Mazda unveils mobile carbon capture technology

This process of producing biofuel requires energy, and CO2 may be emitted to generate this energy. The amount of CO2 emitted for energy generation is estimated to be around 10% that emitted during fuel combustion. Accordingly, biofuels contribute to a 90% reduction in total CO2 emissions when compared to fossil fuels.

Moreover, the CO2 emitted during the production of biofuels can be offset by capturing the CO2 released through the combustion of this fuel. This entails decarboniation technologies similar to direct air capture. However, as exhaust gas contains concentrations of CO2 up to 350 times greater than the air, this higher concentration means that capturing CO2 from exhaust gas is more efficient and requires less energy and space than other capture methods.

If more than 10% of the CO2 emitted during the combustion of biofuels could be captured, it would offset the CO2 emitted during the production process and mean that, in theory, vehicles using biofuel could contribute to greater reductions in the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere the more they drive, becoming effectively carbon negative. This potential for decarbonization is something that is unique to internal combustion engines and not found in BEVs.

Future challenges for these technologies include finding ways to adjust the temperature of exhaust gas to a level at which CO2 can be captured more efficiently, address increases to vehicle weight or decreases to in-vehicle space that could result from the introduction of capture equipment, and use the captured CO2. Possible uses for CO2 include applications pertaining to the cultivation of microalgae, use as material for creating e-fuel, and greenification applications. By combining such technologies, Mazda said it is committed to providing the joy of driving while supporting sustainable mobility.