Porsche Launches Production of Synthetic Fuel

This is still experimental, but Porsche will sell this ecological fuel for cars by the millions of liters by the end of the decade.

South America will soon supply Porsche vehicles worldwide. The German manufacturer is launching a new biomass fuel plant. It announced that its pilot plant in Punta Arenas, Chile, has successfully produced its first liters of eFuel. This biofuel is made from water and carbon dioxide using renewable energy.

Porsche aims to produce 550 million liters per year before 2030

For many years, Porsche has been working with partners on new liquid fuels. At the same time, Porsche continues its work on electric vehicles and considers eFuels as an ecological supplement to electric vehicles. Porsche sees eFuel as a practical alternative that allows internal combustion engine vehicles to operate in a “almost CO₂-neutral” manner. The manufacturer stated that its new plant could produce up to 550 million liters of biofuel each year before 2030.

These liters will one day be sold on the free market, Porsche representatives said during an informational meeting. The initial pilot batch of 130,000 liters is primarily intended for promotional purposes. The eFuel will first be shipped from Chile to what the automaker calls its “flagship projects.” It will be used in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup and in Porsche experience centers. It will allow fans to burn biomass instead of fossil fuels on the track. After that, the Punta Arenas plant will be able to produce 55 million liters per year by mid-decade. 

An idea that is not new

The project was launched five years ago. That’s when Porsche engineers first discussed with Siemens Energy. The goal was to find the ideal combination of reliable renewable energy sources. They also aimed to explore maritime transportation possibilities in Chile, according to a Porsche board member. Porsche has also worked with the global electronic fuels company HIF, ExxonMobil, and other partners on the plant, he confirms.

Porsche assures that renewable energy production for liquid fuel manufacturing has a significant impact on reducing CO₂ emissions. Ms. Frenkel, a board member, stated that it makes sense to use green energy where it is available, as much as possible. “Our strategy is to fully embrace electromobility, complemented by eFuels. Therefore, it is important for the government to establish a good renewable energy-based charging infrastructure,” she said in the Porsche press release.

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