Hywel, can you share some context of this move to sustainable fuel sources?<\/p>\n
Hywel Thomas, Managing Director, Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains: \u201cAdvanced sustainable fuels are more than just a replacement for fossil fuels. This represents a new way of thinking about energy, power, and responsibility. And, of course, that development is only possible with our partner, PETRONAS.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe fuel that we use in Formula One is custom-made and matches the engine beautifully, so that the combustion is super-efficient and powerful. Which is what we are rewarded for on the track.\u201d<\/p>\n
Of course, this is part of the wider move towards a more sustainable future for both the team and the wider sport, but how exactly is this new fuel created?<\/p>\n
Chandramalar Muthiah, Principal (Fuel Technology), PETRONAS: \u201cAt PETRONAS, we are leading this transformation by developing the advanced sustainable fuel throughout the value chain, from the raw material all the way to the end product.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe fuel is derived from non-food biomass, municipal waste or renewable fuel of non-biological origin (RFNBO).\u201d<\/p>\n
It sounds like quite a step change?<\/p>\n
Chandramalar Muthiah: \u201cLeaping from 10% sustainable fuel to advanced sustainable fuel has been a big challenge. The available technology, as well as the chemistry we can play around with, is very limited. <\/p>\n
\u201cBesides the challenge in meeting the technology and chemistry, we also have to navigate additional limits in the fuel specifications such as octane number and distillation profile, to be similar to the road fuel.\u201d<\/p>\n
With such significant change in development, how does performance of this advanced sustainable fuel compare to the previous, less renewable products?<\/p>\n
Chandramalar Muthiah: \u201cThe advanced sustainable fuel is a drop-in solution that aims to deliver the same, if not better performance.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chan Ming-Yau, Principal (Fuel Technology), PETRONAS: \u201cThere is a perception that sustainable fuels can compromise performance. But we have stretched our capabilities and expertise, to formulate the best fuel that meets the engine appetite to deliver performance.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor example, to deliver a smoother and powerful fuel, we look for chemistries which have good energy density and a high-octane number.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn delivering responsiveness, we look at chemistries with a good distillation profile. As well as additional formulation of chemistries for removing engine deposits such as detergents.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the area of efficiency, we look at better energy release for the chemistries we have, especially in view of the 50% internal combustion engine and 50% electric.\u201d<\/p>\n
And what kind of impact are we expecting from this move?<\/p>\n
Alice Ashpitel, Head of Sustainability, Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team: \u201cBy switching to advanced sustainable fuel, every single gallon of fuel that we burn will emit two-thirds[RM1] less carbon than the traditional petrol. This is really important on the journey towards a more sustainable future for Formula One.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chandramalar Muthiah: \u201cThis advanced sustainable fuel has been designed to deliver a minimum of 65% greenhouse gas savings following the latest EU Renewable Energy Directive. <\/p>\n
\u201cOur efforts in supporting the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 team go beyond advanced sustainable fuel. PETRONAS has been powering the teams\u2019 European season with HVO100 since 2023, to support its logistics and transportation needs.\u201d<\/p>\n
What kind of savings have we made to date with HVO100?<\/p>\n
Alice Ashpitel: \u201cPETRONAS\u2019 support in supplying HVO100 to the team has enabled us to achieve 98% coverage across last year\u2019s season, which has a huge impact on our carbon footprint, allowing us to bring down the emissions of one of our most challenging areas; the freight and logistics that allow us to go racing, and that\u2019s only possible through collaboration. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe continue to innovate with PETRONAS, looking at the largest sources of our emissions. From the freight and logistics to the way we power our operations across the globe.\u201d<\/p>\n
As with everything we do together within our long-running partnership, how will this affect the world outside of motorsport?<\/p>\n
Chan Ming-Yau: \u201cThe work that we are doing on advanced sustainable fuel is a big leap forward, not just for the sport, but also for road users. We are taking everything we are learning on this journey and applying the knowledge to become a progressive energy and solutions partner enriching lives for a sustainable future.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hywel Thomas: \u201cBecause working together as Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, we will develop future mobility solutions.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Hywel, can you share some context of this move to sustainable fuel sources? Hywel Thomas, Managing Director, Mercedes…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":179052,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[1687,372,6537,101,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-179051","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-f1","tag-f1","tag-formula-1","tag-formula1","tag-sports","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/179051","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=179051"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/179051\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/179052"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=179051"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=179051"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=179051"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}