At the heart of this pioneering partnership is a clear commitment to the use of CO2-reduced fuels in order to actively support the climate targets of German and European legislation.
The BMW Group, one of the world’s leading premium manufacturers of automobiles and motorcycles, has been setting standards in innovation, quality and sustainability for over 100 years. As a pioneer of a technology-neutral approach, BMW is now planning to use eFuels as a fuel for the initial filling of new vehicles with gasoline engines at selected production sites in Germany. BMW Group vehicles with gasoline engines built since 2010 can already fill up with eFuels (E10 standard). This underlines the company’s holistic approach, in which all technologies – from electromobility to CO2-neutral fuels – can make an important contribution to climate protection.
Up to 90 percent less new CO2 emissions compared to fossil gasoline The eFuel used is a synthetic petrol fuel in accordance with the DIN EN 228 standard for gasoline, which is produced entirely from non-fossil CO2. It offers a climate-friendly alternative to conventional fossil gasoline and is compatible with existing vehicles – without any technical modifications. New CO2 emissions are up to 90 percent lower compared to fossil gasoline. Tests by LOTHER have also shown that Performance eFuel 95 has fewer residues on injectors, valves and pistons, as well as fewer deposits in critical engine areas, leading to an increased service life of the engine.
The synthetic fuel is produced using the so-called power-to-liquid (PtL) process – an innovative process in which renewable energy is converted into liquid fuel. The central building block here is renewable methanol, for example eMethanol from green hydrogen, which is synthesized with recycled CO2. This renewable methanol serves as the starting material for the next stage: the methanol-to-gasoline (MtG) process. The MtG process used was developed by plant manufacturer CAC Engineering from Chemnitz.
Production plant for e-gasoline to go into operation at the end of 2028
The fuel to be used by BMW in future is to be produced in Germany’s first commercial production plant for e-gasoline from the end of 2028. The company German eFuel One is responsible for its implementation. The eFuel will meet strict sustainability standards and have a reduction in new CO2 emissions of up to 90 percent, confirmed by certifications such as REDcert.
“All drive systems can and must reduce CO2. In addition to electromobility, efficient combustion engines with renewable fuels continue to play an important role. That is why our diesel models manufactured in Germany have been refueled with renewable diesel HVO100 since the beginning of 2025. Today, we are laying the foundation for the next step together in Germany: With our plan to start refueling new gasoline engines with eFuels from 2028, we are sending another strong signal to our customers.“
Glenn Schmidt, Vice President Global Sustainability at the BMW Group
“With this cooperation, we are sending a strong signal for the market ramp-up of eFuels in Germany. BMW is demonstrating that sustainable fuels are an essential component of tomorrow’s mobility. Our goal is to make eFuels widely available and thus enable a rapid and effective CO2 reduction in transport.“
Christian Hanke, CEO of German eFuel One
“The signing of this LOI is a decisive step towards sustainable fuels in the automotive industry. The collaboration between BMW, LOTHER and German eFuel One shows that together we can actively shape a CO2-neutral future. We look forward to driving this change forward and establishing eFuels as an integral part of sustainable mobility solutions.“
Matthias Bartholl, CEO of Lother GmbH
This synthetic fuel is already available at the CLASSIC filling station in Kirchweyhe (near Bremen) under the name KlimaBenzin95. The E10 fuel uses green methanol instead of fossil resources and is therefore 95 percent petroleum-free. This enables KlimaBenzin95 to reduce new CO2 emissions by up to 90 percent compared to fossil E10 petrol – without any loss of performance. The “95” in the product name stands for both the octane value and the high proportion of non-fossil components. The price per liter at the CLASSIC filling station in Kirchweyhe is currently 2.29 euros.
By signing the Letter of Intent, the BMW Group, LOTHER and German eFuel One are sending a strong signal for technological progress and climate protection in Germany. The cooperation combines innovative strength, industrial expertise and ecological responsibility – with the aim of making the mobility of the future sustainable. The partners are demonstrating this: Only through joint action and the courage to break new ground can the transition to a CO2-neutral society be successfully shaped.
Download image 1: Signing of the Letter of Intent (LOI)
Download image 2: Signing of the Letter of Intent (LOI)
Download image 3: Signing of the Letter of Intent (LOI)
Download image 4: Signing of the Letter of Intent (LOI)
Download image 5: Signing of the Letter of Intent (LOI)
Download image 6: Signing of the Letter of Intent (LOI)
Download image 7: Product image eFuel First-Fill
Download image 8: Product image eFuel First-Fill
Picture credits © German eFuel One
