Table of content
Synthetic fuel: what it is, when it will be available and how it differs from conventional fuel
Is it just another eco-hype or can it be turned into a reality for the automotive industry? This article investigates the potential of synthetic fuel for making internal-combustion engines carbon neutral, as well as how it differs from biofuel.
What is synthetic fuel?
In contrast to conventional petrol and diesel, synthetic fuel comes from renewable sources and is artificially produced. It is essentially produced to have the same properties as normal fuel but without the large carbon footprint.
While the use of synthetic fuels for cars is not yet widespread, alternative fuels are being introduced in small doses. For example, the E10 petrol now commonly used across the UK and Europe contains 10% ethanol, a biofuel derived from grains, sugarcane, straw and waste wood.
Synthetic fuels are a particularly attractive alternative to electric vehicles as they can already be used in standard internal combustion vehicles, meaning that you won’t necessarily need a conversion or fancy new engine, filter or fuel pump for the car. The issue is that they are still quite complex and expensive to produce as renewable energy infrastructure is still in development.
How is synthetic fuel made?
While the terms like biofuel and e-fuel are regularly used interchangeably, they actually describe different types of fuel and how they’re made. In contrast to other types, e-fuels are made by primarily using electricity to combine hydrogen and carbon dioxide to produce power.
Ideally, the electricity is first generated from a renewable source, such as solar, wind or hydro power. This power is then used to separate the hydrogen and oxygen from atoms in H2O. The hydrogen and carbon dioxide are then mixed together through chemical synthesis to create an eco-friendly fuel.
PURFLUX Fuel filter
Filter Insert
Article number: FCS921
£ 32,72
price incl. 20% VAT, excl. delivery costs
Article number: FP6783
£ 53,75
price incl. 20% VAT, excl. delivery costs
BOSCH Fuel filter
In-Line Filter, 8mm, 8mm
Article number: F 026 403 006
£ 18,45
price incl. 20% VAT, excl. delivery costs
BOSCH Fuel filter
In-Line Filter, 8mm, 8mm
Article number: 0 450 902 161
£ 7,80
price incl. 20% VAT, excl. delivery costs
BOSCH Fuel feed unit
Electric
Article number: 0 986 580 944
£ 157,20
price incl. 20% VAT, free delivery
Another type of synthetic fuel is “syngas”, which is produced in a similar way except solar heat is used to convert carbon dioxide and water into fuel. This is ideal for sunny countries or regions and it enables self-sufficiency. However, neither e-fuel nor syngas is available.
Biofuel, on the other hand, is made from organic materials, such as vegetable oils and animal fats, crops, animal manure, and agricultural waste. The advantage of biofuels is that they reduce waste and carbon emissions, and they can be used in many modern engines without being modified.
A key downside is that biofuel production contains a lot of impurities including vitamins, minerals, and nitrogen. This means that biofuels require more cleaning and can lead to excess nitrogen emissions. When mixed with diesel or petrol, they can increase the chances of clogging or blockages forming in the car fuel system. This is why certain standards and ratings have to be met, and only certain amounts can be added to prevent the car fuel filter from being overloaded.
Is synthetic fuel the future?
The prospect of replacing petrol and diesel with renewably sourced, “carbon-neutral” fuel is an exciting one but there are disagreements over how viable this is. Popular automakers have shown a lot of enthusiasm in testing and investing in e-fuel. For example, Porsche recently opened up a pilot plant for e-fuel in Chile in partnership with ExxonMobil and other energy producers.
The company promoted it as a “symbol of hope” for a more sustainable future. It demonstrated the power of Porsche synthetic fuel in its show stopping demonstration at the plant’s opening ceremony, performing an impressive drift in its 911 model with a fuel pump and engine solely powered by e-fuel.
Others, on the other hand, remain less enthusiastic. The fact is that synthetic fuels are still too expensive and not efficient enough to effectively replace electric vehicles. Moreover, although they are less carbon intensive than regular petrol and diesel, they still release more CO2 than electrified vehicles. However, the idea is that they shouldn’t release more CO2 emissions than the amount taken out of the atmosphere to produce the fuel in the first place.
Manufacturing synthetic petrol or diesel also requires a significant amount of energy. It is estimated that using e-fuels in a conventional car requires roughly 5 times more renewable electricity than operating a battery-electric vehicle. Some legislators therefore feel that it would be better to use it in sectors that are difficult to decarbonise, such as the shipping and aviation industries.
Top products related to this topic:
