A software solution Bosch digital fuel twin is now available. It certifies the use of renewable synthetic fuels, also measuring the footprint of each refueling operation in terms of “Life Cycle Assessment.” A concrete contribution to overcoming those environmental extremisms that envision the future of transportation, industrial machinery, and agricultural equipment as being based exclusively on electric power
According to the most narrow-minded form of environmental extremism, from 2035 onwards no newly produced machines should be powered by anything other than electric solutions. An absurdity that is already causing significant damage to European industries, will certainly generate major social and economic problems, and that more open and rational policymakers within the European Union are trying to counter. Their approach is to allow the use of internal combustion engines even after 2035, provided they are powered by synthetic fuels produced from renewable sources and free of carbon emissions.
These products are already on the market in several Northern European countries, though their use is currently left to consumer choice and is not officially certified. Addressing this very issue is a software solution developed by Bosch called Bosch “Digital Fuel Twin.” Once installed onboard a vehicle or machine, it records the use of low-climate-impact fuels, documenting the reduction in CO₂ emissions achieved compared to fossil-derived fuels.
“Digital Fuel Twin” thus allows companies to prove their use of renewable synthetic fuels, providing verifiable data on the quantities consumed and the carbon footprint of the fuel used for each vehicle. Such data can be used in corporate reports both to meet current reporting obligations and to comply with future requirements. The software also reliably tracks all climate-relevant phases of a fuel, from production to end use, including the supply chain. This is achieved by creating a database accessible to both renewable synthetic fuel producers and the companies using them, making it possible to know how much fuel was purchased and when.
The system processes all this data and, if the recorded quantities and timing match company records and the information from pumps and sensors at transfer points, issues the relevant certifications. The software is currently being tested in collaboration with multiple stakeholders across the entire fuel supply chain. It is also undergoing a European-level trial with a fleet of vehicles running exclusively on renewable synthetic fuels at public stations.
A Decision Expected This Year
The European Union is expected to decide shortly on the future use of synthetic fuels, as they are already available at more than 5,000 fueling stations across Europe, most of them located in Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands. They are offered both as “HVO 100” diesel and as “E85” gasoline blends, and in both cases, they are derived from plant-based materials. This means they do not release additional carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
HVO 100 is produced from hydrotreated and recycled vegetable oils, used cooking oils, and plant residues. Overall—considering both the CO₂ emissions from the fuel itself and those generated during its production—the reduction in CO₂ emissions can reach up to 90% compared to the equivalent derived from crude oil.
Title: Bosch digital fuel twin: one step closer
Translation with ChatGPT
