- Porsche plans to increase production of synthetic fuel
- The head of R&D at Porsche believes synthetic fuel will significantly aid in emissions reduction
- Ferrari is also investing in synthetic fuel; Toyota, Mazda, and Subaru are exploring e-fuels as a way to sustain internal combustion engines
Porsche is optimistic that by the end of this decade, synthetic “e-fuels” will substitute a substantial portion of traditional gasoline usage. This statement comes from Michael Steiner, the company’s research and development chief, during a recent interview with Autocar.
In 2022, Porsche launched a pilot plant for synthetic fuel in Chile, which creates an alternative gasoline by combining hydrogen with carbon dioxide drawn from the atmosphere, powered entirely by renewable energy. Steiner indicated to Autocar that this facility is intended to serve as a “role model” as the production of synthetic fuels expands.
Haru Oni synthetic fuel pilot plant in Punta Arenas, Chile
Porsche initially focused on synthetic fuel for niche applications, such as racing and classic cars, but Steiner now sees its potential for playing a significant role in lowering emissions from everyday vehicles alongside the push for electrification.
“We view this as a valuable supplementary strategy to e-mobility, as we believe it can provide environmental benefits more swiftly by allowing us to improve emissions from existing cars,” Steiner stated. He emphasized that even with fluctuating electric vehicle sales, new internal combustion engine models are still being produced and will continue to operate for the foreseeable future.
2024 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup race car being filled with e-fuel
Porsche asserts that capturing CO2 from the atmosphere effectively neutralizes the emissions produced when its synthetic fuels are burned in internal combustion engines. However, a 2021 report by the environmental organization Transport & Environment indicated that synthetic fuels produce pollution levels comparable to those of standard gasoline. Furthermore, the production and distribution of synthetic fuels require infrastructure similar to that of fossil fuels, making them less efficient than simply charging an electric vehicle.
It remains uncertain whether synthetic fuels can be competitively priced with conventional fossil fuels. However, this may not pose an issue for companies like Porsche or Ferrari, which is also exploring synthetic fuels as a potential solution for its luxury sports car lineup. Meanwhile, synthetic fuels are being jointly evaluated by Toyota, Subaru, and Mazda as a way to help sustain internal combustion engines, possibly in more accessible vehicles.
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