Mercedes Mullins
The search for new fuels to power cars is driven by the need to reduce emissions and move towards a greener future. While electric cars are currently the most realistic option, they have limitations, such as long charging times and impracticality for large vehicles like lorries. As a result, the automotive industry is exploring alternative fuels, including synthetic fuels, e-fuels, biofuels, and ammonia. Synthetic fuels, produced by separating water into hydrogen and oxygen and then combining them with CO2, offer a way to reduce emissions while extending the life of classic petrol and diesel-fuelled cars. E-fuels, a type of synthetic fuel, are carbon-neutral and can be used in existing fuel infrastructure. However, they are expensive to produce and energy-intensive. Ammonia, a zero-carbon fuel, has also been suggested as a viable alternative, especially for long-haul vehicles like lorries, due to its low cost and similar refuelling time to diesel. With ongoing research and investments, these new fuels could play a significant role in shaping the future of transportation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Synthetic fuels, e-fuels, e-kerosene, biofuels |
| Production process | Separating water into oxygen and hydrogen via electrolysis, then mixed with CO2 to make synthetic methanol, which can be refined into synthetic petrol or diesel |
| Environmental impact | Carbon-neutral, can be produced using renewable energy |
| Infrastructure requirements | Can be distributed via existing fuel stations |
| Cost | Expensive to produce, may become cheaper than fossil fuels in the future |
| Adoption | Supported by car manufacturers like Porsche and governments, with plans to blend with traditional fuel |
| Alternatives | Electric cars, hydrogen fuel, ammonia fuel |
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What You'll Learn
Synthetic fuels
The term "synthetic fuel" refers to fuel that is created by humans to mimic naturally occurring fuels such as oil and gas. Synthetic fuels are made by separating water into oxygen and hydrogen through electrolysis. The hydrogen is then combined with CO2 to create synthetic methanol, which can be refined into synthetic petrol or diesel. This fuel can be used in existing internal combustion engines (ICE) and distributed through existing fuel infrastructure. Synthetic fuels are carbon-neutral and can reduce emissions by up to 85% compared to traditional fossil fuels.
While synthetic fuels show promise as an alternative to electric vehicles, particularly for classic car owners, they are currently very expensive to produce and require a lot of electricity. Synthetic fuels may become more affordable in the future, but they are not yet widely available at a reasonable price.
Some car manufacturers, such as Porsche, are investing in the development of synthetic fuels to keep their motorsport programs running and to offer a greener option to their customers. The German government is also contributing funds to support the development of synthetic fuels, indicating that they are being considered as a viable alternative to fossil fuels and electricity for vehicles.
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e-Fuels
One of the main advantages of e-fuels is that they are carbon-neutral, meaning the carbon dioxide emitted while driving an e-fuel-powered car is offset by the carbon dioxide captured during the production process. This makes e-fuels a more environmentally friendly option than traditional petrol or diesel fuels, which pump carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Additionally, e-fuels can be dispensed from existing infrastructure, such as regular filling stations, making them more accessible to consumers.
However, one of the challenges of e-fuels is the high energy requirement needed to produce the necessary hydrogen. This has led to concerns about the potential impact on renewable electricity resources needed for other sectors of the economy. E-fuels are also currently very expensive to produce, with estimates suggesting that running a car on e-fuels over five years will cost a driver €10,000 more than a battery-electric car. There are also concerns about the emissions produced by e-fuels, which are similar to those of petrol and diesel, including poisonous carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide.
Despite these challenges, some car manufacturers, such as Porsche, have expressed interest in e-fuels as a potential alternative to electric cars. Porsche has invested significantly in the development of e-fuels, recognising their potential to prolong the life of combustion engines in a more environmentally sustainable way. However, critics argue that the focus on e-fuels as a solution for cars is a dangerous distraction from the transition to electric vehicles, which remain a more efficient and cost-effective option.
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Ammonia
However, there are several challenges to using ammonia as a fuel for cars. Firstly, ammonia is a highly toxic and reactive substance, which makes it difficult to store and handle safely compared to other fuels. Its combustion characteristics, such as high minimum ignition energy and auto-ignition temperature, and low combustion speed compared to typical hydrocarbon fuels, have limited its use. Additionally, there is a lack of a widespread distribution network for ammonia fuel, and it has been associated with high nitrogen byproducts, which can lead to the production of ammonia and ozone in the atmosphere, causing acid rain.
