F1 is a sport that constantly pushes the limits of man and machine in pursuit of perfection, and has always been at the forefront of automotive technology, with active suspension, turbo-hybrid power and paddle-shift gearboxes. So it's no surprise that we have ambitious plans to use sustainable fuels to form real solutions to the climate crisis.
The current F1 hybrid power unit is the most efficient engine on the planet and already uses 10% ethanol biofuel, but 2026 will usher in a new era for the sport. Not only will there be new cars and new engine regulations, but the mandate to use 100% advanced sustainable fuels will usher in a technological revolution.
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These fuels will be a game-changer. F1's advanced sustainable fuel, known as 'second generation' as it is not made from food crops or the land used to grow them, is made from sustainable sources without impacting food production. It must be done. These can be made from agricultural, municipal, or forestry waste, or using carbon extracted from algae or captured directly from the air.
As a result, such fuels are carbon neutral. They do not add carbon to the atmosphere when used and are designed as 'drop-in' fuels, so they can be used without modification in F1 cars, as well as vehicles around the world. The potential to reduce global vehicle emissions using sustainable fuels is enormous.
Less than 1% of F1's carbon emissions come from vehicles on track, but F1 is leveraging its unique position in developing sustainable fuel technology to further reduce carbon emissions and help society We will continue to contribute to It will contribute to the decarbonization of not only the automotive sector but also the broader transport sector.
Fuel that benefits the world
As part of its 2019 sustainability strategy, F1 has set out a goal to be net zero carbon by 2030. It has committed to reducing absolute carbon emissions by at least 50%, targeting emissions from circuits, travel, logistics and energy use. Sustainable fuels are therefore essential to achieving that goal, and F1 has successfully worked with all of the sport's fuel providers to deliver something of huge benefit to the world in which it races. are doing.
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With five different companies currently supplying the team, the race is on to develop a competitive, sustainable fuel that will enable championship success, which will then be optimized in a competitive melting pot. Fuel will be available worldwide.
Last season, all cars in F1's supporting championships, F2 and F3, used 55% of advanced sustainable fuels in partnership with Aramco. That number is likely to increase further as production capacity increases and sustainable fuel blends can be phased in. It can then be further developed for use in other fields such as aviation and shipping.
In Europe alone, the average lifespan of an internal combustion engine vehicle is already almost 20 to 30 years, and is expected to increase further, so sustainable fuels will continue to grow from vehicles owned for decades to come. is essential to reducing global CO2 emissions. Already used.
It is estimated that there could be 1.4 billion vehicles in use worldwide by 2030, of which 1.2 billion will use internal combustion engines. Sustainable “drop-in” fuels that easily operate in these vehicles without modification and use existing fuel distribution, storage, and refueling stations dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It also reduces the need for expensive scrapping plans for current vehicles.
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Global solutions cultivated in F1
When F1 first introduced the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) in 2009, the sport was already well on its way to developing many of the technologies found in today's electric cars, including hybrid power units and battery optimization. I did. However, as future vehicle predictions show, electric vehicles are not the only solution to reducing carbon emissions.
As demand and supply increase, the use of advanced sustainable fuels in conjunction with electric vehicles provides the best solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation. A variety of sources capable of producing sustainable fuels could even alleviate current supply chain issues involved in manufacturing electric vehicle batteries (and potentially reduce climate change costs).
“We feel there are parallel paths to take towards a decarbonized future,” F1 chief technology officer Pat Symonds recently told the Australian Financial Review podcast. He spoke at [then] Everyone can't wait to buy an electric car. That will take decades. So, [it’s] It would be much better to actually start reducing the carbon content of fuels.
“If we can replace some of the high carbon content of the fuel and start blending it to the point where we have a 100% zero carbon fuel that we use in F1, then we don't really need to do that.” please [existing] infrastructure. No need to modify your car.
“[A drop-in fuel] Like all fuel today, it can be sold at the pump. You know, [today] Choose black or green hose and use the correct one [to fuel your current vehicle]. There's no reason why there shouldn't be another hose that uses synthetic fuel. ”
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