Bentley has announced that it held the first global media event using sustainable eFuel, also known as synthetic fuel, as part of the brand’s ongoing efforts to reduce the company’s environmental impact.
The event, which took place in Switzerland, served to introduce the fourth generation of the Continental GT Speed coupe and convertible, allowing Bentley to demonstrate the compatibility of eFuel with combustion engines.
eFuel is a fully synthetic fuel developed by an international consortium led by Highly Innovative Fuels (HIF) Global and supported by Porsche, literally created “from the air” at the Haru Oni factory in the Magallanes region of Chile.
The blend used by Bentley was R75 – 75% eFuel and 25% regular gasoline – and represents a significant reduction in emissions throughout the entire life cycle of the fuel.
This fuel was used in both the Continental GT Speed fleet and the support fleet with drivers, while the 25.9 kWh batteries of the hybrid system were charged with 100% renewable electricity from local hydroelectric and wind energy sources.
The new generation of the Continental GT Speed is the most powerful Bentley ever produced for the road. This new grand tourer is powered by a new Ultra Performance hybrid system, with 782 hp and 1000 Nm of torque, meaning it has more power and torque than the previous W12, but with a significant reduction in CO2 to 29 g/km.
It is important to note that eFuels are synthetic liquid fuels produced from hydrogen obtained exclusively from renewable energy sources and CO2, which can be captured directly from the air.
eFuels provide a nearly emission-neutral fuel that can be used in existing vehicles without the need for modifications, and can also be distributed through the current fuel station infrastructure and blended with traditional gasoline.