Overall, ammonia engines offer a better potential as a low-emission option compared to ICEs. Several automakers ( Toyota ) are already working on the tech, and the American Chemical Society also takes a deep dive into what the innovation offers for future vehicles.
Decarbonizing the Internal Combustion Engine
Researchers and automakers are exploring new options to power traditional internal combustion engines as the carbon footprint of cars comes under increasing scrutiny. One potential option that has arisen is ammonia, a nitrogen but especially a hydrogen compound.
In comparison to the usual gasoline or diesel, ammonia is a carbon-neutral, renewable-energy source fuel. Ammonia produces no emissions when burned in an engine other than water and nitrogen, which are both non-toxic, rendering the repurposed lower-cost fossil fuels a cleaner option. This is why ammonia is often seen as an appealing alternative for automakers wanting to decarbonize their fleets and help pave the way towards a more sustainable future.
They promise that they can build on the existing internal combustion engine technology with few modifications being needed to take up the new fuel source. This provides a more low-hanging solution than ripping out and replacing the drivetrain in all those vehicles entirely. Ammonia engines could be the answer to an affordable and feasible approach to a lower-emission transport system, using something we know quite well.
Overcoming Challenges
Ammonia engines offer promise, but there are some hurdles ahead before this technology can hope to compete on a large scale.
Nonetheless, one of the largest concerns is the storage and handling of ammonia. Since ammonia is a toxic and caustic substance, this delivery material infrastructure must include the compensation to safely move and store it. They will also have to invest in creating a very strong system for dealing with the risks of ammonia use, automakers and infrastructure providers.
Another problem is the energy efficiency of ammonia engines about models with gasoline or diesel engines. The energy density of ammonia is paltry compared to traditional fossil fuels, which means that more ammonia would be needed for an equivalent amount of power. Such performance could lower driving range or boost fuel consumption, which would hurt the overall appeal and practicality of ammonia-powered vehicles.
The manufacture of ammonia, in turn, is energy intensive and usually uses fossil fuels to provide the necessary energy. To fully realize the environmental benefits of ammonia engines, such as how they produce carbon dioxide-free emissions, the entire supply chain will need to be decarbonized from renewable energy sources up through even refining more efficient manufacturing processes that create fewer emissions.
Addressing these issues will require massive funding, technology innovation and collaboration between auto companies, power suppliers and policy-makers. Solving these problems will become an imperative aspect towards the more significant dissemination of this new technology, as development continues with ammonia engines.
Conclusion
Ammonia engines could offer a rare solution to the looming challenge of decarbonizing transportation. It may not come to fruition as the result of a seamless process, but those players who work together on developing this new technology will be instrumental in forming public policy accordingly. Like turning straw into gold: This would not only tackle the issue of storage of ammonia, associated loss in efficiency and supply chain but also lay a viable path to e-missionize the internal combustion engine.
