E-fuel prices of less than $2 per litre 'possible'
Porsche CEO remains committed to a synthetic fuel future, despite mounting scepticism
Despite EU lawmakers recently endorsing a total ban on fossil-fuel cars from 2035, Porsche CEO Oliver Blume has confirmed that Porsche remains committed to a ‘double-e path’ that will see the firm continue to invest in e-fuels while pursuing new battery-electric models. “Among the traditional automakers, we have a very progressive electric strategy. Our ambition is for more than 80 per cent of vehicles delivered to customers in 2030 to be all-electric,” he reiterated, pointing out that the Taycan was already rivalling the 911 in sales terms.
Nevertheless, the Blume remained bullish over Porsche’s short-term future. He confirmed that ‘over the coming years, we will offer a very sporty hybrid setup for the 911, as many are familiar with from the motorsport context’ - and alluded to language in the recently agreed EU agreement that suggested additional consideration should be given to the role that sustainable fuels and associated technologies might play in decarbonising the road transport sector beyond 2035.
The clause itself is short on detail, but Blume was unequivocal: “Technology bans act as a brake on innovation” he said in an interview first published in the Bild am Sonntag newspaper. “Climate protection has to be seen holistically. That’s why we need to be open in terms of technology. Electromobility is an important track. At the same time, there are more than a billion existing vehicles worldwide. They will be on the roads for decades to come. E-fuels are an effective, complementary solution in this regard.”
Sagely, he pointed out that the billion or so combustion engines currently in existence would not need to be converted or retrofitted to run on e-fuel, and that it would enable ‘all vehicles’ to play a role in reducing CO2. Of course the issue with e-fuels has always been the complexity and expense associated with their production, but Blume suggested that, “if produced on an industrial scale, prices of less than $2 per litre could be possible.” Certainly no one is suggesting that we’re approaching that point anytime soon. Nevertheless, Porsche seems adamant that at the end of a very long tunnel, the light remains on.
I wonder if it will be possible in the relatively short term to displace the ethanol content in forecourt fuel with e-fuel?
1 litre of e-fuel requires around 20 kWh of electricity to produce it.
Which, as an aside, means that $2 per litre would require some pretty damn cheap electricity.
Anyway 1.5 billion litres of e-fuel to replace ethanol would require 30 TWh of electricity, about 10% of the current National Grid's annual output.
An interesting alternative use for that 30 TWh is that you can keep 10 million EVs charged with that amount of energy.
Or you could renewably fuel around 2 million ICEs.
Anyone want to hazard a guess why EVs are so popular with energy policy makers?
1 litre of e-fuel requires around 20 kWh of electricity to produce it.
Which, as an aside, means that $2 per litre would require some pretty damn cheap electricity.
Anyway 1.5 billion litres of e-fuel to replace ethanol would require 30 TWh of electricity, about 10% of the current National Grid's annual output.
An interesting alternative use for that 30 TWh is that you can keep 10 million EVs charged with that amount of energy.
Or you could renewably fuel around 2 million ICEs.
Anyone want to hazard a guess why EVs are so popular with energy policy makers?
Who is either saying that, or believes that, oil or gas is running out? So what we are really talking about is importing e-fuel from some faraway land.
Once the shipping, profiteering and UK taxes and duties are applied it going to end up being several multiples of $2.
Whichever way you look at it, e-fuels are going to end up costing 4 or 5 times what a EV will cost per mile, simply because you will be consuming that many times as much electricity per mile.
they are saying 43 in london this weekend....
And it’s important to keep mind open for technological innovation not just cars but, ships, planes, commercial vehicles (all of which use much more fossil fuels and cause more damage than passenger cars)
But from a self interest point of view a clean (er) way to enjoy race cars etc is great…. As EVs are F-ing dull.
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