In what can be considered as a break-through achievement, Audi has created a so-called ‘green’ diesel fuel made using a combination of water, carbon dioxide and renewable energy sources such as solar or wind power.
The German car manufacturer described its breakthrough as the ‘fuel of the future’ and claims it could provide a carbon neutral way of powering vehicles. Unlike regular diesel, the clear fuel does not contain any sulphur or fossil oil, while it has an overall energy efficiency of around 70%. Experts used renewable energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into a form of crude oil known as ‘blue crude’, which was then refined into diesel.
The new fuel was developed by Audi along with Sunfire, a Dresden-based energy technology company. This project is the latest attempt by Audi to produce more environmentally friendly fuels for its vehicles. The company currently has the capacity to produce 3000 liters of ‘e-diesel’ in next few months.
Audi has already begun using the new e-diesel to power the official car of German minister of education and research Dr Johanna Wanka.
“This synthetic diesel, made using CO2, is a huge success for our sustainability research,” Wanka said. “If we can make widespread use of CO2 as a raw material, we will make a crucial contribution to climate protection and the efficient use of resources, and put the fundamentals of the ‘green economy’ in place”.
