Could Synthetic Fuels Save the Internal Combustion Engine?

For over a century, the internal combustion engine (ICE) has ruled the road. But with electric vehicles (EVs) taking centre stage and governments around the world pushing for zero-emission transport, it’s starting to look like the end of the road for petrol and diesel cars. Or is it?

Enter synthetic fuels—a technology quietly gaining attention as a potential lifeline for ICE vehicles in a low-carbon future. But are they the real deal, or just a temporary distraction from full electrification?

Let’s take a closer look.

What Are Synthetic Fuels, Exactly?

Synthetic fuels—also called e-fuels—are man-made alternatives to petrol and diesel. They’re created by combining hydrogen (usually extracted from water using electrolysis) with carbon dioxide captured from the air or industrial processes. The result? A liquid fuel that can power a traditional engine but with a significantly lower carbon footprint.

The big selling point? They work in existing cars, using the same infrastructure—fuel stations, engines, supply chains—we already have in place.

Why Synthetic Fuels Are Getting People Talking

There’s growing interest in synthetic fuels, especially from:

• Car enthusiasts and classic car owners, who aren’t keen on giving up their petrol-powered pride and joy.

  
  

• Motorsport - Formula 1, for instance, is working toward using fully sustainable fuels by 2030.

  
  

• Luxury carmakers like Porsche, who are heavily investing in e-fuel development to keep performance vehicles alive in the zero-carbon era.

  
  

• Aviation and shipping industries, where electrification is far more difficult due to weight and range challenges.

And let’s not forget: there are over 1.4 billion ICE vehicles already on the road globally. Replacing every single one with an EV isn’t happening overnight—so clean-burning fuel alternatives could help bridge that gap.

But What’s the Catch?

As promising as synthetic fuels sound, they come with major caveats:

• They’re Expensive (For Now) Currently, producing synthetic fuel is energy-intensive and costly, often several times more expensive than standard petrol. Prices would need to fall drastically to make it a viable alternative for the average driver.

  
  

• Still Not Emission-Free While e-fuels are carbon-neutral in theory (because they reuse CO₂), they still emit pollutants like nitrogen oxides (NOx) when burned—unlike electric vehicles, which produce no tailpipe emissions at all.

  
  

• Low Efficiency When you factor in the energy needed to produce, transport, and burn synthetic fuel, it's far less efficient than simply using that electricity to charge an EV.

  
  

• Limited Availability Synthetic fuel production is still in its infancy. Scaling up to meet even a fraction of global demand would require massive investment in renewable energy and carbon capture infrastructure.

So... Could They Be the Future?

Maybe - but probably not for everyone. Synthetic fuels could carve out a niche role in the broader transition to cleaner transport. They make the most sense for:

• Classic and performance cars, where preserving heritage matters.

  
  

• Hard-to-electrify sectors like aviation, heavy-duty freight, and shipping.

  
  

• Bridging the gap in countries where EV infrastructure is slow to develop.

But for everyday commuting, city driving, and the future of mass-market motoring? EVs still look like the more practical and scalable option.

Final Thoughts

Synthetic fuels are an exciting development, and they remind us that the road to net-zero isn’t a one-way street. While they won’t replace electric vehicles, they might just complement them—especially in places and sectors where electrification is tricky.

The internal combustion engine may be fading, but it might not be heading for extinction just yet. Thanks to synthetic fuels, it could live on in a cleaner, more sustainable form—just not for everyone.

Would you fill up with synthetic fuel if it became affordable? Or are you already planning your electric future? Share your thoughts in the comments below.