All doubts about e-fuels:«They are only needed by those who drive a Porsche, they are not sustainable and a full tank costs 200 euros» – The report

Synthetic fuels are more sustainable than traditional ones, but their (difficult) use on a large scale could have opposite effects to those hoped for

THE synthetic fuels they may not be particularly convenient:neither from an environmental point of view nor from that of motorists' pockets.This was revealed by a relationship of Transport & Environment (T&E), the largest European association of NGOs operating in the sustainable transport sector, according to which a full e-fuel, in Germany it could cost over 200 euros, compared to around 140 currently.This is a price per liter of 2.80 euros.A 50% increase compared to the tariffs applied in this period to traditional fuels, which in a year could weigh up to 2,300 euros more on the pockets of drivers.The e-fuel, Then again, they may not even be so beneficial for the environment.First of all, their production process is particularly energy-intensive, and therefore requires an adequate renewable electrical infrastructure to combine the hydrogen and carbon dioxide from which they are synthesized.If the infrastructure does not exist, it must be created, with a waste of resources and further pollution, which is greater than using electricity directly in the car, given that an extra step is added.But this is not the alarm raised by Transport & Environment.

They pollute less, but you have to be able to afford them

«After all, the e-fuel they will be nothing more than a niche solution for Porsche drivers,” says T&E's Clean Vehicles Manager, Alex Keynes.Why?According to the association's analyses, a widespread diffusion of synthetic fuels, which require internal combustion engines to be used, could have the opposite effect to that hoped for.Given the high cost, those who own a car suitable for e-fuels could decide not to fill up with them, but with traditional fuels, thus nullifying the effort made in favor of sustainability.Germany he pushed a lot so that synthetic fuels were included in the agreement on stopping polluting engines.But the report warns:allowing the production of internal combustion engines beyond 2035 could deprive e-fuel who needs it.In fact, those who can afford them would purchase them at a high price, while the remaining part of motorists who own a car with a combustion engine would have to be satisfied with traditional petrol and diesel.Added to all this is the emission of fine dust.In fact, even if the carbon dioxide that comes out of car exhaust pipes a e-fuel is taken from the atmosphere, and therefore does not contribute to warming the planet when it returns, the combustion of synthetic fuels still produces fine particles that are carcinogenic and harmful to health.

So, what are e-fuels for?

In light of these analyses, the meaning of Keyens' words that summarize the report becomes clear.Synthetic fuels are useful if you look at certain aspects, but their large-scale use seems to be excessively complicated, and not particularly beneficial from an environmental point of view.This could make them the perfect solution to reduce the impact of the internal combustion engines that will remain in circulation after 2035, for motorsport, and for the enjoyment of those who do not want to give up the fun of the internal combustion engine in their supercar.But they do not represent the fuel of the future.