Engine manufacturer Deutz has joined the eFuel Alliance, and in doing so taken another important step forward in its sustainability strategy. The organization represents the interests of companies involved in producing synthetic fuels from renewable energies on an industrial scale. Its mission is to drive forward the production of e-fuels as an alternative to conventional fuels, help them to become broadly accepted, and thus contribute to the protection of the climate. Deutz will mainly represent the off-highway segment in the initiative.
E-fuels are synthetic fuels that are made on a renewable basis from water and carbon dioxide (CO2). The type of fuel used by an engine determines its emissions characteristics. By switching to biofuels or gas, the amount of pollutants and CO2 that the engine emits can be dramatically reduced, even to the point of making it fully carbon neutral.
Because of the heavy-duty nature of the applications and the long hours they are in use, commercial vehicles, tractors, and construction equipment need a fuel with a high energy density and rapid refueling. This is where e-fuels have a clear und advantage over purely electric drives. Not only are they easy to transport, but refueling can be done quickly using existing, globally available infrastructure.
In August, Deutz unveiled its first purely hydrogen-powered engine for off-highway applications, paving the way for zeroemission operation in this segment. The six-cylinder engine is set to go into series production in 2024.