Porsche to research and develop synthetic fuel eFuel

Three drive technologies: full electric, hybrid, combustion engine

Synthetic fuels (eFuels / synthetic fuels) are said to be much more environmentally friendly (higher cleanliness when burned) than gasoline, and are actually considered as an alternative to gasoline.

However, it seems that the reality is that the possibility of use is low because there are still various problems with its manufacturing.

so! So Porsche wants to change this situation.

According to Michael Steiner, who is in charge of research and development of Porsche, "(car) electrification alone cannot evolve at a sufficient speed."

Therefore, Porsche wants to independently promote the development of synthetic fuel known as eFuel in the future.

eFuel: What is Synthetic Fuel?

eFuel is a fuel produced from CO2 and hydrogen using renewable energy, and although it seems that it is no different from kerosene, diesel, or gasoline in terms of basic characteristics, eFuel is ideally clean. Fuel that has sex.

Combustion-type engines are still considered to be important in the automobile industry for several years to come, and for that reason, "combustion engines, but using cleaner synthetic fuels (technology) ) ”, Porsche seems to have decided to focus on it.

"EFuel is now the basic thing we need to keep existing cars alive," Steiner said.

So Porsche is currently looking for a partner on this eFuel that can build a pilot plan and make the entire process chain work and industrialize. Is there anyone ^^?

Currently, a special team to find the partner company is also set up in Porsche.

Well, when I hear that kind of thing, I imagine that the time is just like "Naoki Hanzawa", and I'm pretty overwhelmed by the media.

"What happened to xx industry about the eFuel partner alliance!"
"Hi, the president has changed his mind and will meet you from now on!"
"Yes! I'm heading there now!"

I'm sure there isn't a hot conversation like Hanzawa-san like that ... (laughs).

No, but I'm sure that the search for a partner who can firmly research and develop eFuel together and achieve industrialization together is currently being seriously carried out within Porsche.

By the way, Porsche wants to focus on the industrialization of this eFuel and the construction of the process chain together with the partner, but Porsche alone does not want to make various decisions to the details. It was that.

Porsche already has a fully electric vehicle model called Taycan, and there are many models other than Taycan that also have hybrid models.

However, that's still not enough, Steiner said:

"Electric mobility is a very exciting technology, but it slows us down to Porsche's goal of sustainability."

"That's why we at Porsche are also working on synthetic fuels (eFuel) at the same time. We will consider other things that can be used in motorsport."

As has been said, Porsche plans to electrify half of all Porsche sold by 2025.

However, Porsche is not thinking of removing the pure combustion engine from the product and just making it a hybrid model and an electric car, Steiner said:

"Hybrid models use electricity for short distances, but rely on the combustion engine for long distances."

"In the medium term, I am confident that these three drive technologies (full electric, hybrid and combustion engine) will survive."

Steiner said he wants Porsche to be able to influence the specifications of the new synthetic fuel and wants to help make the synthetic fuel suitable for high-performance engines.

Source:(Official) Porsche researches synthetic fuels