IVECO

Iveco Daily Multifuel uses ethanol and gas to reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 95%

In the global race for cleaner engines, automakers have been testing different approaches to reducing carbon emissions in transportation. While some are focusing on electrification, others are seeking middle ground, combining alternative fuels and transition technologies. This is the context for the Daily Multifuel, a new concept from Iveco capable of running on ethanol, compressed natural gas (NGV), and biomethane.

The model uses the FPT Industrial F1C 3-liter Otto-cycle engine, originally powered by gas but adapted to also operate on ethanol. Therefore, the system features two injection systems: one for liquid fuels and one for gases. According to Iveco, the engine delivers up to 136 hp and 35.7 mkgf of torque, in addition to significantly reducing pollutant emissions compared to diesel vehicles. "Fueled with ethanol, the concept reduces CO₂ emissions by three times compared to diesel. With biomethane, the rate is almost ten times lower than that of diesel," said Eduardo Oliveira, general director of engineering for Latin America at Iveco Group.

Flexible-fuel utility vehicle...Although the Daily Multifuel may seem like a tri-fuel vehicle, CNG and biomethane are the same fuel: methane gas. The difference lies in the way each is produced, making the concept, in practice, a bi-fuel vehicle, running on gas and ethanol.

CNG is methane processed from natural gas, extracted from wells along with crude oil. On the other hand, biomethane is a renewable product, generated by the decomposition of organic matter. In Brazil, biogas is produced primarily in landfills. "The main point of this project concerns our commitment to environmental causes and sustainability. From an environmental perspective, biomethane is extremely competitive, with a 95% reduction in CO₂ emissions," explained Fábio Nicora, Innovation and Product Development Manager at Iveco Group, in contact with the press.

The 95% emissions reduction indicated by Nicora encompasses the entire biomethane cycle, from production to combustion of the gas in the engine. Although natural gas emits little CO₂ during combustion, its production process is more polluting. However, its combustion is still cleaner than diesel and significantly reduces emissions of particulate matter, which causes respiratory diseases.

For now, the company has not released estimates for the concept's range, but it did say that the vehicle achieved greater range and reduced emissions when using natural gas and biomethane. The automaker is conducting the tests at its proving ground in Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais in Brazil

Daily Multifuel Testing and Paths to Market...Daily Multifuel testing began in laboratories, in the initial stages, to validate the engine's performance with different fuels. "We are evaluating the vehicle under controlled conditions to understand its performance and fully integrate the engine into the system," revealed Iveco's general director of engineering. The Daily Multifuel's development is in collaboration with three Brazilian universities: Unesp, the Federal University of Pará, and the Federal University of Itajubá. "The universities' participation was essential to accelerate the engine's development and calibration, in addition to allowing us to access cutting-edge knowledge and development programs, such as Rota 2030," Nicora emphasized.

To reach the market, the Daily Multifuel still needs to undergo all stages of prototype validation, which include performance testing, engine integration, and a cost-benefit analysis of the technology, according to Iveco's innovation and development manager. "We are working on completing this prototype to develop a consolidated project, considering all possible market volumes." 

Multi-energy strategy...Within Iveco's strategy, the Daily Multifuel is part of a multi-energy portfolio, complementary to the electric and natural gas vehicles already available. "We're not saying that the Daily Multifuel replaces an electric vehicle, but that we offer alternatives for different transportation needs," explained Nicora. Furthermore, the project benefits from the existence of biomethane and ethanol self-producers in Brazil, primarily in sugarcane industries and landfills. "Many producers already have access to ethanol and biomethane, so we can connect the technology to an existing infrastructure," commented Iveco's innovation and development manager.

Despite the initial phase of the Daily-based project, Iveco executives are already considering the application of the ethanol and natural gas engine in medium- and even heavy-duty trucks. According to Oliveira, "from a technical standpoint, there are no impediments to expanding this technology to larger vehicles, although economic feasibility and total operating costs must be considered for each application."

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