PORSCHE

Model 718 Cayman GT4 RS unveiled at event using renewable fuel

After its debut in Los Angeles, the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS and its Clubsport version caused a sensation at the Zell am See GP Ice Race event. In addition to the race on the ice, the renewable fuel used in both sports was surprising.

The Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS, a car for people who enjoy driving, impresses with its light structure, its extremely agile chassis, its neat aerodynamics and also for the unique sound of its engine. In its first appearance in Europe, which took place in Zell am See, Austria, this model belonging to the 718 family and its Clubsport version demonstrated all these impressive qualities, together with a significant reduction in CO2 emissions.

Both GT4 RS used a synthetic fuel that can make an important contribution to reducing carbon emissions in the transport sector. In this case, it was a renewable gasoline based on an advanced biofuel, which was created from food waste. The fuel had previously been shown to be suitable for use in high-performance Porsche engines in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, where it had been used in all 911 GT3 Cups during the 2021 season.

Reducing carbon emissions in the transport sector...Michael Steiner, Member of the Board of Management of Porsche AG responsible for Research and Development, explains: “There are a large number of vehicles on the world's roads (about 1.3 billion , according to the latest estimates) and the transition to electric mobility is not happening fast enough to achieve the goals set out in the Paris Agreement. In addition, the electric car is arriving at different speeds in different regions, which means that for the next few decades, combustion engine vehicles will continue to circulate.”

With fuels produced in a virtually CO2-neutral manner, today's vehicles will be able to make their own contribution to the rapid reduction of this gas. “We urgently need a sustainable solution for the running of existing cars”, highlights rally legend Walter Röhrl. "This goal can be achieved with renewable fuels, which are a sensible complement to electrification." In order to actively promote this development, Porsche started a few weeks ago the construction of its first factory for the production of e-fuels.

Synthetic fuels are created using electricity generated through wind energy. Water is broken down into its components, hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O), through electrolysis. Then the hydrogen is processed with CO2 extracted from the air to produce e-methanol. In the next step, known as the synthesis of methanol in gasoline, it is converted into synthetic gasoline, which in turn is processed until it finally becomes a fuel that meets the necessary requirements to be able to be used in all gasoline engines.

The joint Haru Oni ​​project, in which Porsche, Siemens Energy and other international partners participate, resulted in the world's first large-scale commercial plant to manufacture these synthetic fuels that are virtually carbon neutral. Located in the province of Magallanes, in southern Chile, the plant takes advantage of the ideal conditions in the region to generate wind energy, which is used as a sustainable source of electricity to produce synthetic gasoline.

Starting this year, the pilot plant is expected to produce around 130,000 liters of e-fuels per year. Porsche will acquire this volume in its entirety and will initially allocate it, above all, to its use in competition. Later on, Porsche is considering using these synthetic fuels in its combustion engine models, including the classic ones.

“It's encouraging to know that in the future we'll be able to drive old cars without a pang of conscience thanks to the use of e-fuels”, comments Röhrl. “Refueling a fifty-year-old vehicle with renewable fuel: this is pure sustainability.”

Autonews