German automaker's researchers create 'e-benzin'

folarin okunola

May 22, 2015 4:02 PM

It is essentially a high-grade fuel that lets engines to use high compression ratios for improved efficiency.

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Audi hit another success in the development of sustainable, synthetic fuels: collaboration partner Global Bioenergies has produced the first batch of Audi 'e-benzin'.

Audi 'e-benzin' is a synthetically produced fuel without the use of petroleum. It is 100-percent iso-octane and therefore has an outstanding octane rating of RON 100. Because Audi 'e-benzin' contains no sulfur or benzene, it burns very cleanly.

It is essentially a high-grade fuel that lets engines to use high compression ratios for improved efficiency. Audi will test the new fuel in the lab and in test engines.

In the medium term, the company and its partner, Global Bioenergies aim to modify the process so that it requires no biomass, instead requiring just water, hydrogen, CO2 and sunlight.

Reiner Mangold, Head of Sustainable Product Development at AUDI AG, stated that Audi has taken a broad-based approach to the development of CO2-neutral, non-fossil sustainable fuels.

'Global Bioenergies has demonstrated the viability of the Audi 'e-benzin' production process. That is a big step in our Audi e-fuels strategy,' He said.

Audi is already producing larger quantities of 'e-gas' (synthetic methane) on an industrial scale for its customers who use that kind of fuel.

Other research projects with various partners are dedicated to Audi 'e-ethanol', Audi 'e-diesel' and Audi 'e-benzin'.

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