On Tuesday, VTT’s research center will conduct a test drive with a tractor equipped with a diesel engine that will be refueled with electric fuel made from green hydrogen and carbon dioxide. This will be the first time that electric fuel is tested in vehicle use on this scale. The goal of the project is to develop a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels for difficult-to-electrify areas such as heavy road traffic and shipping, as well as work machines.

The electric fuel is produced through a process called Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, which involves combining carbon dioxide and water with electrical energy to create liquid hydrocarbons. These hydrocarbons are then refined into ready-to-use synthetic diesel by Neste, one of the world’s largest producers of biofuels. The tractor being used in the test drive is manufactured by Agco Power, a leading producer of diesel engines.

During the test drive, which lasts several hours, various parameters such as fuel consumption and emissions will be measured to evaluate the usability of the fuel in practical operation. The project has received funding from Business Finland and additional investments from companies involved in its development.