Chevron VP Says ‘Variety of Solutions’ Needed to Reduce Transport Carbon Emissions

NEW YORK — Battery-electric vehicles will play a role in lowering emissions in the U.S. transportation sector, but so too will a myriad of other technologies, including hydrogen, compressed natural gas and renewable fuels, according to a Chevron vice president.

“There is a lot of opportunity in this space,” said Chris Jablonski, Chevron’s VP of downstream technology and services at the recent Reuters NEXT leadership summit in New York.

“If we can continue to develop technology that reduces the carbon intensity of these lower carbon liquid fuels, we have an opportunity to tap into the existing infrastructure. That will inherently be more affordable and reliable,” he said.

In 2021, the transportation sector was responsible for more than one quarter of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, with about 80% of those emissions coming from vehicles on the road — in other words, primarily cars and trucks.

While the Biden administration has set the nation on a course to eventually phase out gas-powered engines, industry insiders like Jablonski note that alternative fuels such as renewable gas blends and biodiesel can help decrease the lifecycle carbon intensity of vehicles currently on the road.

“I see a lot of potential through technology and innovation, industry collaboration and policy evolution to get us on a better track to realize our lower carbon ambitions,” he said at the Reuters event.

Toward that end, Chevron is collaborating with industry partners and others to help build a portfolio of fuel options that will contribute to lower carbon intensity and give customers options.

For instance, the company has teamed with Toyota to raise awareness of renewable gasoline blends, a drop-in fuel that works with existing internal combustion engines and infrastructure.

Chevron is also working with Cummins, the multinational engine manufacturer, to research, develop and deploy lower carbon intensity fuels such as hydrogen, compressed natural gas, renewable natural gas, biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel.

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