Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT… Oliver Obrist of Obrist DE GmbH
Interview of 31.10.2023
As sub-project leader of L-VIII, from this perspective, what has been achieved so far in the Carbon2Chem® joint project?
Oliver Obrist: Carbon2Chem® represents an important cornerstone for avoiding the use of fossil raw materials in industry and the automotive sector by demonstrating innovative ways to reduce CO2 emissions and to reduce the use of fossil raw materials. By converting process gases from various industries into synthetic fuels, plastics and basic chemicals, important steps are being taken towards sustainable and climate-friendly production.
The use of renewable energies and the integration of these technologies into the automotive sector help to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. This enables the creation of more environmentally friendly vehicles and contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector without increasing the cost of mobility for citizens. At the same time, the cross-industry network model provides the opportunity to implement these solutions on a large scale, making a significant contribution to avoiding the use of fossil fuels in industry and the automotive sector, and thus making a decisive contribution to addressing the global challenge of climate change.
What were the highlights?
Oliver Obrist: It is always impressive to see how test drives with the demonstration vehicles help to show the feasibility of climate protection in the mobility sector. The small Obrist Li-ion battery that powers the electric rear axle enables unparalleled driving dynamics. The combination of this battery system, with the Obrist developed "Zero Vibration Generator" (ZVG) unites the advantages of the old and the new world under the Hyper Hybrid concept.
Due to the increased energy efficiency of this concept, significant emission reductions can be achieved compared to conventional powertrains without compromising cost efficiency and range advantages to be compromised. But the highlight is the use of synthetically produced methanol from renewable electricity, such as that obtained from the Carbon2Chem® project. This innovative approach makes the concept a real game-changer. It makes CO2-neutral mobility truly affordable for the first time and shows the way to CO2-negative emissions in the transport sector. This is a significant step towards sustainable and environmentally friendly mobility.
What were the biggest challenges?
Oliver Obrist: Integrating the hybrid components into a series-production vehicle was particularly challenging, as error-free communication between the individual components and the vehicle's existing system must be guaranteed in every situation. To solve this problem, a vehicle controller was specially developed to control the drive components and interface with the vehicle.
Particular attention was also paid to NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness) during the integration process. Low noise levels are essential for a pleasant driving experience comparable to battery electric vehicles. Therefore, measures have been taken to address noise, vibration, and ride comfort issues. Examples would be the integration of upstream volumes in the engine's intake tract, which can effectively dampen intake noise. However, tuned damping of parts integrated into the vehicle is another important step to prevent resonances between the vehicle and the road, which could otherwise lead to vibrations and unwanted noise inside the vehicle.
Another problem known to research concerned the starting behavior of methanol-fueled engines. Several approaches were taken to address this problem. First, the engine control strategy was adapted, and a preheater was integrated. Second, thermal insulation was also implemented through the unique engine design. These are crucial steps to ensure that the motor starts reliably and thus a long runtime can be guaranteed.
Together with university project partners, extensive tests have been and are being carried out both on engine and roller test benches and in everyday use. These tests serve to verify the performance and reliability of the system in various situations and to verify the optimizations introduced.
What next steps are planned?
Oliver Obrist: In the coming development phase, the focus will be on practical everyday use. By using the vehicles in typical everyday situations, insights are to be gained to identify and overcome potential obstacles to the integration of methanol as a fuel. Topics such as fueling, the associated infrastructure and legal framework conditions play a central role here. In addition, optimization loops in emission reduction and NVH will be performed. Likewise, different methanol purities as fuel and methanol-gasoline blends are tested as possible "drop-in" solutions for existing vehicle fleets.