Synthetic fuels, also known as e-fuels, are considered a potential bridging technology on the road to climate-neutral mobility. They are an interesting option for fleet management – especially where the electrification of vehicle fleets is not (yet) practicable.
What are synthetic fuels?
Synthetic fuels are not produced from crude oil, but artificially – usually by combining hydrogen (H₂), which is obtained from water by electrolysis, and CO₂ from the air or industrial processes. The resulting liquid fuels are similar to conventional petrol, diesel or kerosene, but can be virtually climate-neutral – provided the energy used comes from renewable sources.
Advantages for the fleet
- Compatibility: E-fuels can be used in existing combustion engines – without technical conversion of the vehicle fleet.
- Infrastructure remains the same: Filling stations, logistics and maintenance processes do not have to be changed.
- Long-term use of existing fleets: Especially for special vehicles or in industries with a high investment commitment.
- CO₂ reduction: Using renewable energy, synthetic fuels are almost climate-neutral.
Challenges
- High energy requirements: Production is currently still energy-intensive and inefficient.
- Costs: E-fuels are currently significantly more expensive than fossil fuels.
- Availability: Industrial production is still in its infancy – the market is limited.
- Political framework: Subsidies, CO₂ pricing and legal requirements have a strong influence on economic efficiency.
Significance for fleet management
Synthetic fuels offer prospects for fleet managers :
- as a transitional solution in fleets that cannot be converted to e-mobility in the short term
- as CO₂ compensation within the framework of sustainability strategies
- to achieve climate targets without the need for immediate investment in new vehicle technologies
Conclusion
Synthetic fuels are an exciting but still young alternative for fleet management. They enable climate-friendly refueling without new infrastructure or vehicle changes – but are currently still associated with high costs and uncertainties. In the future, they could play a key role, especially for specialized fleets or in combination with other drive concepts.
