Audi’s new fuel laboratory in Germany has successfully synthesized “e-diesel””

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Audi’s new fuel laboratory in Germany has successfully synthesized “e-diesel” – Source: Science and Technology Daily. In collaboration with the Dresden-based new energy company Sunfire, Audi’s laboratory has recently developed a process for producing diesel by combining carbon dioxide with water. This new method for synthesizing diesel holds the potential to open up new avenues for air pollution control and resource utilization. 　　The basic principle of this project, known as “e-diesel,” is to use electrical energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into liquid fuel (PtL). Its production process is very simple: first, water is evaporated in a boiler, and at a temperature of 800 degrees Celsius, the water is electrolyzed into hydrogen and oxygen. This is a standard water electrolysis technique, and the electrical energy used in the electrolysis process comes from the excess green energy available during off-peak times in the power grid ； The second step involves carrying out a synthesis reaction at high temperature and pressure between the hydrogen and carbon dioxide obtained through electrolysis, to produce long-chain liquid hydrocarbons. These hydrocarbons, known as “Blue Crude,” have an energy conversion efficiency of 70%, which is on par with that of fossil fuels. Moreover, they are free of sulfur and aromatic compounds, and feature a high cetane number (an indicator of a diesel’s ability to ignite spontaneously in a diesel engine) as well as a low ignition point. 　　In the project laboratory in Dresden, this new process allows for the production of 160 liters of synthetic diesel per day. Although the current output is still very low, if industrial-scale production can be achieved, the potential applications in the future are immense. Project leader Mangold said that Audi’s “e-fuel” will be an important complement to electric vehicles; using carbon dioxide as fuel is not only an innovation for the automotive industry but can also be applied in other fields. 　　The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research has provided support for this project. Minister Wanka said that if it is successful, \"carbon dioxide can be used as a raw material, which will make a decisive contribution to air protection, resource efficiency, and the transition toward a green economy.\"