Est. 3min 26-10-2006 (updated: 05-11-2012 ) petrol_picMatthew_Maaskant.jpg Euractiv is part of the Trust Project >>> Languages: Français | DeutschPrint Email Facebook X LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Automobile-sector research represents 30% of overall EU industrial R&D. Most investments are made to reconcile the need to reduce emissions with our dependence on fossil fuels and the demand for enhanced mobility. The research challenge in making cars more environmentally friendly is to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and to improve energy efficiency, while, at the same time, meeting individual and societal demands for mobility and vehicle performance. Reducing dependence on fossil fuels The transport sector accounts for more than 30% of total energy consumption in the EU, with 98% dependence on fossil fuels and a rising energy demand. The main R&D objective in this field is therefore to reduce the dependence of transport sector on oil-based fuels. The main technology options for reducing cars’ fossil-fuel consumption and, accordingly, CO2 emissions include: reduction in demand, by for example smaller engine size; hydrogen with fuel cells; electric vehicles with advanced battery electricity storage; improved hybrid electric designs with petrol, diesel and biodiesel; advanced high-efficiency internal combustion engines (ICEs); use of biodiesel and bio-ethanol as carriers and; co-processing of biomass with fossil fuels. Reducing emissions vs improved mobility The European Road Transport Research Advisory Council (ERTRAC), a European technology platform launched in 2003, brings together actors from the road transport industry (manufacturers, suppliers, infrastructure operators), local and national governments, the research and academic communities, NGOs and the Commission to provide a strategic vision for the road transport sector R&D up to 2020. One of the four pillars of the platforms’ recently published (January 2005) Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) is entitled ‘Environment, energy and ressources’. Work under this pillar includes priorities such as: hybrid technologies, advanced fuels from biomass and waste, fuel cells and hydrogen fuels, efficient low-emission internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEs) and advanced fuels and mobility management, road infrastructure design and advanced traffic management. The ERTRAC agenda has been a major guide in the formulation of the ‘Transport’ work programme for the EU’s Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7 2007-2013). The objective of this thematic priority is to develop integrated, safer, ‘greener’ and ‘smarter’ pan-European transport systems respectful of the environment and natural resources. The Commission has proposed a €4 billion 2007-2013 budget for transport. In addition to the ‘Transport’ thematic priority, FP7 will cover transport issues in four other areas: energy, environment, information and communication technologies and nanotech. The Commission’s Intelligent car initiative also addresses R&D in the area of smarter, cleaner and safer vehicles and aims to facilitate the take-up and use of research results. Research under this initiative is about using information and communication technologies (ICT) to help, for example, increase capacity management in freight transport with the aim of reducing fuel consumption. As to private-sector research, the ten major European vehicle manufacturers have, through their research association EUCAR , identified common research topics of high priority for the future road transport system. To move towards sustainable transport systems the industry is conducting research in, for example, the field of future fuels, advanced conventional powertrain technology, alternative powertrain technology, noise reduction and new materials. Read more with Euractiv Mandelson outlines tough new China policy The EU’s new ‘China strategy’ warns Beijing that it must play by WTO rules and open up its markets to European businesses if it wants the EU to stop raising protectionist barriers. Subscribe now to our newsletter EU Elections Decoded Email Address * Politics Newsletters Positions"A car manufacturer can reduce CO2 only if customers are ready to buy its products, and profitability generates sufficient financial resources. Currently, industry's efforts on supply side are hampered by changes in customer demand and new regulations," argues Luc Bastard, environmental regulations manager at Renault. "Today's business environment does not reward car manufacturers for developing and selling CO2-efficient vehicles. Future EU policies should create this reward and continuously support demand for those vehicles through co-ordinated fiscal measures." Bastard also thinks that a harmonised EU CO2 label for cars would better provide incentives. The research association of the ten major European vehicle manufacturers EUCAR states that "it is extremely welcome that, for the first time the 7th Framework Programme is set to include a specific programme to be dedicated to Transportation, in which the road transport sector will have a key role". A recent report on 'Transition to a sustainable energy system for Europe - the R&D perspective', adopted by the Commission's advisory group on energy, urges the development of European energy-research infrastructures. "We are weak in Europe, and worldwide, on energy research infrastructure," said John Wood, chairman of the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI). "Non-nuclear energy research infrastructures are very fragmented: the solar-energy research people work together, the wind-energy research people work together, and this even nationally speaking," added Hervé Pero, head of unit for research infrastructures at the Commission's Research Directorate-General. "The road transport industry is the largest R&D investor in Europe. It comprises many of the top research investing companies in the world, including the single largest R&D investor worldwide. It is thanks to this high investment in research and development that the European transport sector remains one of the most competitive in the world, and, to some extent, the challenge we face is to reproduce this dynamic through the whole European economy," said Science and Research Commissioner Janez Poto?nik. BackgroundAutomobile-sector research represents 30% of overall EU industrial R&D. Four of the top ten EU companies in R&D investment are car industry companies: DaimlerChrysler (number one R&D investor in Europe), Volkswagen, BMW, Robert Bosch. By comparison, four of the top six world R&D investors are car manufacturers, Ford Motors being the world's number one. The primary aims of these heavy private-research investments, around €20 billion a year, are to promote smarter, safer, greener and more energy-efficient automotive products. The Commission has proposed a €4 billion budget for the 'Transport' thematic priority (including all modes of transport and aeronautics) in FP7 for 2007-2013. Whereas the previous EU research framework programmes emphasised technology, design and manufacturing processes, they now aim increasingly to respond to larger societal needs, addressing issues of environmental performance, infrastructure, and mobility patterns. Timeline The FP7's work-programmes will be published after the FP7 has been officially adopted. Driving Lower Emissions: Future EU policy for fuel-efficient cars -event organised by Transport and Environment (T&E) took place on 13 September 2006. Transport Research Arena Europe 2006 conference took place on 12-15 June 2006. Further ReadingEU official documents Commission:Keep on rolling – Road Transport Research in the Seventh Framework Programme(June 2006) Commission:Research Challenges: Environment European Road Transport Research Advisory Council (ERTRAC)Strategic Research Agenda(January 2005) European Road Transport Research Advisory Council (ERTRAC) [publications] Commission:Amended proposal for the FP7(28 June 2006) [FR] [FR] [DE] Joint Research Centre:The 2006 EU Industrial R&D Investment Scoreboard(5 October 2006) Scadplus:i2010: Intelligent Car Initiative [FR] [FR] [DE] Business & Industry EUCAR - The European Council for Automotive R & D EUCAR - The European Council for Automotive R & D:Sustainability of Road Transportation Research Priorities & Research Targets by 2013 -EUCAR’s contribution to the content of the Specific Programs and Work Programs of FP7(14 July 2005) European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) European Association of Automotive suppliers (CLEPA)
