Porsche will sell eFuel by the end of the decade
Porsche has confirmed to Car Magazine that it plans to sell synthetic eFuels before the turn of the decade, although you can expect to pay a premium over traditional petrol.
The news comes less than a year after Porsche announced the opening of its pilot eFuel plant, Haru Oni, in Punta Arenas, Chile, allowing for the "near" CO2-neutral running of petrol engines – an occasion marked with the ceremonial fueling of a Porsche 911.
Water, carbon dioxide and wind power produce the synthetic fuel, but how exactly? Chile was chosen as the base because its windy weather means the factory's turbine can operate at maximum capacity 270 days a year versus 80 days had Porsche set up shop in Germany.
The turbine's power sends an electrical current through water, producing hydrogen by electrolysis. At the same time, carbon dioxide is sucked in from the atmosphere with massive fans hooked up to filters in a process called 'direct air capture'. From there, methanol synthesis causes the H2 and CO2 to react, producing eMethanol (CH30H), and et voila, you have eFuel.
The resulting raw product is then blended and refined to comply with DIN EN 228 fuel standards, making it suitable for petrol cars.
Porsche plans to produce 130,000 litres of eFuel annually, initially used for activities such as the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup and worldwide Porsche Experience Centres. After the pilot phase, production will ramp up to 55 million litres of eFuel annually by 2025 and 550 million litres by 2027.
As production increases and energy taxes and carbon pricing hit conventional petrol, the cost of eFuel will get "more" competitive, according to Porsche, which is no bad thing as the company currently estimates the sting at more than £37 per imperial gallon. Even Carrera GT owners will balk at that price.
Porsche eFuel
HIG
