Carbon-neutral synthetic fuels for ICEs: Paddy Lowe joining ASI Connect debate

The government may plan to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030, but does mean there’s no future for combustion engines? Paddy Lowe doesn’t think so. The former chief technical officer at Williams Racing posits that synthetic fuels could play a role in the automotive industry’s cleaner future. He will champion this cause during Autosport International (ASI) Connect next month.

Thanks to more than three decades working in top-flight motorsport, in engagements ranging from the active suspension project that helped Nigel Mansell charge to his world championship 29 years ago through to taking Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg to hybrid-era F1 domination at Mercedes-Benz, Lowe is an expert on turning innovation and forward thinking into victory. He has now embarked on a new challenge that could be transformational for the environment as well as the aviation, transport, agricultural and motorsport industries. His new venture, Zero Petroleum, focuses on the creation of synthetic fuel sources.

Lowe will take part in a debate on the future of energy at ASI Connect, the virtual networking event on 10-11 March. Sharing a digital stage with some of the biggest names in electrified racing, he will state the case for synthetic fuels keeping combustion engine technology alive well into the future. With his former drivers Hamilton, Rosberg and Jenson Button investing in the new Extreme E electric championship, it promises to spark a fascinating debate for thousands of motorsport industry professionals who have been invited to log on to the ASI Connect event.

Many applications where electric power isn’t an option

The Zero Petroleum founder acknowledges the current “climate emergency” and states that “the need to move away from fossil fuels has never been clearer,” yet he views BEVs without the aid of rose-tinted glasses: “Electric vehicles are fantastic for many situations where weight and endurance aren’t performance imperatives. However, the low energy density of batteries compared to liquid petroleum fuels (gasoline, kerosene, diesel) means there are many applications where electric power isn’t an option and won’t be in the foreseeable future.”

Lowe cites examples such as motorsport, where high power is required over a number of hours, and weight-limited vehicles such as combine harvesters and long-haul aircraft where the weight and size of batteries simply isn’t viable. A number of leading motorsport championships have already included sustainable fuels in their future roadmaps, including Formula 1, WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup and the FIA World Rally Championship.

Suitable for existing ICE engines

Zero Petroleum’s vision is to become a leading supplier of carbon-neutral fuel, created by recycling water and carbon dioxide using renewable energy. “The fuel we will produce is a drop-in solution,” explains Lowe. “It will enable vehicles to run without any engine modification, creating a perfect net-zero carbon energy source for the transportation, motorsport and classic car industries. The advantages of Zero Petroleum lie in their ease of application. They can be used in combustion engines and plug-in hybrids and can make use of the existing network of petrol stations.”

The organiser of ASI Connect has voiced its support for the start-up: “Motorsport technology can help bring solutions to the climate crisis and we are making this a headline topic at ASI Connect. We are delighted that Paddy will bring his vision to the debate alongside the pioneers of electric motorsport,” comments Mandy Cox, operations director, Autosport International.