Cars running on synthetic fuels produce nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions comparable to conventional gasoline-burning cars, according to environmental group Traffic & Environment (T&E).
That conclusion is based on tests carried out by IFP research organization Energies Nouvelles on behalf of T&E, according to a group press release. Tests compared three synthetic fuel blends with E10 fuel (a mixture of 90% gasoline and 10% ethanol) delivered from most European Union pumps.
According to T&E, the test also showed much higher levels of carbon monoxide and ammonia emissions than synthetic fuels. The group says particulate emissions are lower than conventional gasoline, but still quite significant.
NOx emissions of synthetic fuels compared to E10 gasoline (via T&E)
T&E has previously warned EU regulators about the inclusion of synthetic fuels, which several carmakers have assembled, saying the cost of ownership for synthetic fuel vehicles fit will be much higher compared to gasoline.
That’s not the only potential downside to synthetic fuels. While they are said to be carbon neutral, a study published earlier this year found that vehicles using synthetic fuels can cause more carbon emissions than battery-powered vehicles, in part because producing synthetic fuels requires more electricity than charging a fleet of electric vehicles.
Synthetic fuels also require the same infrastructure as fossil fuels to produce and transport, making the process go into a car’s fuel tank. already inefficient compared to EV charging.
Image of the Porsche-backed Haru Oni synthetic fuel test plant.
However, some automakers are looking to synthetic fuels as a way to keep the internal combustion engine running, at least for high-end sports cars.
BMW car last year invested in Prometheus Fuels, which claims to have a process for creating synthetic fuels by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Porsche claims cars run on synthetic fuels can be as clean as EVs. It is operating on a pilot plant in Chile and has already begun testing synthetic fuels in racing cars.
