It’s abundantly clear to Lamborghini that eradicating the inner combustion engine from the equation will hinder demand. The corporate has already delayed the launch of its first EV and lately disclosed plans to maintain combustion engines for “so long as attainable.” However ICE doesn’t essentially should run on gasoline. As an example, the brand new twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 can feed on artificial gas with out compromises.

In an interview with Australian journal CarExpert, Lamborghini’s Chief Technical Officer argued that artificial gas “could possibly be the savior of the combustion engine.” Rouven Mohr added that the Temerario’s new engine can “ship optimum effectivity and efficiency with each options [gas and e-fuel].” He additionally touched on the emotional side, claiming that EVs nonetheless can’t match the thrill of an ICE automobile.

Lamborghini Temerario’s V-8

Photograph by: Lamborghini

“In the event you ask me the emotion facet in the mean time, like I stated earlier than, I don’t see the [electric] resolution that’s convincing now. Its time will come, belief me, as a result of this sort of know-how transformation wants longer.” However even when fans heat as much as the concept of scorching EVs, Mohr believes there’ll come a time when tomorrow’s kids will understand that “okay, the outdated combustion factor is cool.”

Lamborghini is pinning its hopes on artificial gas to increase the lifetime of ICEs past 2035, when the European Union will ban gross sales of latest automobiles that produce dangerous emissions. The ruling doesn’t explicitly outlaw combustion engines, because it leaves room for e-fuels, offered they’re carbon impartial.

Artificial fuels have but to catch on, and even when they do within the coming years, they’ll stay costly till manufacturing scales up. That, nevertheless, isn’t more likely to deter Lamborghini consumers. The unique Italian marque, headquartered in Sant’Agata Bolognese, is a part of the Volkswagen Group, which additionally contains Porsche. That’s related as a result of Porsche has been producing e-fuel in Chile since late 2022, when it stuffed a 911 with artificial gas made out of water and carbon dioxide utilizing wind power.

Porsche fills up 911 with artificial gas

Porsche claims its electrical gas is “produced from hydrogen obtained purely from renewable power and CO₂ (carbon dioxide).” It’s being manufactured at an industrial scale in partnership with Chilean operator Extremely Modern Fuels (HIF) to make “combustion engines as close to to web carbon impartial as attainable.”

Whereas a 911 prices lower than half the worth of a Temerario, it nonetheless begins at $129,950 in base Carrera type. Porsche consumers doubtless received’t thoughts paying additional for artificial gas if it means retaining their combustion engines working. Porsche has vowed that the final automobile it makes with a combustion engine would be the 911, and {that a} absolutely electrical model received’t arrive this decade. Nevertheless, a hybrid is already right here.

Past Lamborghini and Porsche, Bentley and Bugatti are additionally pursuing e-fuels. Outdoors the Volkswagen Group, Ferrari has additionally proven curiosity in artificial gas. Within the mainstream phase, Toyota, Mazda, and Subaru are collaborating to discover whether or not ICEs can survive with out counting on fossil fuels. Toyota has even gone a step additional, experimenting with hydrogen combustion engines.

Let’s be actual. Making e-fuels viable for widespread adoption received’t occur in a single day, if it occurs in any respect. Giant-scale manufacturing and distribution will take years and require collective trade effort. With most automakers absolutely dedicated to international EV adoption, we’re skeptical about whether or not sufficient monetary sources stay to push artificial fuels ahead. Maybe they’re going to grow to be a distinct segment for high-end consumers prepared to pay the worth, however the majority should look elsewhere.