We already know that technology is everywhere, right? Well, now, imagine driving along and a vehicle passes by you that, instead of using gasoline (like conventional vehicles) or lithium batteries, is powered by another substance. We would be thinking of something new, right? Because, at the moment, we don’t know much beyond the conventional, the electric and the hybrid… Well, now, something as common as ammonia could be opening the doors to a huge change in the industry, and this compound that we normally associate with cleaning products could be the protagonist of this revolution! The Chinese automotive giant Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC) has just turned the tables by presenting an engine that uses ammonia as an energy source. Although the idea sounds futuristic and strange, it has sparked all kinds of comments. Is it really viable or are we just going crazy?
Why ammonia?
First of all, it is easier to store than hydrogen (it remains liquid at low pressures). Also, its distribution infrastructure already exists (because it is massively used in agriculture as a fertilizer). However, the most striking thing for the environment is that it is a carbon neutral compound, which means that it does not emit carbon dioxide (CO₂) when burned. So, this would become the main sustainable alternative to fossil fuels.
GAC’s engine, a 2.0-liter that generates 161 horsepower, promises to reduce emissions by an impressive 90% compared to traditional gasoline engines. Sounds like the perfect solution, right?
Does ammonia have risks?
Like everything in life, nothing is simple… Despite the advantages we find in this compound, it also brings with it a few problems that make it difficult to implement on a massive scale.
On the one hand, its toxicity is extreme, when it comes into contact with the skin or is inhaled it can trigger health damage, and in a vehicle the risk of leakage is quite large. And if we think about the problems it can cause in marine life… just forget it.
On the other hand, and if we compare it with gasoline, ammonia has a much higher ignition point than gasoline, and generates less, so engines would have to be redesigned so that the efficiency was real and one a lie. In addition to everything, if it is not burned correctly it could generate harmful gases such as nitrogen oxides (NOx).
So, is ammonia the future or not?
It is a risky bet and, in order for it to be fully implemented, many tests would have to be carried out to determine its safety (remember that it can be lethal in humans and in marine environments…), however, it may have a great future in sectors such as heavy transport or energy generation because these are sectors that are already accustomed to working with dangerous substances and could benefit from this novel proposal.
To this end, there are already companies (such as MAN Energy Solutions) that are developing engines that can operate with both methanol and ammonia, so the future of some sectors could indeed be full of this substance, although not the future of passenger vehicles.
So, although GAC’s proposal is quite interesting and draws a lot of attention (especially considering current trends), it must be made clear that more research is needed because the road is not a bed of roses. The future has to be clean and safe for everyone!