Creating diesel fuel from thin air might sound like an idea that belongs in a science fiction movie, but Canadian company, Carbon Engineering, recently did just that. The company’s engineers produced a staggering 500 litres of diesel by sucking carbon dioxide out of the air according to BBC News. Theoretically, this could mean that consumed diesel fuel would do nothing more than return CO2 removed in the first place back into the atmosphere. This development could be great news for diesel car owners across the world, and even better news for the environment.
Eco-friendly e-diesel?
The process to produce the so-called e-diesel uses brand new technology to capture CO2 from the air. The only downside is that the process requires the use of large amounts of electricity, making the cost of producing it less feasible. However, these costs could be off-set if renewable electricity is used for the process, meaning carbon neutral diesel could be produced. This could help to tackle climate change by slowing greenhouse gas emissions.
Pumping the price of diesel down
Could the new e-diesel ever compete with fossil fuels on cost? BBC News reports that – potentially – this e-diesel could be even cheaper than the current diesel pump price of £1.19 per litre (pending government policy supporting tax exemptions for renewables used during the fuel-making process). This spells good news for consumers and the diesel aftermarket industry, as the new e-diesel will be compatible with hundreds of millions of diesel vehicles already on the road throughout the world.
Want to read more? Check out the full BBC article here or watch this space for news of e-diesel at the pump.
