Instead of dumping more CO2 into the environment through its tailpipes, this German car company is recycling carbon dioxide to make green fuel.

Audi has successfully created a high-quality diesel fuel by combining water and C02 and started producing it earlier this week at their research facility in Dresden.

"If we can make widespread use of CO2 as a raw material, we will make a crucial contribution to climate protection and the efficient use of resources, and put the fundamentals of the "green economy" in place," said Federal Minister of Education and Research Professor Dr. Johanna, who put the first five liters into her own Audi A8 3.0 yesterday.

The Dresden energy technology corporation sunfire, Audi's project partner, operates according to the power‑to‑liquid principle, using green power to produce a liquid fuel.

The science of it all breaks down like this: water is heated up to form steam, then broken down into hydrogen and oxygen by means of high-temperature electrolysis. Then, the hydrogen reacts with the CO2 in synthesis reactors, creating a reaction product made from long‑chain hydrocarbon compounds known as "blue crude."

"In developing Audi e-diesel we are promoting another fuel based on CO2 that will allow long‑distance mobility with virtually no impact on the climate," said Reiner Mangold, Head of Sustainable Product Development at Audi. "Using CO2 as a raw material represents an opportunity not just for the automotive industry in Germany, but also to transfer the principle to other sectors and countries."

(READ more from Audi) – Story submitted by Jéan van wyngaardt