How do we become fossil free?
The process of phasing out fossil fuels is in full swing and the solutions that replace them are several.
At the moment, at DB Schenker we mainly use biodiesel (HVO and RME) and biogas, but the conditions for us to become completely emission-free improve every day. This by switching to electricity and eventually hydrogen. Today, we drive several different types of electric vehicles, everything from bicycles and parcel trucks to heavier trucks.
Electrification
Electricity is a really good solution and definitely a solution for the future. Today, electricity is commercially viable on our smaller vans. Even the larger distribution trucks are getting closer. Next up are the really heavy trucks where the technology is still under development.
Electric operation comes with some challenges: there must be a lot of electricity in the right place and at the right time. There must be enough charging stations and the power grid must withstand the pressure.
The environmental impact of the batteries is also important. There are many different producers of batteries, and it is important that they are produced with renewable electricity and that the batteries can be recycled.
Biogas
Biogas is mainly produced from residual products from agriculture. Gas is extracted from the manure, and a positive side effect of this is that the manure is refined during the process and produces a fertilizer of better quality.
Food waste from the cities is another product used in the production of biogas.
Liquid biogas plays an important role, especially for heavy traffic. Sweden's government has invested a lot of money in biogas and the strategy is that it will be around for many years to come.
Many biogas stations are prepared to convert to hydrogen, when the time is right.
Biodiesel
Biodiesel is either HVO which is made on pine oil or slaughter waste, or RME which is made on rapeseed. HVO and RME are helping us to phase out fossil fuels, but since the supply is limited, we see it as an interim solution.
The difficulty with biofuel is therefore the supply - there is not enough for the whole world.
In addition, there are dubious biofuels where the raw material cannot be considered sustainable. Legislation has made it more difficult to cheat, but of course it is absolutely crucial that the production of the raw material is sustainable.
In other words, HVO is fantastic in the short term, as a tool to get away from the use of oil. But for the future, we see other, more sustainable solutions.