[Jeon Seungmin's Science World] Expectations for Artificial Petroleum 'E-Fuel'

The cumulative number of electric vehicles registered domestically in the first quarter of this year has surpassed 250,000. While this seems like a remarkable achievement at first glance, it accounts for only 1% when compared to the total number of registered vehicles, which reaches 25 million. Some say, "In just a few years, the world of electric vehicles will arrive," but this is not accurate. Cars remain in active use for more than 10 years until the end of their lifespan. In other words, we will only see an electric vehicle world more than 10 years after the complete halt of internal combustion engine vehicle production. The end of internal combustion engines still requires several decades.

So, what should be done? If you cannot change the car, then change the fuel. This idea led to the development of the recently spotlighted ‘E-Fuel.’ E-Fuel stands for Electricity-based Fuel, a synthetic fuel manufactured using hydrogen obtained by electrolyzing water and carbon dioxide captured artificially. Simply put, it means eco-friendly artificial petroleum. Since its composition is the same as conventional petroleum, it can be used immediately in internal combustion engine vehicles as is. It is also utilized in airplanes, ships, and other modes of transport.

Of course, using this fuel emits greenhouse gases just the same. However, since carbon dioxide is used in the fuel production process, from a broader perspective, it has the effect of not increasing the overall greenhouse gas concentration on Earth. Moreover, because the fuel’s composition can be fully adjusted, it has the advantage of significantly higher combustion efficiency.

To produce E-Fuel, carbon dioxide must first be obtained. Capturing it from the atmosphere is called DAC, and capturing it from industrial emissions such as factories or power plants is called CCU. According to Carbon Engineering in Canada, one DAC unit absorbs about 100,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually. This amount can produce approximately 2,460 liters of E-Fuel. Hydrogen is, of course, produced using green hydrogen methods that are environmentally friendly.

The automotive industry, facing urgent challenges, is highly interested in E-Fuel. Sports car brand Porsche invested $24 million last year to build an E-Fuel production plant in Chile in partnership with energy company Siemens. They plan to produce 500 million liters of E-Fuel annually starting in 2026. Japanese companies Toyota, Nissan, and Honda also announced a joint research plan for carbon-neutral engine development using E-Fuel in July last year. Domestic companies have also joined this trend. Hyundai Oilbank signed a memorandum of understanding for eco-friendly technology cooperation with Denmark’s Haldor Topsoe in November 2021 to jointly develop E-Fuel. Hyundai Motor Company announced plans to develop E-Fuel manufacturing technology after establishing the Institute of Future Automotive Technology (IFAT) in 2019.

The problem is the price. According to the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), the production cost of E-Fuel is about $200 per barrel (158 liters), and the actual market price is expected to exceed $10 per liter. However, there is much optimism that as time passes, technology will advance, economies of scale will be realized, and prices will decrease. KRICT predicts that by 2050, the price will approach $0.94 per liter. The Japanese government plans to commercialize E-Fuel by 2040.

Fuel concepts like E-Fuel are called ‘carbon-neutral fuels’ because they do not reduce carbon emissions but do not increase them either. To diversify energy sources, it is necessary to actively prepare E-Fuel alongside electricity and hydrogen. As the pace of climate change accelerates, there are not many options left for us.

Jeon Seung-min, Science and Technology Writer