On the road to electric traction the Volkswagen Group is pursuing a multi-stage powertrain strategy which is closely linked to the fuel strategy. The fuel strategy seeks to harness different sources of energy. Hybrid and Twin-Drive vehicles are seen as an intermediate step on the road to electric drives.
The focus of the Volkswagen fuel strategy is on diversifying energy sources, while at the same time concentrating fuel. Special attention is being given to second generation biogenic fuel, called SunFuel by Volkswagen. These fuels are characterized by their high potential for reducing CO2 emissions and their ability to work with existing infrastructure. SunFuels do not directly interfere with food supplies either, since they are mainly produced from organic byproducts like straw or low-quality wood; nothing that is edible.
One of these SunFuels, optimised for Otto engines, is SunEthanol; which is biochemically produced out of straw by the company IOGEN. The corresponding diesel fuel is named SunDiesel. This fuel can be synthesized from a multitude of primary energy sources, such as biomass or biogenic residues. Synthetic fuels meet the requirements of the engines both of the present and the future.
The goal of Volkswagen’s fuel strategy is to produce an electric engine, powered by wind, sun and water. On the road towards achieving this goal lie natural resource biofuels.
- Volkswagen Group
