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SUSTAINABLE
MOBILITY

LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS

Evaluations of the environmental efficiency of different types of fuels and vehicles power sources, it is necessary to consider the effect not only while driving the vehicle, called “tank-to-whell” phase, but it must include the"well-to-wheel" concept, in which "all material and energy flows consumed by fuel production processes and emitted into the environment in its use are accounted for, from the extra action of natural resources, acquisition or production and treatment of biomass, its conversion into bio fuel, including all transportation phase upto the fueling stations.

In the vehicle use phase,the share of carbon emissions from the burning of biofuels in enginesis considered neutral in terms of climate impact, because the CO2 released into the atmosphere in this process is generated from the biological carbon cycle. This is called "biogenic carbon" and it is different from the burning of fossil fuel, which involves long-term cycling through geological processes (geological carbon cycle).

Thus, the green house gas (GHG) emission avoided by bio fuels is associated with the substitution process of its fossil fuel competitor during the whole well-to-whell process, and note xclusively derive from the absorption of CO2 by sugarcane

In other words, to avoid GHG emissions, it is necessary not only ethanol consumption occurs instead of gasoline, butalsoto minimize the emission of non-reclyclable CO2 while processing the raw material and its conversion into biofuel.

The control and efficiency of lowering bio fuels GHG emissions in Brazil is made through Renova Bio program, which rewards the achievement of lower carbon intensities compared to the replaced fossil fuel.

It is imperative to implement such a system to assure the environmental and economical benefits of a biofuels policy.

ETHANOL BLEND

Transport is responsible for about ¼ of global greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). There is no single solution to reduce emissions. Urgent measures and complementary solutions are needed. Ethanol as a decarbonisation tool: present in more than 70 countries, which account for around 75% of the world gasoline/petrol market.

Flex fuel vehicles are built with a technology that allows them to run with 100% ethanol, fossil fuels or any mixture of the two. This gives drivers more choice and, when choosing ethanol, empowers them to help reduce air pollution. Ethanol saves up to 90% GHG emissions, when compared to fossil fuels.

To fuel sustainable mobility, we need to continue investing in more efficient vehicles, new technologies, and low carbon fuels. Ethanol mixed with gasoline/petrol reduces fuels’ carbon footprint. Combined with more efficient vehicles, this can bring additional benefits in terms of emissions when considering the entire life cycle of the product.

The initial motivation for an ethanol blending policy in Brazil was to reduce dependence on imported oil, it also provided immeasurable benefits to climate change and public health. Air pollution caused by burning fossil fuels increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, lung and respiratory diseases and diabetes, and is responsible for the death of 4.2 million people per year according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Many crop-based biofuels, such as sugarcane, have a low net GHG emission thanks to the carbon capture provided by the plant’s growth. In addition, the oxygen contained in biofuel molecules such as sugarcane ethanol makes internal combustion engines highly efficient and reduces the formation of many hazardous substances, including toxic fine particulate matter. Many crop-based biofuels, such as sugarcane, have a low net GHG emission thanks to the carbon capture provided by the plant’s growth. In addition, the oxygen contained in biofuel molecules such as sugarcane ethanol makes internal combustion engines highly efficient and reduces the formation of many hazardous substances, including toxic fine particulate matter.

The mixture of 27% ethanol with gasoline (E27) adopted in Brazil provides a 15% reduction in CO2eq emissions compared to pure gasoline. When the E27 is used in hybrid cars, the CO2eq reduction can reach 50% when compared to an engine running on pure gasoline. These results are instantaneous once the proper policies are in place.

FLEX FUEL

Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) have been present in the Brazilian automotive market since March 2003, when mass production and commercialization significantly increased in Brazil and accelerated the race to produce alternative fuels. In just over 17 years, this technology has come to dominate the Brazilian market. In recent years FFV have accounted for 98% of new cars sold nationally. Now, 80% of vehicles (30 million units) and 34% of motorcycles (5 million units) in Brazil are flex-fuel.

This major shift in vehicle production has brought numerous environmental and economic benefits to the country. From March 2003 to 2022, ethanol consumption (anhydrous and hydrous) saved 600 million tons of CO2eq being emitted into the atmosphere. By way of reference, it would require planting 4 billion native trees over the next 20 years to achieve the same CO2 savings. The use of ethanol in Brazil over the past two decades, has resulted in saving over 100 billion liters of fossil fuels from being consumed and imported, a cost savings estimated at USD 50 billion.

CIRCULAR ECONOMY