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A dutch lawmaker in the article said that e-fuels still release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. If the EU were to accept Germany's loophole, then there woul

by BowBun 4y ago

A dutch lawmaker in the article said that e-fuels still release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. If the EU were to accept Germany's loophole, then there would be a known avenue for vehicle fuel pollutants to continue to damage our environment. Given companies will always prioritize profits, if that loophole exists and they can re-use their infrastructure, naturally they will heavily invest in this area and continue polluting the world. What's the point to all these changes if we just shift from one mode of pollution to another? Maybe the loophole should be to allow fuels that generate 0 carbon emissions (+ other rules) when combusted.

tomas789 4y ago
Yes, they emit CO2 when burned. The goal is not no-emissions but net-zero. Question is where does the carbon in the e-Fuel come from?
wskinner 4y ago
Are vehicles that use electric batteries instead of gasoline entirely pollution-free? Every such change is about shifting from one form of pollution to another. If your standard is zero pollution of any kind, the only solution is elimination of all humans.
zdragnar 4y ago
Aside from pure hydrogen, aren't all non-carbon combustion fuels strictly worse polluters?
whatever1 4y ago
E fuels can be 0 carbon. But they are still bad for air quality because of oxidizing Nitrogen during combustion. These Nitrous oxides then react in the atmosphere with other compounds (even terpenes from forests) then form the small particles (PM2.5) that we now know are deadly because they pass though all of our body barriers. The way I see it is that efuels will eventually be there to satisfy the demand of legacy hardware in the transition period, and maybe a bit later for recreational purposes (aka for car collectors, racing etc). They are not a permanent solution for our transportation energy needs.
lm28469 4y ago
Transforming electricity in fuel (e-fuel) is like using EV but with extra steps and massive efficiency loss

by BowBun 4y ago

tomas789 4y ago

Yes, they emit CO2 when burned. The goal is not no-emissions but net-zero. Question is where does the carbon in the e-Fuel come from?

wskinner 4y ago

Are vehicles that use electric batteries instead of gasoline entirely pollution-free? Every such change is about shifting from one form of pollution to another. If your standard is zero pollution of any kind, the only solution is elimination of all humans.

zdragnar 4y ago

Aside from pure hydrogen, aren't all non-carbon combustion fuels strictly worse polluters?

whatever1 4y ago

E fuels can be 0 carbon. But they are still bad for air quality because of oxidizing Nitrogen during combustion. These Nitrous oxides then react in the atmosphere with other compounds (even terpenes from forests) then form the small particles (PM2.5) that we now know are deadly because they pass though all of our body barriers. The way I see it is that efuels will eventually be there to satisfy the demand of legacy hardware in the transition period, and maybe a bit later for recreational purposes (aka for car collectors, racing etc). They are not a permanent solution for our transportation energy needs.

lm28469 4y ago

Transforming electricity in fuel (e-fuel) is like using EV but with extra steps and massive efficiency loss