E-fuels as an alternative to electric - what is the current status?
The discussion about sustainable mobility has recently focussed increasingly on e-fuels. E-fuels, synthetic fuels obtained by reversing the combustion process, have the potential to offer a climate-friendly alternative to electric drives. However, their environmental compatibility and energy balance still need to be investigated further.
E-fuels could be a solution for millions of combustion engines on our roads, especially after the planned EU ban on combustion engines from 2035. The idea is tempting: e-fuels could continue to use the existing infrastructure of combustion engines and at the same time offer a climate-neutral driving option. But are they really that environmentally friendly?
The carbon footprint of e-fuels depends on the raw materials used. During production, CO2 is extracted from the atmosphere and converted into synthetic fuel, which is then burned in conventional diesel or petrol engines. So while CO2 is extracted at the point of production, it is released again at the point of combustion. For e-fuels to be truly climate-neutral, the entire production process from production to transport to the petrol station must be climate-neutral.
But even if e-fuels can theoretically be climate-neutral, there is criticism. Climate activists argue that the production of e-fuels wastes existing green electricity to produce a relatively inefficient fuel. In addition, pollutants are released during the production and transport of e-fuels.
In addition to CO2, the pollutants that can be produced during the combustion of e-fuels include nitrogen and harmful carbon monoxide. A study by T&E (Transport & Environment) from 2021 shows that the combustion of e-fuels produces three times as much carbon monoxide as normal premium petrol E10.
Despite the potential of e-fuels to make combustion engines more environmentally friendly, a study by the Heidelberg-based Ifeu Institute shows that electric cars still have an advantage in the overall balance. Even when combustion engines are fully fuelled with green e-fuels, electric cars are significantly more climate-friendly. This balance takes into account energy, resource and water consumption as well as pollutant emissions into the air, water and soil.
Although e-fuels have a real chance of being a climate-friendly alternative to conventional fuels, there are still some challenges to overcome. It is clear that continued investment in research and development is needed to fully understand and minimise the environmental impact of e-fuels. In the meantime, electric vehicles remain the most environmentally friendly option for road transport.