Porsche’s synthetic E-Fuel gas is just as clean as an EV, says Exec

It’s pretty clear: electric cars are the darling of the automotive industry, and it’s unlikely to make any incredible technological advances. Porsche is also on board the EV train, but the German sports car and luxury market actually has its hands in an incredibly cooler project, at least if you ask me: synthetic fuel. According to remarks by Frank Walliser, vice president of Porsche motorsport and GT cars, this fuel will release a traditional car just as much as an EV. No questionable statement.

Evo reported last Wednesday on Walliser’s comments made during the new 911 GT3’s debut on the E-Fuel, when management explained how they calculate the associated emissions with the fuel. We like to think that EVs are completely debt free, but the true story is that there are emissions attached to electric cars long before they hit the road.

“Synthetic fuel is cleaner and there is no by-product and if we start with full production, we expect a CO2 reduction of 85 percent,” Walliser said. He added that it is important to consider the measurement of the “wheel-to-pit” emissions when talking about EVs or E-Fuel, saying: “It will be the same CO2 level that is produced at the manufacture and use of an electric vehicle. “

In terms of operation, a plant in southern Chile will implement its own methanol-to-petrol process licensed by Exxon Mobil. Electrolysers will split water into hydrogen and oxygen, and CO2 is filtered from the air and processed with the hydrogen to create synthetic methanol. Then comes the mysterious methanol-to-gasoline work. Porsche’s initial bet on the carbon-neutral petrol involved a $ 24 million investment.

Last December, Porsche first announced its partnership with Siemens Energy to begin production of the synthetic fuel. The company says its creation works in all of the latest generation Porsche 911 GT3 to a classic 911 from decades ago. Although the company does not consider it a replacement for battery electric cars (at least not yet), Porsche said in December and reiterated in a statement to Roadshow today, this E-Fuel can be a very handy addition to the industry works in electrification. “Electric mobility remains the top priority at Porsche,” a spokesman said. “E-fuel is a supplement to electrification at Porsche, not a competitor.”

In 2022, Porsche will begin fuel testing with approximately 34,000 liters of E-Fuel. We could make 145 million liters by 2026, if everything goes according to plan.