Audi is working towards the goal of having carbon neutral production sites by 2025. Part of that process includes using a special blend of gasoline and diesel which is a mix of standard fossil fuels and renewable fuels. Called the R33, it is used to fill many of the new Audis that leave the factory in Germany, as well as the vehicles and equipment used on site.
The fuel was actually co-developed by Audi’s parent company, the Volkswagon Group, along with Shell and Bosch. The idea is to create a fuel that can help lower carbon emissions while being compatible with today’s engines and gas stations. Audi switched to the R33 Blue Diesel in 2021, and now the automaker is also using the R33 Blue Gasoline.
R33 is approximately two thirds of traditional fossil fuels, with the remaining one third being a renewable biofuel (hence the 33 name). The gasoline uses a mixture of ethanol and bionaphtha, a substance extracted from waste materials. In the diesel mix, you’ll find renewable paraffin fuels – mainly vegetable oil – with biodiesel.
Audi says the R33 Blue Gasoline meets regular petrol standards. That makes it compatible with anything that can run on pump-grade gas with a 10 percent ethanol blend. In addition, Audi says the R33 Blue Diesel also meets the standards required for use in all diesel engines, new or old. The fuel is reported to have cleaning qualities that help prevent corrosion as well.
There was no mention of the vehicle’s fuel efficiency, but Audi claims the R33 Blue’s fuel can reduce carbon emissions by “at least 20 percent” in a good analysis. It is a study that considers not only the emissions from vehicles, but the overall emissions resulting from the production, processing and distribution of fuel. Currently Audi uses this fuel at factories in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm.
Audi is seeking carbon neutrality by 2025, but in the longer term, the German brand has committed to an electric-only lineup from 2033. Of course, stopping internal combustion production for new vehicles doesn’t mean there won’t be millions of older fuels. and diesel powered cars on the road. Renewable fuels such as R33 and other synthetic fuels can provide long-term combustion powered solutions.
Meanwhile, the Audi RS3 recently won the Motor1.com Star Award for Best Performance Vehicle. Learn about the RS3 and other award winners on the Rambling About Cars podcast, available below.
