Unconventional Power: Exploring Alternative Fuel Options in Supercars

There are plenty of reasons why alternative fuels are a hot topic. Everything from the rise in prices, the future ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles, to the race to cut emissions sparks debate. However, when you enter the supercar arena, the most exciting angle is one that naturally sits well with luxury car lovers: innovation.

Who better to practice alternative ways of doing things than the manufacturers that bring us the sleekest lines and most jaw-dropping performance? With innovations that are closer to works of art than vehicles to get you from A to B, hypercar and supercar manufacturers are the best people for the job. Let’s look at what they’re already doing and where they might head next.

Alternative Fuel Options and Supercars:

An Unlikely Match?

Rumours have been swirling about Ferrari’s new EV facility in Maranello. A fully-electric test vehicle resembling the Purosangue has been spotted out for a spin in the streets nearby. While any new release from the Prancing Horse is a topic for debate, this move has attracted even more attention.

For many, Ferraris and other sports cars are all about the symphony the engine produces. People fall in love with the sound and feel of a naturally aspirated petrol engine, which makes it hard for them to imagine a supercar with anything else. Think cars like the Ferrari 458, 355 and F40, all loved for their incredible naturally aspirated engines.

However, it’s the job of hypercar engineers and supercar designers to use their imagination to create something better. How they’ll manage to create that sound and driving experience while using alternative fuels is exactly what we can’t wait to find out.  

Speed, a sporty body, and something profoundly rare is exactly what it takes to make a supercar. With those criteria in mind, it’s plausible that harnessing a car which also embraces alternative fuel innovations, could be an absolute game-changer. It’s not such an unlikely match, especially if designers continue on their current trajectory. 

Next, let’s explore the top unconventional power options and how they will combine, or already are combining, with our supercars.

Petrol and Diesel Fuel Alternatives

We know petrol and diesel vehicles won’t be around forever, although we appreciate the extra leniency in the performance tier of the industry. Nonetheless, as fossil fuel omnipotence fades, super and hypercars will have to rise to the laws and challenges around emissions.

Research and advances are coming, and it’s up to the top engineers and designers to rise to the occasion. The earlier they get started, the further ahead they’ll be when it’s crunch time.

That is to say that no alternative fuel is perfect, and designing a supercar that can use one takes some consideration. Mostly, it’s the challenge of compromise that needs to be addressed. Some are already embracing change, as we’ll see in our exploration of six fuel alternatives.

1. Electric

Battery electric cars are a little way behind plug-in hybrids. However, with government grants, fuel savings and no exhaust emissions, they’re growing in popularity. While some are concerned about the distance and roll-out of infrastructure, there’s a definite move towards fully electric vehicles.

Most importantly, there are plenty of hypercars and supercars on the market or about to be launched. They’re proving that electric vehicles don’t have to compromise on power. The Lotus Evija is the prime example, with the prototype delivering 1,500 kW and 1,257 lb-ft of torque. 

The Pininfarina Battista and B95 are proving that electric cars can still look good and go from nought to 62 mph in under two seconds. On the other hand, cars like the Aspark Owl and the Ariel P40 show that there’s room for beauty, innovation and newcomers when it comes to the electric vehicles of the future.

2. Plug-in Hybrid

While these aren’t exactly a full step away from petrol and diesel, they are bridging the gap. Hybrid supercars are here to show us that experimental technology and supercars go hand in hand and that an electric battery can augment the experience. 

Many hybrids are already out there on the road, including the Ferrari SF90 PHEV. They’ve given supercar manufacturers the chance to experiment with power sources to finetune how they improve performance. They’ve also given car lovers the chance to get used to the idea and even appreciate how special these cars are.

Some notable additions to the hybrid supercar market in the last few years include the Porsche 918 Spyder and the Ferrari LaFerrari. Lamborghini fans have the opportunity to appreciate the Revuelto, which will surely mark a new era for supercars.

