Its fundamental advantages are that it is carbon neutral, has virtually zero impact on the environment, offers high energy density and is easy to store and transport.
E-fuel – also known as synthetic fuel – is going to be one of the main players of
the new sustainable mobility because of its many benefits and uses. The production of e-fuel is based on the extraction of hydrogen through an electrolysis process that breaks water down into hydrogen and oxygen. This process and other production steps are carried out with electricity from renewable energy sources.
In a second step, this hydrogen is combined with CO2 that is extracted from the air thanks to a chemical process called “Fischer-Tropsch synthesis”.
E-fuel is climate neutral and
its environmental impact it is practically nil. The CO2 released into the atmosphere during combustion is the same that was extracted from the air during the production process. In addition, it does not generate the solid residues and microparticles that come from the exhaust of an engine powered by traditional fossil fuels.
E-fuel adds two other major advantages to this sustainable basis: high energy density and convenience
to store and transport. Like fossil fuels, e-fuel is capable of storing an enormous amount of energy in a very small size and weight: one liter of e-fuel contains 10,752 kWh. Just 9.3 liters of this fuel stores the same amount of energy as a 100 kWh battery, which is 55 times as heavy. The energy efficiency of e-fuel is 12% higher than that of petrol.
E-fuel can be stored and transported at ambient pressure and temperature, just like conventional fossil fuels and lubricants. This allows you to take advantage of the current fuel transport and distribution infrastructures (tankers, pipelines, filling stations…). This is a major advantage over hydrogen, the logistics of which are very complex and expensive.
In addition, this ecological fuel is fully compatible with current combustion engines; that is, it can be used to propel vehicles, planes, and ships, which it can
continue to work sustainably and respectful of the climate. E-fuel can completely replace conventional fuels and can be used as “e-gasoline”, “e-diesel”, “e-kerosene” or “e-lube”. In addition, it is also possible to mix it in any desired ratio with conventional fuels and lubricants, since their chemical composition is identical. For example, e-fuel can make it easier for all types of combustion means of transport, both existing and new, to contribute to decarbonisation and to be part of the new sustainable mobility.
Taking advantage of part of the current fleet for certain purposes is another way to protect the planet, as it would avoid the production of millions of new vehicles, resulting in savings in energy, resources and emissions.
One of the big doubts raised by e-fuel so far is its scalability and price. These unknowns are being solved as factories for their production are being built all over the world. According to the latest studies, e-fuel can achieve
a retail price below two euros per litremaking it fully competitive with petrol or diesel, taking into account that it offers 12% more energy efficiency.
One of the applications of e-fuel is
the world of competition. Racing cars have to store a lot of energy in a small space and with as little weight as possible. This is especially critical in a race like the Dakar, the toughest test bench for alternative energies due to the peculiarities of the route, with stages stretching for miles, hard and sandy terrain that generates a lot of resistance to progress and weather conditions with high temperatures. The combination of these factors makes the use of a battery electric car unfeasible in this competition.
The ASTARA TEAM started its journey in the last edition of the Dakar with innovation
a winning formula sustainable in the desert: racing with a light car on e-fuel. As a result, the least amount of resources was used and the lowest carbon footprint in the history of the race was generated, measured and verified at the end of the test.
Like last year, the ASTARA 01 CONCEPT will be powered by e-fuel, with the aim of further improving its sustainable performance.
With the use of e-fuel, the ASTARA 01 CONCEPT can transport 3,870 kWh with its full e-fuel tanks, which weigh only about 400 kilos. Batteries that can store the same amount of energy would weigh more than 22 tons (with an energy density of 0.17 kWh per kilo).
ASTARA TEAM has already proven in 2022 to be the most sustainable team in the Dakar, auditing and more than offsetting its carbon footprint. In 2023, the carbon footprint generated in the Dakar will be measured and reported again, but with a wider scope. The measurement carried out after the last edition of the Dakar had consequences for scope 1 and 2. This year
scope 3 will also be included: other indirect emissions. Some examples of scope 3 activities are activities related to the extraction and production of materials that the organization acquires, work trips with external resources, the transport of raw materials, fuels and products (e.g. logistics activities) made by third parties or the use of products or services offered by others.
A full carbon footprint report will be prepared at the end of the competition
according to standardized measurement protocols (GHG protocol, ISO 14064 standard) and will be reviewed by a prestigious independent entity. In addition to measuring, ASTARA TEAM will, just like last year, compensate its footprint with various actions.
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.
