Sustainable fuels: a solution to pollution compared with electric cars?

We already know that a date has been set for the end of sales of combustion-engined cars, a move that will accelerate the transition to electric cars. Of course, many voices oppose setting that date at 2035. It seems very difficult for the technology and prices of electric cars to deliver an affordable mobility solution for everyone. That is why some are looking to sustainable fuels to reduce polluting emissions and allow combustion-engined cars to remain on the market.

But what exactly is a sustainable fuel? How can it be used to reduce CO2 emissions? These fuels are CO2-neutral. In fact, there are two types of sustainable fuels: those based on biological products and synthetic ones, which are created through chemical processes.

Biofuels

Petroleum is a biological product, meaning it comes from the remains of trees and animals that became trapped in deep layers beneath the surface. Through chemical alterations and the effect of pressure, over the passing of time, they turned into this substance.

Biofuels also use plant remains, but they do not need millions of years to become fuel. Agricultural residues unfit for consumption are used to produce biofuels. These emit CO2, but that gas is captured again and used to create new fuel sources. In other words, the CO2 is absorbed by the crops that will later be used to manufacture the biofuel.

The problem with today’s petroleum-based fuels is that they emit more CO2 than agriculture can absorb, and that excess is what causes the problem. With biofuels, emissions are much lower, and these are absorbed by the growth cycle of the crops that can then be converted into that biofuel.

The advantages of biofuels and synthetic fuels, which also have much lower emissions than traditional ones, over electric cars are considerable. They will reduce emissions and can be used by current cars, without major changes or the need to discard combustion-engined models.

Could this be a good option for current combustion engines and a step prior to the full electrification of the global vehicle fleet? Many believe so. It could be the solution that allows technology to advance enough for electric cars to become more affordable and practical.