CO2 derived E-fuels: research trends, misconceptions, and future directions

Abstract

CO2-neutral fuels (e-fuels) are considered to be a pragmatic and practical way of decreasing overall CO2 emissions derived from the transportation sector. However, for e-fuels to succeed and have a short-to-medium impact on climate mitigation, they should be fully compatible with existing fuel distribution infrastructure and vehicle technologies, such that they become literally drop-in replacements. In this short opinion article, we first highlight the necessary properties that e-fuels should display to become a drop-in alternative to traditional petroleum-derived fuels. With this information in hand, we revisit the current trends and limitations in the field of CO2 conversion to fuels, highlighting the many misconceptions that the scientific literature has created over the past few years. Finally, we share our view on future research strategies that may help to realize the widespread implementation of e-fuel technology.