Environmental Technologies and Eco-innovation in the Czech ...

hybrid drives that can be, thanks to their modular concept, adapted to the needs of car
manufacturers. Their benefit is the reduction of fuel consumption by up to 30% and
therefore a marked decrease in CO 2 emissions – with spark-ignition engines by up to
25% and compression-ignition hybrid drives by up to 20%. Due to their higher price
compared to classical vehicles, the rate of use is relatively low in the Czech Republic.
However, with a gradual increase in the number of competitors and production volumes,
a reduction in the price of these technologies expansion can be anticipated.
3.3 | Vehicles consuming fuels with high
contents of organic components
Škoda Auto a.s. has developed the Octavia Combi FlexFuel model that can be fuelled
by a high-percentage ethanol blend. Materials that are more resistant to aggressive
fuels are used for valve seats and the engine’s fuel assembly. Due to ethanol’s poor
evaporation at low temperatures, the engine is equipped with a preheating unit.
A control unit is adjusted to provide for the engine’s smooth running when fuelled
by arbitrary blends of E85 and petrol. A vehicle fuelled by E85 complies with the
Euro 4 3 and Euro 5 4 limits. In the Czech Republic, flexi fuel vehicles are currently not
sold. The reason is lacking infrastructure, missing tax allowances for E85 biofuels and
insufficient legislative support.
All current Zetor engines are adapted for consuming 100% ROME as well as
more common blends of 30% ROME and 70% diesel oil. Since 2007, there has
been development in fuel assemblies for pure vegetable oil. Several functioning
prototypes are in long-term testing stage.
TABLE 6 | A comparison of emission factors of E85 mixed fuel and emission limits [g.km -1 ]
Personal vehicle – fuel
CO
[g.km -1 ]
NO x
[g.km -1 ]
HC
[g.km -1 ]
Limit Euro 4 – petrol 1.000 0.080 0.100
Limit Euro 5 – petrol 1.000 0.060 0.100
Ford Focus Flexi Fuel – E85 0.145 0.012 0.026
SOURCE | Transport Research Centre
3 Euro 4 – emission standard for passenger vehicles valid since October 2005
4 Euro 5 – emission standard for passenger vehicles valid since October 2009