Audi is to start producing ‘virtually CO2-neutral’ e-diesel from early next year, using renewable energy, water and CO2 taken from the atmosphere.

Audi partners with Ineratec GmbH and Energiedienst Holding AG to develop virtually CO2-neutral e-diesel in Switzerland

Planned for production at a new Swiss production facility, the e-diesel will be made using energy supplied from hydropower to turn water in hydrogen and oxygen via electrolysis. CO2, obtained from the atmosphere or from biogenous waste gases, is used to react with the hydrogen to create long-chain hydrocarbon compounds that are separate into e-diesel and waxes that can be used in other industries.

The announcement follows the comments by Volkswagen CEO Matthias Müller at an event prior to this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show that the Group is working towards carbon-neutral combustion engines as it continues to offer the full powertrain spectrum, and builds on Audi’s existing developments, which saw the brand begin production of a synthetic diesel fuel at a pilot plant in Dresden with the energy technology corporation sunfire in 2014.