Overseas News

Chile to produce eFuels

Porsche and Siemens Energy have joined forces with a number of international companies to build an industrial plant for the production of nearly CO2-neutral fuel (eFuel) in Punta Arenas, Chile.

A pilot plant is initially being built north of Punta Arenas in Chilean Patagonia, which is expected to produce around 130,000 litres of eFuels in 2022. The capacity will then be expanded in two stages to around 55 million litres by 2024, and around 550 million litres by 2026. Siemens Energy has also already started preparatory work for the next major commercial phase of the project. Porsche will be using the eFuels in its own combustion engine vehicles. “Fuels produced with renewable energy can make a contribution to this. Our icon, the 911, is particularly suited to the use of eFuels. But so are our much-loved historic vehicles, because around 70 percent of all Porsche sports cars ever built are still on the road today. Our tests with renewable fuels are going very successfully. eFuels will make it possible to reduce fossil CO2 emissions in combustion engines by up to 90 percent. Among other things, we’ll be using the first fuel from Chile in our Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup racing cars from 2022,” Michael Steiner, Member of the Executive Board for Research and Development at Porsche AG, said. Chile has set itself ambitious targets as part of its National Green Hydrogen Strategy. It plans an electrolyser capacity of 5 gigawatts (GW) by 2025, rising to 25 GW by 2030. The aim is to produce the world’s cheapest hydrogen and develop the country into a leading exporter of green hydrogen and its derivatives.

Drivers of Change

Autocar has revealed the expert panel of judges who will decide the winners of this year’s Drivers of Change initiative with the winning candidates to be announced at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) annual dinner on 23 November 2021.

The judges will choose the three winners of this year’s Drivers of Change initiative, with each taking home a prize of £5000 ($9415) and receiving expert mentoring to develop their ideas and automotive careers. Launched in partnership with executive search specialists Ennis & Co, Drivers of Change aims to identify and promote new talent across three key automotive sectors; Technology, Digital and Retail. With no prior experience required, the initiative is open for everyone from school leavers to those already working in the industry. Entries for Drivers of Change remain open. To pick this year’s winners, Autocar and Ennis & Co have sourced 14 expert judges across the UK’s automotive sector. They are: • Ian Constance – CEO, Advanced Propulsion

Centre UK • Alistair Horsburgh – CEO, CitNOW • Alison Fisher – HR Director, Cox Automotive International • Leon Hurst – CEO Mobility, IMS (Insurance & Mobility Solutions) • Clare Wright – Group HR Director, Jardine Motors Group • David Krajicek – CEO, JATO Dynamics • Daksh Gupta – Group CEO, Marshall Motor Holdings plc • Simon Lacey – Head of Advanced Engineering, McLaren Automotive Ltd • John Murphy – Managing Director, Pivotal - Subscription by Jaguar Land Rover • Louise Hardman – Head of Marketing, Polestar UK • Jodie Williams – Head of Diversity and Inclusion, Sytner Group • Lisa Fielden – Senior Manager Digital Strategy, Toyota GB • Penny Weatherup – HR Director, Volkswagen Group UK

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Simon Lacey – Head of Advanced Engineering, McLaren Automotive Ltd

• Gemma Denes – People and Competence

Director, Volvo Cars UK Alongside the sponsor representatives will be guest judges James Cameron, Founder and CEO of Mission Motorsport and Gordon Murray, Founder of Gordon Murray Design. These automotive experts will assist in selecting the three chosen winners.