Worldwide, there is a strong trend towards highly efficient, low emission vehicles. Factors that add to this trend are worldwide concern on: global warming and climate change, air quality and decreasing availability and dependency of fossil fuels.

In order to facilitate the transition from conventional fuel-driven vehicles towards electrically driven vehicles, there is a short(er) term need for advanced plug-in hybrids and electrical vehicles with range extenders for regular customer duty.

For this purpose, highly efficient, compact, clean and low cost engines are required. Such engines are to provide battery charging over longer trips and/or in areas where electric recharge infrastructure is not (yet) available. Furthermore, these engines should be consistent with the "zero emissions" label of electric vehicles.

The FUEREX project proposal covers all of the above mentioned aspects with the focus on the application in battery electric vehicles with range extenders, capable of using renewable bio fuels as well as regular fossil fuels.

Facts and figures

The Project

• Start date 1 Jan 2011
• Two years duration
• Eight partners from five countries
• Total budget of 4.4 M€
• Total EC funding 2.4 M€

Project Public Flyer:

Impact

• Possible reduction of 474 million metric tons CO₂ emissions by a high fleet penetration in 2050
• Over a 100,000-mile life cycle, a standard gas car would produce 1,365 kg of pollutants, and an electric vehicle with power from a coal-fired power plant would produce 46 kg

Main results

• Three range extenders with multi-fuel capability
• Bench test demonstrating emissions, efficiency and performance
• Vehicle test demonstrating integration / NVH and vehicle performance
• A study on volume production optimization
• Design guidelines how a range extender should be optimized for a given vehicle