Despite these challenges, there have been some developments in using ammonia as a fuel for cars. For example, researchers and engineers are exploring its use in fuel cells, which can convert the chemical energy of ammonia into electrical energy to power electric vehicles. China's GAC has also introduced a new car engine that runs on ammonia, showcasing it during its annual technology showcase. While it is not the first time ammonia has been used as a combustible fuel, GAC's engine is the first to use it outside the shipping and trucking industries. GAC claims that its engine has a high enough cylinder pressure to prevent excess nitrogen from being an issue.
While ammonia shows promise as a sustainable alternative to traditional fossil fuels, it is still in the early stages of development as a fuel for cars. Its toxicity and the lack of infrastructure to support its use as a fuel for passenger cars are significant hurdles that need to be addressed before it can become a widespread practice.
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Hydrogen
Creating pure hydrogen for vehicles requires a great deal of energy to "crack" a compound like natural gas (CH4) into pure H2, with CO2 as a byproduct. Most hydrogen today is derived from fossil fuels like natural gas. Run through a fuel cell, the hydrogen immediately gives back that energy, in the form of electricity, as soon as it combines with oxygen. Out of the exhaust pipe comes only water vapour (H2O).
A hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle (HFCV) uses the same kind of electric motor to turn the wheels as a battery-electric car. But it is powered not by a large, heavy battery but by a fuel-cell stack in which pure hydrogen (H2) passes through a membrane to combine with oxygen (O2) from the air, producing the electricity that turns the wheels, plus water vapour. Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles are technically a series hybrid, which is why they are sometimes classified as fuel-cell hybrid electric vehicles (FCHEV).
Since 2015, three hydrogen-powered cars have been offered for sale from three different car companies: the Honda Clarity Fuel Cell, the Hyundai Nexo SUV, and the Toyota Mirai. However, as of mid-2022, 17,000 or fewer hydrogen-powered vehicles can be found on U.S. roads. All of them will be in California, the sole state with a network of retail hydrogen fuelling stations to make the cars usable.
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Hybrid electric/synthetic fuel
The use of synthetic fuels in cars could reduce emissions by 85% while also allowing drivers to keep their petrol and diesel-fuelled cars. Synthetic fuels can be created using sustainable energy sources, such as wind power, and can be dispensed from existing filling stations. This means that drivers can continue to refuel their cars in seconds, rather than having to wait for time-consuming electric vehicle charging.
However, there are some drawbacks to synthetic fuels. They are very expensive to produce, particularly in small quantities, and the production process requires a lot of energy. While advocates claim that synthetic fuels will eventually become cheaper than fossil fuels, they will initially be around four times as expensive. There are also concerns about the carbon cost of shipping synthetic fuels, especially from locations such as Chile, where synthetic fuel facilities are being developed.
Despite these challenges, synthetic fuels have attracted significant investment from car manufacturers such as Porsche, BMW, and Toyota. These companies see potential in synthetic fuels as a way to extend the life of their combustion-engined vehicles and maintain their heritage and brand value.
In summary, hybrid electric/synthetic fuel vehicles offer a potential alternative to electric cars, providing a more environmentally friendly option for traditional combustion engine vehicles. While there are some challenges to be addressed, such as production costs and energy requirements, synthetic fuels have attracted interest and investment from several car manufacturers.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several new alternative fuels for cars being developed, including synthetic fuels, e-fuels, biofuels, and ammonia.
Synthetic fuels are carbon-neutral and can be used in internal combustion engines (ICE). They can be created using sustainable energy sources and can be distributed using existing fuel station infrastructure.
E-fuels, or electrofuels, are a type of synthetic fuel that can be used as an alternative to petrol for internal combustion engines. They are made by separating hydrogen and oxygen from water using electricity and then combining them with CO2 captured from the air. E-fuels are carbon-neutral and can be used in modern cars and heavy goods vehicles without modifications.
