Audi is striving to have carbon-neutral production sites by 2025. Part of the process includes using special gasoline and diesel blends that are a mix of standard fossil fuels and renewable fuels. Called R33, it is used to refuel many new Audis leaving the factories in Germany, as well as the vehicles and equipment used there.
The fuel was actually co-developed by Audi’s parent company, Volkswagen Group, along with Shell and Bosch. The idea is to create a fuel that can help reduce carbon emissions while being compatible with today’s engines and filling stations. Audi switched to R33 Blue Diesel in 2021, and now the automaker also uses R33 Blue gasoline.
R33 is made up of approximately two-thirds traditional fossil fuel, with the remaining third being renewable biofuel (hence the name 33). Gasoline uses a mixture of ethanol and bionaphtha, a substance extracted from waste materials. In the diesel mix, you will find mostly renewable paraffinic fuel – essentially vegetable oil – with biodiesel.
Audi claims that the R33 Blue Gasoline meets regular gasoline standards. This makes it compatible with anything that can run on pump-grade gas with a 10% ethanol blend. Additionally, Audi claims that the R33 Blue Diesel also meets the necessary standards for use in all diesel engines, new or old. Fuels are also said to have cleaning qualities that help prevent corrosion.
There’s no mention of the vehicles’ fuel efficiency, but Audi says R33 Blue fuels can reduce carbon emissions by “at least 20%” in a well-to-wheel analysis. This is a study that takes into account not only vehicle emissions, but also overall emissions resulting from the production, processing and distribution of fuel. Currently, Audi used the fuel at the plants in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm.
Audi is aiming for carbon neutrality in 2025, but in the longer term the German brand has committed to offering an all-electric range from 2033. Of course, the simple act of stopping internal combustion production for new vehicles doesn’t mean there won’t be millions of older and diesel-powered cars on the road. Renewable fuels like R33 and other synthetic fuels could provide a long-term combustion-powered solution.
Meanwhile, the Audi RS3 recently won a Motor1.com Star Award for Best Performance Vehicle. Check out the RS3 and the other winners in the Rambling About Cars podcast, available below.
