Synthetic Fuel's Future: Can It Save The Gasoline Car?

Synthetic fuel is a liquid fuel that replicates the combination of carbon and hydrogen found in petroleum but derives these elements from other sources. It is sustainable and carbon-neutral and can be created using sustainable energy sources. It reduces emissions by 85% and lowers the carbon footprint by 70% compared to petroleum fuels. However, it is expensive to produce and suffer from low energy efficiency compared to battery-electric vehicles.

Electrofuels have a carbon footprint that is at least 70% smaller than that of petroleum fuels

Electrofuels, also known as e-fuels, are a class of synthetic fuels which function as drop-in replacement fuels for internal combustion engines. They are manufactured using captured carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide, together with hydrogen obtained from water splitting. Electrolysis is possible with both traditional fossil fuel energy sources, as well as low-carbon electricity sources such as wind, solar and nuclear power. The process uses carbon dioxide in manufacturing and releases around the same amount of carbon dioxide into the air when the fuel is burned, for an overall low carbon footprint. Electrofuels have a carbon footprint that is at least 70% smaller than that of petroleum fuels throughout their production cycle. These synthetic fuels are therefore an effective solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transport.

Synthetic fuels replicate the combination of carbon and hydrogen found in petrol and diesel

Synthetic fuels are designed to replicate the combination of carbon and hydrogen found in petrol and diesel. This is achieved by deriving these elements from other sources rather than extracting them from crude oil. The result is a liquid fuel that possesses all the properties of its natural equivalent, producing only around 15% of the emissions. This makes it a promising alternative for decarbonising motor vehicles.

The development of synthetic fuels has gained attention as car manufacturers have been focusing on electric cars and hybrids. Experts suggest that switching to a sustainable, carbon-neutral, synthetic liquid fuel is the fastest way to reduce CO2 from transport. The Volkswagen Group and Porsche have been pursuing the development of synthetic fuels, and Mazda became the first car manufacturer to join the eFuel Alliance in 2021.

One of the key advantages of synthetic fuels is their ability to reduce emissions by 85% while allowing drivers to continue using their existing petrol and diesel-fuelled cars. This is particularly important for those who wish to avoid the immediate costs and inconvenience of switching to electric vehicles. Additionally, synthetic fuels can be produced using sustainable energy sources, making them an environmentally friendly alternative.

However, there are some challenges associated with synthetic fuels. The production process is currently very expensive, especially in small quantities. While advocates claim that synthetic fuels will become cheaper over time, the initial cost is around four times higher than fossil-based fuels. This has led to plans to gradually mix synthetic and traditional fuel, starting with a 4% mixture by 2025 and gradually increasing to 100% by 2050.

Despite the challenges, synthetic fuels offer a promising solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transport. Their low carbon footprint and ability to replicate the properties of petrol and diesel make them a viable alternative for decarbonising motor vehicles. As the world seeks to address climate change concerns, synthetic fuels may play a crucial role in reducing the environmental impact of the transportation sector.

Volkswagen and Porsche are pursuing the development of synthetic fuels

Porsche and Volkswagen are pursuing the development of synthetic fuels as an alternative to gas-powered cars. These synthetic fuels, known as eFuels, are produced from renewable energy sources and aim to replicate the combination of carbon and hydrogen found in fossil fuels.

The development of synthetic fuels has been a long-standing focus for Porsche, with the company building the perfect "alternative" to gas-powered cars while retaining the iconic Porsche aesthetic. Michael Steiner, who is in charge of Research and Development at Porsche, believes that eFuels are a fundamental component for operating the existing fleet in a sustainable manner.

Porsche and international partners have started the industrial production of synthetic fuels, and the company aims to significantly drive forward the development of synthetic fuels. Porsche wants to change the poor availability of synthetic fuels and believes that with electricity alone, you can't move forward fast enough.

The Volkswagen Group has also been pursuing the development of synthetic fuels for a couple of decades. Porsche, which is part of the VW Group, is among the latest to stick its head above the parapet with a racing project.

The development of synthetic fuels has been a promising alternative to conventional engine cars, offering low- or CO2-neutral running. However, experts have questioned the relevance of synthetic fuels for decarbonising motor vehicles due to their low energy efficiency compared with battery-electric vehicles.

Mazda is the first car manufacturer to join the eFuel Alliance

Mazda has become the first automotive manufacturer to join the eFuel Alliance, which supports the use of synthetic CO2-neutral fuels to reduce transport emissions. The Japanese car brand believes that e-fuels can help reduce emissions from existing internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, to support the adoption of new electric vehicles (EVs).

The eFuel Alliance brings together organisations and interested parties that support the goal of establishing and promoting CO2-neutral e-fuels and hydrogen as a credible and real contributor to reducing emissions in the transport sector.

Mazda has always been a strong advocate of a multi-solution approach, that combines different technologies, as the best way forward to reduce emissions. Electrification is a key pillar within Mazda’s multi-solution strategy and by 2030 all Mazda vehicles will be electrified. However, many vehicles will continue to have an internal combustion engine.

Synthetic fuels aim to replicate the combination of carbon and hydrogen in petrol and diesel but derive them from other sources. They can be created using sustainable energy sources and reduce emissions by 85%. However, they are very expensive to produce, particularly in the small quantities that the Chilean plant is proposing. While their advocates claim that synthetic fuels will be as cheap – if not cheaper – than their fossil-based equivalents, the reality is that they will initially be around four times as expensive.

There has been an acknowledgement of this fact – and this is why one plan is to gradually mix together synthetic and traditional fuel, starting with a 4% mixture by 2025 rising to 100% by 2050. While this would give time for the amounts being produced to rise up to meet demand, it wouldn’t address the pressing climate change concerns that the world faces and which need more immediate action.

Experts have been saying for years that the fastest way to reduce CO2 from transport is to switch to a sustainable, carbon-neutral, synthetic liquid fuel that existing vehicles can run on. The result is a liquid fuel that has all of the properties of its natural equivalent, which produces only around 15% of the emissions. In theory, any vehicles that run on petrol or diesel could also work perfectly on the synthetic alternative.

Electrofuels are expensive to produce and will be four times as expensive initially

Electrofuels are expensive to produce using today’s technology. Electrofuels synthesized from green hydrogen and carbon dioxide captured from the atmosphere allow continued use of existing airplanes and other liquid hydrocarbon-dependent infrastructure in a net-zero emission world. Electrofuels would probably be at least five times the price of oil products, even when made in large quantities. Electrofuels may become the dominant source of energy for flying, even with today’s costs.

Electrofuels are expensive to produce using today’s technology, solar- or wind-powered electrofuels could approach cost parity with petroleum jet fuel by 2050. Electrofuels production using commercially available low-temperature DAC would be substantially more expensive than petroleum jet fuel, shown in Figure 2 at $4.41–$4.66 per liter of gasoline equivalent (lge), compared to the average US pre-tax jet fuel price of $0.59/lge from 2010 to 2019.

Electrofuels can be used in internal combustion engines but to power Europe’s road transport fleet with liquid e-fuels, the EU would have to generate one and a half times more than its current total electricity production. Electrofuels are too inefficient and expensive for cars and trucks, but may be part of aviation's climate solution.

Frequently asked questions