The world is aiming to achieve a carbon-neutral society.

Among these, electric vehicles (BEVs) are seen as the mainstay of carbon neutrality in mobility. However, it is not possible to satisfy all markets, vehicle types, applications and consumer needs with BEVs alone. A multi-pass approach is required, combining hybrid, hydrogen, synthetic fuels (eFuel) and biofuels.

Synthetic fuels (eFuel) have been criticised for their low energy efficiency (less than one-sixth that of BEVs), but most major developed countries rely on imports for energy. Renewable energies are subject to large output fluctuations, and achieving 100% self-sufficiency in developed countries is said to be impossible even in 2050.

Power to X, which converts electrical energy, which is not suitable for storage or transport, into another medium (gas/liquid), is essential for the effective utilisation of renewable energy, which is unevenly distributed in localised areas of the planet. eFuel is the most promising solution for this purpose.

This article provides a comprehensive overview of the main issues surrounding eFuel and explores the potential of eFuel in the automotive sector, based on the voices of engine engineers from car manufacturers and global intellectuals.

For example, the keywords surrounding eFuel include not only national regulations and trends among car manufacturers, but also core technologies such as hydrogen generation (water electrolysis) and carbon capture (DAC), as well as production routes such as Fischer-Tropsch + co-electrolysis (JPEC), advanced biofuels and hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO). The following topics will be covered: cost and diffusion scenarios including Fischer-Tropsch + co-electrolysis (JPEC), advanced biofuels and hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) as production routes; GHG minimisation scenarios and realistic eFuel routes for passenger cars; technical and social challenges of hydrogen and eFuel diffusion; global energy situation and EU and global eFuel prospects; and global eFuel production projects based on the eFuel Alliance concept. projects are at the forefront of eFuel development, and eventually up to Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) will be a major point of discussion.