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Annual reports: 2010 - 2009 - 2008 - 2007 - 2006 - 2005 - 2004 - 2003 - 2002

Chairman's Message of Annual Report 2010

In 2010, there was considerable news on and enthusiasm about electric vehicles. Major auto manufacturers are now beginning production of electric vehicles. However, start-up will be slow, and it will take many years — if not decades — before electric vehicles really make an impact.

Meanwhile, we have to make sure that internal combustion (ICE) -equipped vehicles become cleaner, more energy efficient, and — to some extent — more fuel-flexible. The development of engines, exhaust after-treatment, and fuels must go hand-in-hand. We cannot achieve very low emission levels with low-grade fuels. In the case of biofuels, to really make an impact, we need either improved biofuels or dedicated vehicles to enable the use of high-concentration biofuels. We also need sustainable biofuels from feedstocks that are not needed for food production. Here, we have a good opportunity for cooperation with International Energy Agency (IEA) Bioenergy. Both AMF and Bioenergy have worked on algal fuels, and a combined report with a common summary is forthcoming.

One could say that methane fuels are undergoing a renaissance. Horizontal drilling, along with hydraulic fracturing (often called fracking or hydrofracking), has increased the yields of natural gas. Vertical drilling has increased the yields of natural gas and is receiving a lot of interest. Biogas (bio-methane) is also receiving a lot of interest. On the vehicle side, bi-fuel light-duty vehicles are performing very well. As for heavy-duty vehicles, we need technologies like dual-fuel or direct-injection to reach diesel-like engine efficiency. One of the topical themes AMF is exploring is heavy-duty methane engines.

The Advanced Motor Fuels Implementing Agreement presented its new Strategic Plan and its request for extension to the Committee of Energy Research and Technology (CERT) of the International Energy Agency in 2009. At its June 2009 meeting, CERT approved the extension of AMF for a period of five years. Consequently, the year 2010 was the first full year of the new phase of AMF. In a way, renewal was the main theme in 2010 — renewal in terms of implementation of the new strategic plan and the start of new Annexes but also renewal of administration.

AMF arranged two ExCo meetings in 2010: the spring meeting in Ottawa, Canada, and the fall meeting in Thessaloniki, Greece. The spring ExCo meeting was arranged in conjunction with the annual Transportation Technologies & Fuels Forum (TTFF), which was co-sponsored by Natural Resources Canada and the U.S. Department of Energy. This meeting gave an excellent opportunity for AMF to network with the North-American players in the field of vehicle technology and transportation fuels. It also gave an opportunity for researchers from Argonne National Laboratory (United States), Environment Canada, Natural Resources Canada, and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland — all working in the Bus Project (Annex 37) — to meet face to face.

At the meeting in Ottawa, AMF selected a new Secretary. Claës Pilo — who has been with the committee since its start in 1984 and has served the Committee well as Secretary since 1997 — retired in 2010. The whole Committee acknowledges Claës Pilo for his dedicated and successful service to AMF. The new Secretary is Ms. Dina Bacovsky from Austria. Ms. Bacovsky is very knowledgeable in the field of biofuels. Moreover, she constitutes a natural link to IEA Bioenergy, as she is active within Bioenergy’s Task 39, “Commercialising Liquid Biofuels from Biomass.” To enable a smooth, seamless transition, Dina Bacovsky and Claës Pilo worked side-by-side in the fall of 2010.

Greece is one of the new countries interested in joining AMF. Hence, the fall meeting was arranged in Thessaloniki. The programme included interesting visits to facilities in the fuel industry, as well as research institutes. Greek researchers are very advanced in such areas as surface chemistry, nanomaterials, and fuel processing. The meeting in Thessaloniki was exceptional in the sense that no fewer that four new Annexes were started. The themes of the new Annexes are:

· Life Cycle Analysis of Transportation Fuel Pathways
· Alternative Fuels for Marine Applications
· Toxicity of Exhaust Gases and Particles from IC Engines
· Performance Evaluation of Passenger Car Fuel and Powerplant Options

In particular, the Annex on marine fuels represents an opening in a new direction.

The administrative regenerations also continued in Thessaloniki. Mr. Jean-Francois Gagne of Natural Resources Canada was elected new Chairman, and Dr. Shinichi Goto from the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) was chosen as new Vice Chairman for Asia. To provide continuity, the outgoing Chairman will continue as Vice Chairman for Europe.

To streamline operations, it was also agreed the new Secretary will take over production of the quarterly AMFI newsletter. Ms. Päivi Aakko-Saksa of VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, who was responsible for the newsletter 2004–2010, was complimented on her efforts in making the AMFI newsletter a high-quality, widely spread publication.

Personally, I think that the AMF Implementing Agreement is in good shape and doing well. We are putting in some extra work in the 2010 Annual Report in an effort to reach out and make it more interesting and attractive to readers outside the AMF Committee. Renewal is one important element in keeping the Agreement alive and thriving. I’m confident that Jean-Francois will do a great job at the helm of AMF, assisted by Dina as a navigator. I would like to end this preface by repeating the whole Committee’s sincere thanks to Claës for his long-lasting valuable service to the Committee. I also extend my thanks to Jean-Francois and Mr. Kazunori Nagai, who have served well as my Vice Chairmen.

Dr. Nils-Olof Nylund
Outgoing AMF Chairman

Disclaimer: Advanced Motor Fuels is an Implementing Agreement of the International Energy Agency (IEA). Views, findings and publications of
the IEA Advanced Motor Fuels Agreement do not necessarily represent the views or policies of the International Energy Agency.
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