A young energy company is testing a compact system that produces synthetic gasoline using air and water instead of petroleum, aiming to offer a drop-in fuel that works with existing gas-powered engines.
The system, developed by Aircela, attracted attention earlier this year when the company demonstrated it generating fuel on a rooftop. Unlike conventional gasoline production, which depends on fossil hydrocarbons, the device captures carbon dioxide from ambient air and combines it with hydrogen derived from water to create a petroleum-free gasoline substitute.
Current prototypes are relatively slow, producing up to about one gallon of gasoline per day. Even so, that output is notable given the small footprint of the machine and the simplicity of its inputs. The company envisions units that could operate in homes, businesses, or industrial facilities, potentially expanding access to low-fossil or fossil-free liquid fuel.
How the air-based fuel system works
According to Aircela, the process begins with direct air capture of carbon dioxide. Air is passed through a water-based solution containing potassium hydroxide (KOH), which binds with carbon dioxide and allows the machine to separate and store the carbon component needed for fuel production.
The second ingredient is hydrogen. The device uses electrolysis to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The oxygen is released back into the atmosphere, while the hydrogen is collected and held for the next stage.
The captured carbon and stored hydrogen are then combined to form methanol. That methanol is converted into synthetic gasoline using a two-step catalytic process the company calls methanol-to-gasoline (MTG). The resulting fuel is designed to be compatible with existing internal combustion engines, meaning it can be used in current cars and other gasoline-powered machines without modification.
Aircela says the liquid sorbent used to capture carbon dioxide is continuously recycled within the system, supporting its goal of creating a renewable, closed-loop process. However, the device still requires electricity to operate, particularly for electrolysis. Its overall climate impact therefore depends on how that electricity is generated. To deliver genuinely low-carbon or carbon-neutral fuel, the system would need to be powered by renewable sources such as solar or wind.
Scalability and challenges
The key question for technologies like this is whether they can scale. Producing roughly a gallon of gasoline per day may be sufficient for demonstration and niche use, but far more capacity would be needed for broad deployment.
Any path to commercialization will also need to address the energy demands of electrolysis and fuel synthesis, as well as the cost and durability of the equipment. Proving that units can operate reliably, efficiently, and economically at larger scales will be critical if this approach is to move beyond pilot projects.
Still, the concept highlights how synthetic fuels could complement other clean energy technologies. While advances in areas such as electric vehicles, artificial photosynthesis, and emerging power sources aim to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, air-derived gasoline offers another potential route: providing a liquid fuel compatible with todays engines, but produced from atmospheric carbon rather than petroleum.