From 2035 on, besides fully electric cars, the EU will also allow the putting on the market of cars powered by synthetic fuels/e-fuels. Do you know an up-to-date, reliable independent estimate of the cost of such fuels for the consumer?
Synthetic fuels, also known as e-fuels or power-to-liquids (PtL), are fuels that are produced using renewable energy sources and carbon dioxide captured from the atmosphere. These fuels can be used in internal combustion engines and are seen as a potential solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector.
Currently, the costs of synthetic fuels are higher than those of traditional fossil fuels. The production of synthetic fuels involves several energy-intensive processes, such as capturing carbon dioxide, electrolysis, and the production of synthetic fuels themselves, which can make the production costs relatively high.
According to a study by the International Energy Agency (IEA), the production costs of synthetic fuels can vary widely, ranging from $1.90 to $8.70 per liter, depending on the technology and renewable energy source used. In comparison, the production costs of conventional fossil fuels are estimated to be around $0.40 to $0.80 per liter.
However, the costs of synthetic fuels are expected to decrease as the technology improves, production scales up, and renewable energy becomes more widely available and cheaper. The IEA has set a target of reducing the production costs of synthetic fuels to around $1.50 per liter by 2030, which would make them more competitive with conventional fossil fuels.
Furthermore, the use of synthetic fuels in road transport is currently limited due to the lack of infrastructure, as engines and vehicles would need to be adapted or replaced to use them. This would also involve additional costs for vehicle owners and manufacturers.
In summary, while synthetic fuels are currently more expensive than traditional fossil fuels, their costs are expected to decrease as technology improves and renewable energy becomes more widely available. However, the use of synthetic fuels in road transport is still limited due to the lack of infrastructure and the need for vehicle adaptations, which also entail additional costs.
Thanks for the answer Muhammad Islam . From which IEA report do you het those figures?
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