Audi have successfully made diesel fuel from carbon dioxide and water

[Luiz 4,253]

http://www.sciencealert.com/audi-have-successfully-made-diesel-fuel-from-air-and-water

German car manufacturer Audi has reportedly invented a carbon-neutral diesel fuel, made solely from water, carbon dioxide and renewable energy sources. And the crystal clear 'e-diesel' is already being used to power the Audi A8 owned by the country’s Federal Minister of Education and Research, Johanna Wanka.

The creation of the fuel is a huge step forward for sustainable transport, but the fact that it’s being backed by an automotive giant is even more exciting. Audi has now set up a pilot plant in Dresden, Germany, operated by clean tech company Sunfire, which will pump out 160 litres of the synthetic diesel every day in the coming months.

Their base product, which they’re calling 'blue crude' is created using a three-step process. The first step involves harvesting renewable energy from sources such as wind, solar and hydropower. They then use this energy to split water into oxygen and pure hydrogen, using a process known as reversible electrolysis.

This hydrogen is then mixed with carbon monoxide (CO), which is created from carbon dioxide (CO2) that’s been harvested from the atmosphere. The two react at high temperatures and under pressure, resulting in the production of the long-chain hydrocarbon compounds that make up the blue crude.

Once it's been refined, the resulting e-diesel can be mixed in with our current diesel fuel, or used on its own to power cars in a more sustainable way.

 

Sunfire a--lyses have shown that the synthetic fuel is not only more environmentally friendly, but also has superior combustion when compared to fossil fuels. The overall energy efficiency of the e-diesel is 70 percent, they report.

"The engine runs quieter and fewer pollutants are being created," said Sunfire Chief Technology Officer Christian von Olshausen in a press release.

Of course, with the initial factory only pumping out around 160 litres each day, the fuel isn’t going to have a huge impact on the market just yet. But Audi and Sunfire now want to build a bigger factory, and anticipate that once production is scaled up, the e-diesel will sell to the public for between 1 and 1.50 Euros per litre, dependent on the cost of renewable electricity.

With traditional diesel currently on the market for upwards of 1.50 Euros per litre in Germany, this would make the fuel extremely competitive, and perfectly positioned to made sustainable travel accessible to everyone. "If we get the first sales order, we will be ready to commercialise our technology", said von Olshausen.

Just imagine being able to tear around the countryside in an Audi sportscar, and not having to feel guilty for all the CO2 emissions you're producing. We can't wait.

Find out more about how the fuel is made in the Sunfire video below:

 

 

 

[Serendipity 7,821]

YAYYYYYYYYYYY, another accomplishment

less pollution in the world

[Dayman 6,251]

Stupid question, but how does this affect the water cycle is my question? I'm not a science guy, but is this fuel able to return to water by some means?

[Dangerous Man 9,245]

Diesel fuel here costs around 0.5 Euro. That means public vehicle drivers would still not buy e-diesel esp in third class countries.

Great invention tho.

[TMP 87]

Stupid question, but how does this affect the water cycle is my question? I'm not a science guy, but is this fuel able to return to water by some means?

​That's also what I ask myself.
Is there a scientist who can answer this? 

[MonsterMum 2,532]

That is amazing news, I hope to live the day we found a way to not need to fuel with fossil fuel.

[darkwolf 590]

Stupid question, but how does this affect the water cycle is my question? I'm not a science guy, but is this fuel able to return to water by some means?

​I asked myself this question too. Isn't water already a scarce resource?

I don't think they can return by any means, because electrolysis will cause the water molecule to split into Hydrogen and Oxygen, the resulting hydrogen is used for the fuel and the oxygen is rejected into the air I think.

[Melech 9,900]

who else but germans?

[uo111 5,282]

Stupid question, but how does this affect the water cycle is my question? I'm not a science guy, but is this fuel able to return to water by some means?

​

​That's also what I ask myself.Is there a scientist who can answer this? 

​

​I asked myself this question too. Isn't water already a scarce resource?

I don't think they can return by any means, because electrolysis will cause the water molecule to split into Hydrogen and Oxygen, the resulting hydrogen is used for the fuel and the oxygen is rejected into the air I think.

​It doesn't affect the water cycle at all. Combustion reactions produce water. Anything that's used up is returned simply by driving.

[Woolfsmck 2,763]

Fast charging , long lasting solar batteries slay all.... Still trying to invent them tho.....