Synthetic fuels are not science fiction. They are already here and used in several applications, including racing. Racing fuel isn’t necessarily road-friendly, but Seen Through the Glass A YouTube channel ventured over to P1 Fuels to evaluate the company’s biomass-based gas in production vehicles.
Granted, the average person doesn’t drive around town in a Ferrari 360. But the supercar still serves as a benchmark for seeing how a street engine designed for fossil fuels will perform with something a little different in the tank. In this case, the fuel is produced by a combination of biomass and hydrogen. The biomass is plant-based, and when everything is processed the result is a fuel that functions like gasoline.
Yes, it also means burning and releasing carbon emissions like gasoline. However, the carbon released is already part of the current carbon cycle, being absorbed over months as plants grow versus fossil fuels that have been sequestering carbon for millions of years. As a result, the video states this is technically a carbon neutral solution. In addition, it does not rely on limited oil sources. Collect some old plants, process them into fuel with hydrogen, and you’re off to the race.
Join owners and fans discussing this topic at FerrariChat.com!
In the case of P1 Fuel, we take that literally. The company has supplied synthetic fuel to the World Rally Championship, and that fuel was recently used as a demonstration in 1990s-era F1 cars. With such an engine as an example, the Ferrari owner said he was comfortable testing it on a 360-liter high-revving V8 engine. And unsurprisingly, the car performed just like a Ferrari should, without any noticeable performance differences. The only aspect the video doesn’t cover is fuel mileage.
The video also takes us inside the Historic Competition Service in Belgium for a glimpse of some of the majestic pre-war classics like the Alfa Romeo RL. This is no coincidence, as the video explains how synthetic fuels can help preserve the future of combustion engine cars, especially classic engines that fans love and care about.
