F1 teams testing fully sustainable fuels | FOS Future lab | GRR
The fuels used in top flight motorsport have gone from ungodly brews which would melt tarmac to pretty much what you and I pay for at the pump. Now Formula 1 has taken it a step further by supplying a 100 per cent sustainable fuel to the teams for engine testing.
As F1’s managing director of motorsport Ross Brawn points out: "Formula 1 has long served as a platform for introducing next generation advancements in the automotive world.” And it seems that the sport has deemed future fuels to be worthy of investigation. What is being called a second generation biofuel is refined from biowaste and is claimed to be entirely sustainable. Which is of course different to zero carbon or even carbon neutral.
The FIA wants the sport to be powered solely by sustainable fuels by the next change in regulations, set to be introduced by 2026 at the latest. Brawn explained: "Our top sustainability priority now is building a roadmap for the hybrid engine that reduces emissions and has a real world benefit for road cars. We believe we have the opportunity to do that with a next generation engine that combines hybrid technology with sustainable fuels."
Before that F1 has committed to carbon neutrality next year and net zero by 2030. FIA president Jean Todt said: "By developing sustainable fuel made from bio waste that can power Formula 1, we are taking a new step forward. "With the support of the world's leading energy companies, we can combine the best technological and environmental performance.
"FIA takes its responsibility in leading motor sport and mobility into a low carbon future to reduce the environmental impacts of our activities and contribute to a greener planet.”
Welcome to FOS Future Lab where we report on the latest visions of future technology. We'll be boldly covering flying cars, hoverboards, jetpacks and spaceships with plenty of down to earth topics in between.