As Formula 1 (F1) lovers and passionate followers know, new regulations and cars will be introduced in 2026. When F1 cars debut on the track in 2026, they will race on synthetic sustainable fuels, part of the sport’s carbon neutral goal by 2030.Formula 1 has announced an ambitious sustainability plan to have a net zero carbon footprint by 2030. This initiative will cover Formula 1 cars, track activities and all of its remaining operations as a sport. The sport’s total carbon emissions in 2018 were 256,551 tonnes, excluding supporters’ transportation to the races. In 2019, the 2030 sustainability strategy was laid out as a result of working with the FIA, F1 management, sustainability experts, F1 teams, organizers and partners. Under this plan, F1 will systematically reduce CO2 emissions from operations, events, logistics and race cars to “zero” by 2030.
F1 has announced that at least 10 percent of the gasoline to be used in the 2021 rules will contain biofuels. This figure will be increased to 100 percent until the 2026 season and fully sustainable fuels will be used. On the other hand, the high-tech turbo-hybrid power units used to power F1 cars since 2014 are among the most efficient car engines in the world in terms of the percentage of fuel energy converted into power, a measurement known as thermal efficiency. After 2026, it is stated that no matter which engine type is used, one step further in efficiency will be taken.The goal is to switch to sustainable fuels in all cars.
Speaking to ArsTechnica, Formula 1 chief technical officer Pat Symonds has shared more details on the matter. F1 cars only make up 0.7 percent of the sport’s annual carbon emissions, and much of it is released into the atmosphere by the organization and its fans. But the goal of F1’s sustainability plan is not just for F1 cars. If sustainable fuels are proven successful and produced globally, fans may start using this synthetic fuel. So the purpose of F1 is to create a multiplier effect.Such an effort by F1 has also been adopted by other oil companies, according to Pat Symonds. Aramco, Porsche, Siemens and ExxonMobil are already working on sustainable synthetic fuel. The goal is to use these fuels in all cars.
Porsche is building a synthetic fuel plant in Punta Arenas, Chile, where production is planned for 14.5 million gallons (55 million L) by 2024 and 145 million gallons (550 million L) by 2026. The cost per gallon is $7.6 ($2 per L). Similarly, Aramco is building two sustainable fuel plants; one in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the other in Bilbao, Spain.
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