Automakers support development of improved market fuels

The automakers all over the world strongly support the activities begun by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE), aimed at ensuring the availability of high quality fuels in all markets. The UN/ECE is the global body responsible for the development and harmonisation of international vehicle environmental standards and this decision demonstrates a recognition by governments worldwide that fuel quality is a critical factor in vehicle emissions.

Following the successful completion of a “Round Table” conference in November 2007, all involved stakeholders (worldwide governments, consumer, fuel and auto industry organisations, etc.), agreed to begin studies on current market fuel qualities and the relationship with vehicle technologies.

Advanced ultra-clean engine and vehicle technologies need fuel with a controlled specification to achieve their potential for low emissions and good performance. Prerequisite for the effective use of these ultra-clean technologies are fuels that are free of sulphur and metals, and have strictly controlled levels of other key fuel attributes (such as octane/cetane, volatility, stability, oxidant level, etc.). Non-availability of adequate fuels at the pump often prevent new technologies from reaching their full potential, or could even prevent them from being put on the market.

Speaking at the Geneva Motor Show, Yves van der Straaten, Secretary-General of OICA said: “While several countries have already recognised the necessity to consider vehicles and the fuels they use as a complete, integrated system, others have yet to take that step, with clear negative consequences for the environment. There is even the risk that some governments might require vehicles to be fitted with very sophisticated vehicle technologies which, in use, fail to deliver the expected benefits, or don’t work at all, simply because drivers cannot find suitable fuel at the pump.”

The United Nations have recognised the inadequacy of the current situation and have agreed to set up a working group to define, in a first step, the link between the various requirements on pollutant emissions and the needed vehicle technologies and fuel properties. The outcome of these activities could then provide essential guidance to governments, in developing their environmental policies.

The auto industry strongly supports these efforts and hopes that they will very soon lead to an improvement in fuel quality at the pump in many countries.