Stellantis Invests Additional $55M in Archer
Stellantis, one of the world’s leading automakers, recently invested another $55 million in Archer, a company that aims to revolutionize the urban air mobility market with its eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft. This investment, which follows an initial $30 million investment from Stellantis earlier this year, demonstrates the automaker’s commitment to sustainable transportation solutions and its belief in Archer’s disruptive technology.
The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) Announces Pilot Program for Sustainable Marine Fuels
Recreational boating is a popular pastime in the United States, with an estimated 12 million recreational boats on the water and generating $31 billion for the state’s economy annually. However, recreational boating is not without environmental consequences, contributing to approximately 0.1% of global carbon emissions. To address this issue, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) has launched a pilot program to introduce sustainable marine fuels.
The Importance of Sustainable Marine Fuels
Recent research has shown that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to reducing carbon emissions in recreational boating. With so many diverse boat types and varied use cases, a range of technologies is needed to achieve meaningful reductions in emissions. However, sustainable marine fuels offer an immediate and practical solution to this problem.
Sustainable marine fuels are made from a range of renewable materials, including cooking oil waste, animal fats, and plant-based materials. They can be used in powerboat engines without changes or modifications to the current fuel systems, making them a simple and accessible option for boat owners. Unlike traditional fossil fuels, sustainable marine fuels are significantly less polluting and can reduce carbon emissions by up to 30% more than E10 fuels at the same renewable content.
Pilot Program for Sustainable Marine Fuels
The NMMA’s pilot program will take place at St. Andrews Marina in Panama City, Florida, and will make new high-performance, 93-octane, ethanol-free premium gasoline available to boaters for the first time. Beginning in July, Purfuels gasoline (a partially renewable gasoline produced by Hyperfuels) will be available at the marina. Purfuels is a specific formulation that reduces CO2 emissions and is a first step in reducing carbon emissions from recreational boating.
The pilot program is in partnership with Suzuki Marine and aims to identify the process and systems needed to ship, store, and distribute sustainable marine fuels. The information gathered during the pilot program will inform distribution models around the country and globe, helping to accelerate the adoption of sustainable marine fuels as a practical solution for reducing carbon emissions from recreational boating.
Future Solutions for Sustainable Marine Propulsion
While sustainable marine fuels represent an important step in reducing carbon emissions from recreational boating, they are not the only solution. Future fuels, such as synthetic or e-fuels, have the potential to become fully carbon-neutral and may play an important role in achieving a sustainable future for recreational boating.
The International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA) has released findings from their Pathways to Propulsion Decarbonisation for the Recreational Marine Industry research and launched the Propelling Our Future educational initiative in 2023, which aims to raise awareness of the variety of technology solutions needed to continue to reduce boating emissions in the future.
With the support of industry partners and initiatives like the NMMA’s pilot program for sustainable marine fuels, the recreational marine industry has already made significant strides in reducing carbon emissions and increasing fuel efficiency over the past 20 years. As we look to the future, continued innovation and investment in sustainable solutions will be crucial to achieving a more sustainable and environmentally friendly recreational boating industry.
Originally Post From https://www.greencarcongress.com/2024/07/20240703-nmma.html
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