Exploring the Future of ICEs: Eneos Tests Locally-Produced E-Fuel in Toyota Vehicles
As automakers shift their focus towards electric vehicles (EVs), many are also exploring ways to keep internal combustion engines (ICEs) alive in the zero-emission era. One such method is through the use of synthetic fuels, which Japanese petroleum company Eneos recently put to the test in a Toyota Prius PHEV and GR86.
On May 28th, the two vehicles were tested at the Toyota Traffic Safety Center Mobilita, located near the Fuji Speedway in Japan. The fuel tanks of the Prius and GR86 were filled with a mixture of 10% e-fuel and 90% regular petrol. According to a press release from Eneos, no mechanical modifications were made to the vehicles, indicating that the mixture is compatible with their stock powertrains.
Tsuneharu Sato, President and CEO of Toyota, test drove the vehicles and reported that they felt no different than stock. Eneos suggests that the synthetic fuel is chemically similar to gasoline but can be made using hydrogen from renewable sources and CO2 recovered from factories. This production process could offset the CO2 emissions of the vehicles throughout their lifecycle, contributing to a carbon-neutral future.
Advantages of E-Fuels
One of the advantages of e-fuels is that they can use existing infrastructure for transportation, storage, and distribution. Additionally, they have great energy density and are largely compatible with current powertrain technology. However, there is still much work required before e-fuels are ready to take over the world.
Eneos currently plans to begin small-scale production with a capacity of a single barrel of e-fuel per day. Takeshi Saito, President and CEO of Eneos, stated that the company will start with a low-carbon mixture of petrol, synthetic fuels, and biofuels before establishing large-scale production of e-fuels towards 2030.
Toyota and Exxon Testing Synthetic Fuel
This is not the first time Toyota has explored the use of synthetic fuels. In April, Toyota announced a partnership with ExxonMobil to test a new type of synthetic fuel that could reduce ICE emissions by up to 75%. The fuel is made from hydrogen and captured CO2 emissions and is currently being tested in a Toyota Mirai fuel cell vehicle.
The partnership aims to develop scalable, affordable, and reliable e-fuels that can be used in existing ICEs. According to Toyota, the technology could be used to reduce emissions from the current global fleet of vehicles by up to 50%.
Conclusion
As automakers continue to prioritize EVs, synthetic fuels offer a potential solution for keeping ICEs on the road while reducing emissions. While there is still much work to be done before e-fuels can become a viable alternative to traditional gasoline, companies like Eneos and Toyota are making strides towards a carbon-neutral future.
