High-performance automobile - Home-based fuel station concept: Bugatti ponders "combustion engine wallbox" option
The Bugatti Chiron burns approximately 20 liters of fuel every 100 kilometers. But when driving the mighty V16 engine with 16 cylinders in the city, the 30-liter limit is quickly broken. Nevertheless, let's be truthful: At prices exceeding three million euros, the last thing a Bugatti owner wants to concern themselves with is the gas station bill.
As a corporation devoted to combustion engines and fossil fuels, Bugatti is mulling over how to supply their elite vehicles in the future.
Bugatti's Plans Beyond 2035
In a recent address at the "Financial Times' Future of the Car Summit" in London, the topic of how Bugatti intends to refuel its luxury vehicles in the face of potential combustion engine restrictions emerged. "Carscoops" detailed Bugatti CEO Mate Rimac's perspective on this matter.
Despite the potential repercussions for the company, Rimac is determined to maintain combustion engines beyond 2035. "I can't see any reason not to manufacture them past 2035. We've developed an entirely new engine, and we intend to keep using it for a while. I've read the regulations, and I don't see any reason why we can't - in the media, it's reported that cars with combustion engines will be banned after 2035, but if you read the fine print, it's not there - you can still construct them, though there may be some fines," Rimac clarified to "Autoexpress."
How to address the dwindling number of gas stations for these titans, Rimac also pondered. "You could even build elegant Bugatti petrol stations for the domiciles of owners who use synthetic fuels," he added. There's no need to worry about their clientele's financial capabilities.
eFuels from Porsche
Bugatti could potentially seek help from Porsche. As "Motor1" reported, Porsche established an eFuel pilot plant in Chile about a year and a half ago. It planned to create an initial 130,000 liters of eFuels annually, Porsche announced. Optimistically, the company predicted: "Synthetic fuels generated from wind energy, water, and carbon dioxide enable a nearly CO2-neutral operation of gasoline engines. [...] Following the pilot phase in Chile, the project will be scaled up to about 55 million liters per year by the middle of the decade. Two years later, the capacity is projected to reach 550 million liters."
Porsche possesses a 45% stake in Bugatti, while the Rimac Group holds the remaining 55%. The assurance of providing those extravagant supercars with fuel throughout their lifespan could serve as a significant selling point for many prospective buyers. On June 20, Bugatti will present the successor to the Chiron for the first time - together with its new V16 engine.
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In light of Potential combustion engine restrictions, Bugatti is considering installing Wallbox charging stations for their high-end vehicles at home, allowing owners to refuel their Bugatti Chirons without visiting a traditional petrol station. Additionally, Bugatti could collaborate with Porsche, which has established a pilot plant in Chile to produce eFuels, providing a nearly CO2-neutral fuel alternative for their luxury vehicles.
Source: www.stern.de
