Aramco Asia contributes to the “China Automobile Low Carbon Action Plan (CALCP) 2020 Research Report”

Aramco’s Transport Chief Technologist, Dr. Amer A. Amer, articulating the future of sustainable transport and opportunities for LCA-based regulations.
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Aramco Asia's Strategic Transport Analysis Team (STAT) provided subject matter expertise in the multi-stakeholder “China Automobile Low Carbon Action Plan (CALCP) – 2020 Research Report”.

The study was led by Automotive Data Of China Co. ,Ltd.(ADC), an esteemed division within the independent think-tank China Automotive Technology And Research Center Co., Ltd. (CATARC), and had involved multiple industry and academic experts and several governmental organizations.

The report is an initiative to support China achieve peak GHG emissions by 2030, or as early as practicable, as part of its national commitment to address the challenges of the global climate.

The report demonstrates the importance of adopting a holistic life cycle assessment (LCA) approach when evaluating the GHG mitigation potential of transport technologies. It serves as an important first step towards informing technology development pathways and mainstreaming LCA in transport policymaking for China.

Amir F.N. Abdul-Manan, Aramco Asia's Head of Strategic Transport Analysis Team (China) commented on the report, “the report explores several combinations of energy sources and powertrain technologies to decarbonize the passenger transport sector. It demonstrates that the road towards zero-emissions will likely require a mix of complementary technological solutions, from the productions of different low-carbon energy sources to its use in various highly-efficient powertrain technologies.”

The report was highlighted by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology on its website: http://www.miit.gov.cn/n1146285/n1146352/n3054355/n3057542/n3057545/c8095232/content.html.

Enabling 30% GHG reduction throughout vehicle life cycle

The CALCP 2020 has reported that the life cycle GHG emissions of an average HEV and PHEV are comparable to an average BEV sold in China in 2019. When corrected for differences in vehicle curb weights, existing hybrid powertrains could already enable about 30% reduction in overall life cycle GHG emissions relative to traditional gasoline combustion engines.

Optimizing technologies on a life-cycle basis

The report also raises the prospect for enabling greater overall reduction in emissions by optimizing technologies on a life cycle basis, such as the use of drop-in low carbon electro-fuels in an efficient hybrid powertrain technology.

The report has highlighted that low carbon electro-fuels can unleash significant GHG reduction potential for the transport sector in China.

Electro-fuels are perfectly compatible with in-use vehicle fleets and existing supply-chain infrastructures. Therefore, its widespread adoption could accelerate decarbonization and facilitate China achieving peak emissions for the transport sector much sooner. However, this will require a conducive environment in order to overcome significant technical and commercial barriers.

Partnering with China for progress

The road towards zero-emissions will likely require a mix of complementary technological solutions – i.e. having the right technology, at the right time, in the right location and for the right sector.

Aramco Asia is proud to partner with China, through ADC CATARC, to advance the use of sound science to inform technological developments and policy discussions in order to support China achieve its ambition to peak GHG emissions by 2030.

Aramco’s Transport Chief Technologist, Dr. Amer A. Amer, articulating the future of sustainable transport and opportunities for LCA-based regulations.

 

Background info

Automotive Data Of China Co.,Ltd.(ADC) builds on the big data of the automotive industry, uses model-based algorithms as its pillar, and engages in studies on prospective and generic technologies, dedicating itself to building a solution provider, a professional software provider and an authoritative service provider. It comprises of the Data Division, the Software Division, the Consultation Division and the Smart Division. It has created an innovative team of talents that is influential internationally and formulated as its mission to drive industrial digital transformation and smart leadership into the future. It persists in quality growth strategies, to contribute to the growth of CATARC into a first-rate corporation in the world.

China Automotive Technology and Research Center Co., Ltd. (CATARC), established in 1985, is a central government-level enterprise belonging to the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council and a comprehensive science and technology corporate group with extensive influence in the automotive industry home and abroad.

Aramco's Strategic Transport Analysis Team (STAT) was established in 2013 to provide insights on the impacts of technologies, policies, and the market on the future of sustainable transport. As an organization within Aramco's Research & Development Center, STAT provides input to guide development of in-house transport technologies, whilst availing scientific evidences to inform policy discussions worldwide.

Aramco's STAT is strategically located worldwide to leverage established and emerging regional innovation ecosystems that have the potential to shape the future of mobility. With its headquarters in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, STAT has built presences in Detroit, Paris, and Shanghai. STAT Shanghai is the first STAT presence in Asia to tap into China's emerging automotive technology leadership.