SAE Update - November 2021 - 26

FOCUS:POWERTRAIN
AND PROPULSION
SAE Fellows share powertrain thoughts
emissions while conventional internal
combustion engine vehicles cannot achieve
these technological changes. Ignored are
the challenges that electric vehicles may
face, such as whether electricity is clean,
whether electricity is low-carbon, the
limitations of battery materials resources,
and the impact of battery production, use,
and waste batteries on the environment.
I am currently mainly engaged in the
research and development of improving
the thermal efficiency of heavy-duty diesel
engines, as well as the research of
methanol and ammonia fuel engine
combustion technology.
vehicles, but not drastically so in most
markets. In areas where power generation
is largely coal-fueled, the emissions are
often higher.
The key to reducing the climate impact
of mobility is therefore to decarbonize our
energy carriers, whether they are fuels,
hydrogen, or electricity. It is my firm belief
that a combination of fuels, hydrogen, and
electricity will be needed to minimize the
overall climate impact of our transports.
At Lund University, I am excited about our
new projects on hydrogen-fueled internal
combustion engines. Although I am
fascinated by fuel cell technology, I am
equally fascinated by the potential to make
a zero-emission combustion engine with an
overall efficiency and total cost of
ownership that can give a fuel cell system a
run for its money.
Öivind Andersson is a
professor at Lund
University.
Öivind Andersson, Ph.D.
SAE Fellow 2020
In my view, the most common
misconception about these technologies
is that they have very different climate
impacts. The public debate often draws a
limit between electric and " fossil " cars, as
if electric cars were somehow fossil-free.
Life cycle assessments show that electric
cars have significant greenhouse gas
emissions. The emissions are often lower
than those of comparable conventional
26
November 2021
James Turner, Ph.D.
SAE Fellow 2019
Regarding the relative performance of
electric vehicles versus conventionally
powered ones, probably the biggest
misconception is around output torque and
the effect of gearing. The massive torque of
UPDATE
James Turner is a
professor at King Abdullah
University of Science and
Technology.
SAE Update - November 2021

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