PARIS – Jean-Martin Folz, Chairman of PSA Peugeot Citroën, and Pascal Hénault, Vice President Automotive Research and Innovation, outlined the Group's alternative energy strategy at a press conference held recently in Paris.
At the conference, Jean-Martin Folz indicated that:
- On a local scale, significant progress has been made in decreasing pollution
New car emissions declined by a factor of 20 between 1980 and 2000, while real improvements have been made in air quality with more to come. The Group's major innovation in this area is its particulate filter system, which has established the HDi diesel engine as the benchmark for clean power plants.
- On a global scale, the fundamental issue is the greenhouse effect
The goal therefore should be to cut CO2 emissions as much as possible at the source, which PSA Peugeot Citroën has identified as a priority. European automobile manufacturers have set the objective of reducing CO2 emissions to 140g per kilometre by 2008.
The Peugeot 206 Eco HDi (introduced onto European markets earlier this year) is the first Peugeot to achieve an emission level of 120g of CO2 per kilometre. The 206 Eco uses the 206's 90bhp (66kW) common rail 2.0-litre HDi engine, but uses an improved engine computer and a new catalyser.
In addition, the Group's new family of direct injection diesel engines, developed with Ford Motor Company, will have extremely low CO2 emissions ranging from 90 to 120 grams per kilometre depending on the model. In 2000, the average for new vehicles sold in Europe was 171g.
Initiatives in this area include:
- Improving engine efficiency
The Group invested FRF 4 billion (A$1.024 billion) between 1997 and 2000 to renew its range of gasoline and diesel engines, with the primary goal of reducing fuel consumption. The current HDi engine consumes 20% less fuel than a classic diesel engine.
The new 1.4-litre HDi diesel unit, which will shortly equip small and medium-sized vehicles of PSA Peugeot Citroën, will bring consumption levels below 4 litres per 100 kilometres. In 2005, it will take six Euro-4-compliant diesel cars to produce the same amount of pollution as one Euro-1-compliant diesel car in 1993.
- Controlling vehicle weight
The use of aluminium bonnets on Peugeot's 607 and 307 brings a significant reduction in weight, which results in improved fuel consumption and safety.
- Refining aerodynamic design
The Peugeot 206 Eco HDi features aerodynamic changes to the front aimed at limiting turbulence and improving air penetration. These advanced design features in the lower body area improve aerodynamics resulting in a further reduction in fuel consumption. The car's consumption figures are on average 10 per cent better even than the standard HDi-engineered 206.
- Developing three alternative energy technologies
- Fossil hydrocarbons, in particular compressed liquid petroleum gas (cLPG) and natural gas for vehicles (NGV)
Mr Folz pointed out that, although the environmental benefits of cLPG are now relatively less significant in light of the substantial improvements introduced for gasoline and diesel engines, the Group will none-the-less offer a range of LPG-powered vehicles compatible with the Euro 3 standard.
In 2001, PSA Peugeot Citroën introduced Euro-3-compliant LPG cars (Peugeot 406 and Partner, Citroën Saxo and Berlingo) addressing a full spectrum of market applications from city runners to delivery vehicles. Although HDi diesel engines outperform LPG units as regards CO2 emissions, LPG engines are better when it comes to minimising discharge of aromatic compounds.
Concerning NGV, whose use significantly reduces CO2 emissions, Mr Folz said that the priority was to develop commercial vehicles like the Peugeot Boxer and the Citroën Jumper for fleet applications.
- Biofuels, in particular 30% rapeseed methyl ester (RME), ETBE and ethanol
Jean-Martin Folz indicated that the PSA Peugeot Citroën Group was strongly encouraging the use of 30% RME fuel instead of diesel fuel. Diester 30 (30% vegetable oil methyl esters and 70% diesel) combines very good lubrication properties (as it is sulphur-free) and low CO2 emissions. For several years, PSA Peugeot Citroën has led the way on this promising fuel alternative by using Diester 30 for its diesel fleet.
To improve gasoline octane ratings without lead derivatives or aromatic hydrocarbons, the Group recommends using 8 to 12% ETBE derived from bioethanol and has promoted direct incorporation of 5% bioethanol in gasoline, while emphasising that, taken as a whole, the use of biofuels clearly helps to lower CO2 emissions.
- Electric vehicles (EVs) leveraging three types of technology: batteries, hybrid systems and fuel cells
The Group is the world's leading supplier of battery-powered electric vehicles, with more than 9,000 units sold as at the end of May 2001. Mr Folz paid tribute to the success of the Liselec programme, a concept developed by PSA Peugeot Citroën in partnership with Via GTI and Alcatel. The city of La Rochelle, in northwest France, is the first to offer a public transport service with electric cars available on demand. The initial centre proved so successful that two further centres have been opened the latest in May 2001.
Mr Folz also noted that EVs were particularly well suited for urban deliveries and that the Group is supplying vehicles (Peugeot Partners and Citroën Berlingos) for the European Electric Vehicle City Distribution (Elcidis) project designed to organise downtown deliveries from out-of-town platforms.
Concerning hybrid vehicles, Mr Folz described three categories of potential solutions to optimise the efficiency of combustion engine/electric power trains and reduce fuel consumption. These were mini hybrid, mild hybrid and hybrid zero emission vehicle (ZEV).
Mini-hybrid vehicles offer basic hybridisation for an optimum ratio of cost over environmental efficiency. Expected consumption and CO2 emission reductions are around 10%.
Mild-hybrid vehicles feature an integrated alternator-starter system as demonstrated for the first time in 1988 on the Citroën Xsara Dynalto. Electric power provides a power boost for the small diesel engine, with additional features including stop-start and anti-stall functions. This system brings a 15 to 20% reduction in fuel consumption, in addition to a significant reduction in noise levels. Initial application is scheduled for early 2003.
Hybrid ZEVs optimise overall efficiency of the power chain, with an internal-combustion engine and an electric motor running within their optimum efficiency ranges. Mr Folz underscored the importance for a driver to be able to switch to a zero emission vehicle (ZEV) operating mode as required.
Within the next three years PSA Peugeot Citroën will have introduced vehicles in each of these categories.
In the area of fuel cells, Pascal Hénault said that the Group is certain that this technology will gradually assume a major role in the automobile industry. He indicated that, although highly promising, the technology was still being developed and that costs, size and weight would have to be cut by a factor of 5 before commercial applications could be seriously considered.
- The Group believes that between 2005 and 2010, the first application will be in electric-powered commercial vehicles equipped with small onboard hydrogen fuel cells used to back up the battery-driven power train. The new Peugeot Partner Fuel Cell Cab demonstrator illustrates this approach.
- In the period from 2010 to 2020, the Group predicts that fuel cells will be the main source of energy for vehicles. This progress will be achieved with an onboard hydrogen-producing system using a bioethanol or syngas reformer.
- After 2020, the Group envisions the development of hydrogen fuel that will make it possible to offer electric vehicles with long-range capability, as illustrated by the Hydro-Gen demonstrator also based on the Peugeot Partner.
The following information on the PSA Peugeot Citroën Alternative Energy Strategy can be found on the Group's web site located at www.psa.fr
- Presentation by Jean-Martin Folz, Chairman of PSA Peugeot Citroën
- Presentation by Pascal Hénault, Vice President Automotive Research and Innovation
- Press kit on Alternative Energies
- Automobiles and the Environment: Energies and Ideas (includes interview with Pascal Hénault)