Bentley Continental GT demonstrates eFuels

LONDON: Bentley has delivered the world’s first global media drive using sustainable eFuel, as part of ongoing efforts to reduce the company’s environmental impact.

157 guests from around the globe arrived in Switzerland for the global media launch of the fourth generation Continental GT Speed coupe and convertible, which is the first event of its kind to use eFuel and demonstrate its compatibility with existing combustion engines.

eFuel is a fully synthetic fuel developed by an international consortium led by Highly Innovative Fuels (HIF) Global and backed by Porsche, and is literally created “from thin air” by the Haru Oni pilot plant in the Magallanes Region of Chile.

Biogenic CO2 is captured from a brewery process and combined with hydrogen created by electrolysing water to create methanol, which can then be refined to gasoline.

The blend used by Bentley for its Global Media Drive was R75 – 75 per cent eFuel, 25 per cent ordinary gasoline – and represents a significant drop in well-to-wheels tailpipe emissions.

The fuel was used both for the fleet of Continental GT Speed and also for the supporting chauffeur fleet, while 25.9 kWh hybrid batteries were charged with 100 per cent renewable electricity from local hydroelectric and wind turbine schemes.

The combination of the performance of the Ultra Performance Hybrid powertrain of the new fourth generation Continental GT, the eFuel, and 100 per cent renewable electricity from the hotel enabled a reduction of 93 per cent in CO2 vehicle emissions compared to previous events**.

The drive route combined four famous mountain passes - Sustenpass, Grimselpass, Nufenenpass and St. Gotthard-pass.

Over the course of the event, the 12 Continental GT Speeds climbed a total of 1,400,000 ft, navigated over 4500 hairpins and covered 8000 miles in seven days - yet there was still a 30 per cent reduction in overall carbon impact per guest.

Driving the new grand tourer, the guests not only experienced the dynamic capabilities of the new chassis technology with Bentley’s new advanced dual valve damper, but also the advantages of the Ultra Performance Hybrid Powertrains ability using the e-motor to torque-fill at low engine speeds and improve smoothness for gear changes.

The Continental GT Speed, which is now available to order, has been certified at 29 g/km CO2 and 217 mpg, and will be due to arrive at retailers at the start of next year.

While emissions from the on-site event have been drastically reduced, the major environmental factor for a Global Media Drive continues to be the CO2 emissions from the international flights required.

In the absence of an alternative, Bentley continues to offset carbon emissions in this area using carbon credits.