Quote:
Originally Posted by freebeard
Considering the patented technology dates to 1979, it's still taking too long. 
I revisited the linked article.
So.... there ya go. They 'oligomerize'.
They made an agreement to develop a lower cost production method in 2015, with Sinopec Engineering Group (SEG) |
With fossil fuels undercutting synthetic fuels, what is the point?
A holistic approach that uses electric drive wherever possible and leaving advanced internal combustion engines to the rest is the most plausible.
Also, if you are going the synthetic fuel route, why choose gasoline or diesel? As mentioned, butanol is a direct drop in to gasoline and provides distribution similar to gasoline with emissions advantage. Di-methyl-ether is another fuel that is synthesized in large quantities as an industrial chemical that has properties akin to propane in fuel use and handling and results in tremendous emissions advantages in diesel engines.
Both fuels have thermodynamic advantages as they take less energy to synthesize during production compared to long chain fuels such as diesel and gasoline.