McLaren’s shining star came to the party a little later, but it was worth the wait. The surprisingly light Artura builds on the technological advances seen in the McLaren P1. Both cars demonstrate that embracing the power of electricity can produce something special.  

3. Biofuel

Renewable energy sources are a top priority when it comes to alternative fuels. Since biomass can be converted into liquid, it’s the ideal candidate for meeting transportation needs. It’s still early days for this energy source, but two biofuels, biodiesel and ethanol, are already in use on the road.

Hydrocarbon biofuels are excellent candidates and easy substitutes for petroleum. More research is required, but in the future, waste and algae-based resources could power our vehicles. 

For now, diesel and biodiesel blends and pure biodiesel, made using alcohol and recycled cooking grease, animal fat or vegetable oil, are the main options. 

Supercars are leading the way in showing what’s possible with biofuel. In 2023, Bentley took to Goodwood with several cars running on biofuel. New records were set, including by the Bentley Bentayga on the Goodwood Hill climb. 

The fuel came from fermented waste biomass, and none of the engines required modifications to run on the biofuel. The trial was so successful that Bentley installed a biofuel tank at its Crewe factory. The researchers at Koenigsegg are also pushing boundaries by researching a type of biofuel from volcanoes!

4. Hydrogen

Another kind of car running on electricity is the hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle or FCEV. The hydrogen is stored in a high-pressure tank that generates electricity at high voltages. It’s not a new technology, as several FCEV cars appeared in the 90s, including the Demio FCEV from Mazda. 

Improved design and better regenerative braking systems are two key reasons why the number of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles is increasing. Their longer range and cleaner credentials could make them the more popular option in years to come.

As for supercars, we’ve already had a glimpse of the XP1 Hypercar from Hyperion. It catches the eye with its carbon fibre and titanium monocoque chassis. Hyundai is set to launch its hydrogen supercar, the N74, in the near future. 

It’s thought that new battery technologies and propulsion will make Hyundai pioneers in advanced zero-admission supercars. 

5. Compressed Air

If zero emissions are the aim of the game, then air-powered cars are the answer. However, there are a few practicalities to sort out, especially if this energy system is to make it to the mainstream. They work through compressed air that is stored in a tank, and it’s the expansion, when released, that can power an engine.

Of course, energy is required to compress the air, and we’ll need systems at home or at fuel stations to reload the tanks. These are practical matters that can be overcome. However, one of the main challenges of a compressed-air vehicle (CAV) is how fast it will go. The AirPod from MDI has a max speed of 50 mph. 

Perhaps, like other hybrid cars, supercars will need to experiment with how compressed air can combine with other fuels to improve performance. For example, the Elektrogliss used a hydrogen fuel cell and compressed air to slide on an air cushion instead of wheels!

6. Liquid Nitrogen

If the Elektrogliss seems like science fiction, then this next alternative fuel raises the bar. Researchers have created a car that is propelled by nitrogen vapour. It works by vaporising cold liquid nitrogen. 

The idea is that nitrogen is already in the atmosphere in high percentages, meaning we wouldn’t be upsetting the balance too much. It would rely on building places to pull in air, run it through a refrigeration system and collect the condensed liquid nitrogen. Its proponents say that pollutants could be removed at the same time, making this an eco-friendly option.

While prototypes have been made, we’re still waiting for a car manufacturer to take the idea and run with it. Some, like Honda, have taken up the mantle, but there’s work to be done before we can see a supercar running on liquid nitrogen. 

Powering the Supercars of the Future

The roar of the engine is part of what makes driving a supercar so undeniably attractive. However, innovations connected to using alternative fuels can deliver new thrills in cars that are just as fast and beautiful. 

While there isn’t one fuel that stands out from the others, we’re sure that when supercar designers and engineers take on these projects - aided by breakthroughs in science, the results will continue to be breathtaking. 

Another decade of development is sure to revolutionise the industry, and we certainly look forward to hitting the road in the supercars of the future.