The two companies, according to a joint note, "by renewing their strategic commitment to a low-carbon future and in compliance with the National Energy Strategy, pool their excellence in terms of experience and technological know-how with the aim of achieving a very significant level of reduction of emissions in the sector”.
In this context, Eni and FCA have identified the following areas of collaboration.
- The development of technologies and materials for theabsorption of natural gas, Adsorbed Natural Gas (ANG), which make it possible to improve the current technology linked to compressed natural gas in the automotive field. This is a collaboration to study new technologies and adsorbent materials that allow compressed gas to be transported at much lower pressures, reducing the weight of the tanks and increasing the autonomy on a full tank.
- The development of new technologies foruse of gas in transport, which allow, in addition to the use of compressed natural gas and liquefied natural gas, also that of methanol, an alcohol obtained from gas which, when used in fuel, allows the reduction of emissions. To this end, Eni has developed a new petrol with 20% alternative fuels (15% methanol and 5% bioethanol), now being tested jointly with FCA, with reduced CO emissions2 and other emissive components. The new fuel will fuel five Fiat's 500 fleet of Enjoy, Eni's car sharing with FCA for a long-term test. The use of the new gasoline is able to ensure beyond the 4% of CO emission reduction2 (2% during combustion plus another 2,3% deriving from the fuel production cycle and due to the bio component). In addition, to expand the scope of use of car sharing and reiterate the versatility and flexibility of the use of compressed gas, the Enjoy fleet will be enriched by Enjoy Cargo Fiat Doblò vans from the beginning of next year to the world of sharing devoted to the transport of things without constraint of picking points and delivery of the medium. The 20% of the fleet of Fiat Doblò will be powered by methane.
- The creation, also in collaboration with MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), of technologies and devices for capture and temporary storage on board vehicles of part of the CO2 produced by internal combustion engines. Bearing in mind that the transport contributes around the 23% to global CO emissions2 and that the share of only light vehicles is about 10%, this technology solution would significantly reduce CO emissions2 in the transport sector.
- With a view to further reduction of overall greenhouse gas emissions, the parties confirm their common interest in evaluating new fuel formulations to be applied to current engines, without substantial mechanical changes. The interest concerns, among other things, diesel formulations with an increased content of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) compared to the current one, added petrols with higher alcohol contents also from renewable sources and/or waste, use of new “friction reducer” additives.
Finally, the two companies agree to initiate and implement new collaborations with Italian and international Universities in order to create and train new professional profiles for the future.
Eni's CEO, Claudio Descalzi, commented: “Today we signed an alliance between two large companies in Italy, united by a commitment to a low carbon future. Pooling our technological know-how and our research skills with those of FCA, encouraged by the Prime Minister who hosted the signing ceremony, is an important initiative in this direction. A path that is strategic for Eni and which implies important actions on various fronts. In the field of mobility, Eni has already taken important steps, developing innovative green fuels with a low emission content. This important result is part of an integrated strategy, which goes from the reduction of CO emissions2 in all our activities, the promotion of natural gas as the cleanest fossil source and the bridge for transition to renewable energy, from experimenting green and alternative fuels to research in the field of renewable energies. With FCA, we are pursuing innovative projects that can offer significant contributions in terms of reducing emissions in the short term, and with ambitious, but definitely realistic, future goals. "
The CEO of FCA, Sergio Marchionne, commented: “Today our collaboration with Eni takes a significant step forward. I am very pleased to be able to count on the support of the Government in a phase in which the two most important companies in Italy combine their skills to reduce emissions in an incisive and permanent way. It is a common goal that speaks of responsibility and commitment; it speaks of the world we want to leave to future generations”.
