It will use renewable fuels (reFuels) for the first time in the world’s toughest rally-raid
the three prototypes
Audi RSQ E-Tron with electric propulsion and energy converter starting between December 31 and the next edition of the Dakar Rally
January 15, 2023, will use an innovative fuel for the first time. The goal is to reduce CO2 emissions by 60%, for which the company with the four rings will use renewable fuels (reFuels) for the first time in the world’s toughest rally-raid. This advanced ecological fuel is based on the use of waste and does not take into account the use of food products.
The fuel tank content of the RS Q e-tron E2 (evolution of the first car with which Audi participated in Dakar 2022) contains 80% sustainable components, including ETG and e-methanol.
This fuel is used by the energy converter, which is the internal combustion engine
works with high compression and thus provide electricity for electric propulsion in a very efficient way. Although the propulsion concept already requires less fuel than conventional systems, further optimization has been implemented. “With this fuel mix, the new Audi RS Q e-tron reduces carbon dioxide emissions by more than 60 percent,” says Fabian Titus, who is part of the Application Development and Thermodynamics Department at Audi AG.
This Audi-driven development meets the strict chemical specifications of the FIA and ASO fuel regulations, which are similar to the regulations for 102 octane fuel available on the market. Such a high value guarantees the anti-knock properties of the fuel-air mixture during the combustion process. Thanks to this innovation, the heat engine becomes even
delivers slightly higher performance compared to that of gasoline of fossil origin. However, the oxygen content in the reFuel reduces the energy density of the fuel, reducing its volumetric calorific value. For this reason, the RS Q e-tron requires a larger tank capacity. This obviously does not provide a regulatory advantage to the vehicle, as the fuel flow meters determine energy consumption with the highest precision, with the aim of creating a level playing field between the participants.
In its first year of competition, the first generation RS Q e-tron completed the daily stages of the events held in January (Dakar Rally) and March (Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge) in a very efficient manner, thanks to electric power and to the power converter. With the direct use of renewable fuels in the
hybrid electric vehicles (HEV: Hybrid Electric Vehicles) such as the RS Q e-tron and in high-efficiency hybrid vehicles for the road, a significantly more favorable CO2 balance is achieved.
According to Oliver Hoffmann, the brand’s director of technical development, “Renewable fuels offer the opportunity to use internal combustion engines to treat the environment in a more respectful way. As a result, we will now be even more sustainable in the toughest automotive competition for electric technology .”
To further reduce
carbon dioxide emissions Audi has chosen waste-based products without food products to develop the fuel that will be used in the Dakar car. Behind this is a process that converts the biomass into ethanol in a first phase. Then, in other subsequent stages, the final fuel is produced. The process is abbreviated as ethanol-to-gasoline (ETG). Engineers use biogenic plant parts as a starting product.
Audi’s vision is to compete in the world’s most demanding races with a 100% renewable fuel. After the manufacturer with the four rings represented the technology transfer between motorsport and road cars for more than four decades,
the use of fuel opens a new dimension. Vehicles with combustion engines and hybrid drive systems can continue to make an effective contribution to the reduction of greenhouse gases with this type of sustainable fuel.
Source: La Verdad
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
