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Synthetic fuels?

  • 20-06-2020 12:07am
    #1
    Leonard Hofstadter
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,541 ✭✭✭


    Have seen a couple of articles lately on the topic, such as this one:

    https://www.carthrottle.com/post/synthetic-fuels-could-save-the-ice-and-the-planet-say-oil-refiners/?fbclid=IwAR2wLVoOrqjYqCRIbJFJErztA3i7RTRm7oZA6W-p_7HLh4Rs265Fdz-Wfo4

    Not sure what to make of it. On the one hand, as a petrolhead, of course I love the idea of combustion engines staying on (synthetic fuels would mean the continued use of the internal combustion engine), so we could still have the roar of a V8, or the snarl of a straight six, or whatever cylinder configuration you like from your combustion engine, without the massive weight, cost and convenience penalties of an EV. Seems like a no-brainer, doesn't it?

    On the other, the old phrase 'if it sounds too good to be true'....

    I can't help but feel that my outright refusal to own an EV until I'm forced to do so, and my love of large capacity combustion engined vehicles is clouding my judgement as to the efficacy and viability of these fuels. Mercedes are against the idea as well, although Mazda seem to think there's potential.

    Thoughts? Are they genuinely viable, or not, and if so, what science, or facts allowed you to arrive at that conclusion?


Comments

  • #2
    Del2005
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,102 ✭✭✭✭Del2005


    Considering the trouble that a lot of vehicles have with E10 petrol and even the manufacturers say that the fuel will require modifications to the vehicle I can't see it taking off for personal transportation.

    In the next decade or so the joy of driving yourself in any vehicle will be a novelty, and expensive, so what difference will the power source of the autonomous vehicle make?


  • #3
    mikeecho
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,267 ✭✭✭mikeecho


    In Germany ARAL sell synthetic diesel.

    It's odour free and has a higher cetane value.

    I think BP ultimate diesel has a % of synthetic diesel as well.


  • #4
    Stovepipe
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,984 ✭✭✭Stovepipe


    Germany made aviation petrol from coal in WW2 but it requires a huge amount of energy to do so and coal is a dirty word these days. The greens want us to stop drawing gas from Kinsale when we could convert cars to run on gas easily enough.


  • #5
    mikeecho
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,267 ✭✭✭mikeecho


    Stovepipe wrote: »
    Germany made aviation petrol from coal in WW2 but it requires a huge amount of energy to do so and coal is a dirty word these days. The greens want us to stop drawing gas from Kinsale when we could convert cars to run on gas easily enough.

    That didn't stop them from firing up a brand new coal power station a few weeks ago.

    Germany still get a lot of electricity from coal.


    https://www.powermag.com/germany-brings-last-new-coal-plant-online/

    The Datteln 4 power plant in the North Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany came online on May 30. Courtesy: Uniper


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