With the accelerating global shift toward electric vehicles, synthetic fuel, also known as e-Fuel, emerges as a potential transitional option stirring significant debate within the automotive and environmental sectors. The question is whether this fuel can serve as a bridge from the era of combustion engines to a fully electric future or if it is merely a temporary solution amid the challenges of complete electrification.
What is Synthetic Fuel (e-Fuel)?
Synthetic fuel is an alternative fuel produced through a chemical process that combines hydrogen-extracted by electrolyzing water using renewable electricity (such as solar or wind power)-with carbon dioxide captured from the air or industrial sources. The result is a liquid fuel usable in traditional internal combustion engines without major modifications, similar to methanol, ethanol, or fuels resembling gasoline and diesel.
How Does e-Fuel Work?
The production of e-Fuel involves three main steps:
Electrolysis of water to separate hydrogen from oxygen using clean electricity.
Capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or industrial emissions.
Combining hydrogen with carbon dioxide to synthesize a liquid fuel compatible with existing vehicles.
What distinguishes this fuel is that when burned in an engine, it emits only the amount of carbon dioxide previously captured, making it theoretically "carbon neutral," meaning it does not add new emissions to the atmosphere.
Advantages of Synthetic Fuel
Emission Reduction: Using e-Fuel can reduce carbon emissions by up to 77% compared to traditional fossil fuels, making it an environmentally friendly option, especially in countries where the transition to electric vehicles is slow.
Compatibility with Existing Infrastructure: It can be used in millions of existing vehicles without engine or distribution network modifications, enabling a smoother, less costly transition to a low-carbon future.
Performance Similar to Conventional Fuel: Tests show that power, torque, and fuel consumption rates in modern engines are not adversely affected by e-Fuel.
Extending the Life of Combustion Vehicles: It can help keep gasoline and diesel vehicles on the road longer, particularly in markets where rapid electrification is challenging.
Challenges and Drawbacks
High Production Costs: Manufacturing e-Fuel requires vast amounts of renewable electricity and advanced technologies, making it currently much more expensive than gasoline or diesel.
Low Energy Efficiency: The overall efficiency of converting electricity into liquid fuel and then using it in combustion engines is significantly lower than using electricity directly in electric vehicles-estimated below 30% efficiency versus about 90% for EVs.
Availability of Renewable Energy: The success of e-Fuel depends heavily on the availability of cheap, clean renewable energy, which is not accessible everywhere.
Environmental Impact of CO2 Capture: The carbon capture and storage process itself consumes substantial energy, potentially reducing the environmental benefits of e-Fuel compared to electric vehicles.
Is e-Fuel Truly a Viable Transitional Solution?
Many experts believe synthetic fuel can play a crucial transitional role in the coming years, especially in sectors difficult to electrify quickly, such as heavy trucks, aviation, or countries with limited electrical infrastructure. The European Union recently approved continued sales of internal combustion vehicles running on e-Fuel beyond 2035, provided they include technology to prevent fossil fuel use.
However, e-Fuel is not expected to compete with electric vehicles in terms of efficiency or cost in the long term. Instead, it will serve as a complementary solution to reduce emissions during the transition period, allowing time to develop electrical infrastructure and lower battery costs.
Synthetic fuel (e-Fuel) offers hope for extending the lifespan of combustion engine vehicles and reducing carbon emissions during the transition to full electrification. Yet, it is not the ultimate solution but rather a temporary, intermediate option facing economic, technical, and environmental challenges. The future remains with electric vehicles, but e-Fuel may serve as a "safety bridge" toward that future, particularly in sectors and markets where rapid electrification is difficult.
Tamara is an editor who has been working in the automotive field for over 3 years. She is also an automotive journalist and presenter; she shoots car reviews and tips on her social media platforms. She has a translation degree, and she also works as a freelance translator, copywriter, voiceover artist, and video editor. She’s taken automotive OBD Scanner and car diagnosis courses, and she’s also worked as an automotive sales woman for a year, in addition to completing an internship with Skoda Lebanon for 2 months. She also has been in the marketing field for over 2 years, and she also create social media content for small businesses.
