merging with a arms manufacturer to create Škoda as we know it today. The company went through some challenging times during the expansion of the Soviet Union which saw the Czech’s become part of Russia’s empire. They were to emerge from behind the iron curtain alive and kicking.
Their fuel of choice is as surprising as it is simple. Škoda have opted for sustainable HVO or Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil to replace diesel for their cars. Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil is “a low-carbon fuel that serves as a direct replacement for regular diesel fuel. It is produced from treating waste plant-matter with hydrogen, which means it does not release any additional carbon emissions into the atmosphere”, according to their website.
Because of the treatment process, HVO is more well known by its other name, “renewable diesel”. Škoda have stated that their cars will be interchangeable with the new renewable diesel. They have a list of cars on their website that can take the new renewable diesel instead of traditional diesel. The traditional engine has been under some scrutiny lately.
Will the rest of the automotive industry follow the example set out by Škoda?
While the rest of the automotive industry is focused on the EV, Škoda have demonstrated that there is another option that the world is yet to consider. The renewable diesel that Škoda want to use instead of traditional diesel is zero-emission and offers an alternative that does not need a whole new infrastructure built to support it. It merely requires some adjustment to the existing infrastructure. Whether the rest of the automotive world follows the example set out by Škoda remains to be seen.
