Synthetic Fuel Can Replace Gas

By Lauren Fix, The Car Coach

As gasoline prices continue to rise and crush drivers’ wallets, is there a solution that would allow all vehicles to run on fuel at a reasonable price?

There is a viable option and it’s coming soon. Synthetic fuel, like synthetic engine oil, is a replacement for fuels that can be used in place of gas.

Synthetic gas or eFuel works the same as gasoline and will allow all cars on the road to function as usual. Most importantly, eFuel could save internal combustion engines by allowing most of us to keep the vehicles we have with no expensive modifications.

Yes, this is a solid option that will work and be good for the environment as well as your pocketbook.

We can thank the engineers from Porsche and VW Group for working diligently on this new fuel, which will benefit most vehicles not just their sports cars.

Scientifically speaking, synthetic fuels are artificially-produced alternatives to conventional gasoline or diesel. In its simplest form, it’s synthetic fuel made by combining hydrogen and carbon atoms to create a compound called an alken—usually ethene, which contains two carbon atoms and four hydrogen atoms. Ok, that is deep, but what does this mean to you?

Porsche has invested millions in the production of eFuels. Formula 1 and its sponsor, Saudi oil giant Aramco, are working together to create zero-emission low-carbon fuels to be used by Formula One race cars in the next few years. Aramco and Spanish energy firm Repsol are constructing an enormous synthetic fuel factory in Spain to create carbon-neutral gasoline alternatives. Shell, the Dutch fuel giant, has been working on synthetic alternatives to today’s jet fuel.

This is more proof that this synthetic fuel can be used in high-revving cars. Even Amazon just signed a deal with a company called Infinium to supply low-carbon fuel for its delivery trucks starting next year. They call them eFuels or electrofuels. Amazon says it will replace diesel fuel and will start using it in southern California where its truck fleet rack up five million miles of driving a year. This is proof of concept.

The ultra-low carbon fuels can easily be used to power cargo trucks, airplanes, and marine freight without engine modifications. The production of electrofuels will be in Texas. The Texas location will use renewable-power-generated green hydrogen and approximately 18,000 tons of recycled carbon waste per year to create these electrofuels. Companies have been developing this technology for the better part of a decade, and we expect electrofuels to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by approximately 95 percent over traditional fossil fuels. This is a smart solution and a better option for most drivers.

In addition, Porsche also invests in the development of industrial eFuel production facilities in Chile, the USA, and Australia. The production is with partners including Siemens Energy and ExxonMobil, and they plan to produce eFuels from hydrogen and CO2 using wind energy. These electricity-based synthetic fuels enable nearly-CO2-neutral operation of combustion engines.

Porsche has been the pioneer in researching the use of renewable fuels for some time. Tests in the laboratory and on the race track have been successful. The automaker plans to use the eFuels in motorsports and to fuel everyday combustion engines.

There are more than a billion existing vehicles worldwide that will be on the roads for decades to come. EFuels are an effective solution to using less fossil fuels. They can enable all vehicles to play a role in reducing CO₂–regardless of the powertrain type.

Combustion engines can be powered with eFuels in a virtually carbon-neutral manner. They don’t have to be converted or retrofitted for it. EFuels can be offered as a mixture or alone at all filling stations. This offers an option to owners of existing vehicles.

Now the big question, what will eFuel will cost? If produced on an industrial scale, prices of less than $2 per gallon could be possible.

The important thing is that synthetic fuels are produced sustainably and in places in the world where renewable energy is abundant. EFuels produced from water and the carbon dioxide extracted from the air for automobiles, planes, and ships have the advantage over pure hydrogen because eFuels can be transported more easily.

Other companies are working on other gas alternatives so we can keep our vehicles.

In Scandinavia, a company called Quantafuel has been pioneering a process that turns plastic waste into brand-new products including synthetic fuel. The Norwegian company hopes to transform 19,000 metric tons of waste plastic into 15-million liters of low-carbon diesel and other synthetic-oil products each year. What’s more, the process of turning waste plastic into fuel emits 90 percent less CO2 compared to traditional fuel production.

More exciting news is coming soon on hydrogen that will fuel combustion engines from brands like Toyota, Hyundai, BMW, and others. I will report on that in the near future.

There is so much more to discuss on this, put your comments below and let’s start the conversation.

The opinions expressed in posts to the NMA Blog belong to the author and do not necessarily represent the National Motorists Association. The content of the NMA Blog is for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal advice. No representations are made regarding the accuracy of NMA Blog posts or links found within those posts.

Lauren Fix, The Car Coach®, is a nationally recognized automotive expert, analyst, author, and television host.  A trusted car expert, Lauren provides an insider’s perspective on a wide range of automotive topics and aspects, energy, industry, consumer news, and safety issues.   

Lauren is the CEO of Automotive Aspects and the Editor-in-Chief of Car Coach Reports, a global automotive news outlet. She is an automotive contributor to national and local television news shows, including Fox News, Fox Business, CNN International, The Weather Channel, Inside Edition, Local Now News, Community Digital News, and more. Lauren also co-hosts a regular show on ABC.com with Paul Brian called “His Turn – Her Turn” and hosts regular radio segments on USA Radio – DayBreak. 

Lauren is honored to be inducted into the Women’s Transportation Hall of Fame and a Board Member of the Buffalo Motorcar Museum and Juror / President for the North American Car, Utility & Truck of the Year Awards.  

Check her out on Twitter and Instagram @LaurenFix.

Not an NMA Member yet?

Join today and get these great benefits!

Leave a Comment