The Ultimate Power Play: Lamborghini’s Bet on E-Fuel in the Electric Age

According to Rouven Mohr, the brand’s Technical Director, e-fuel is not just a technological solution but a “lifeline” for internal combustion engines, the very heart of Lamborghini’s emotional identity.

Mohr highlights that the unique driving experiences created by the sound, vibration, and gear shifting of internal combustion engines are not yet fully replicable by electric vehicles. He doesn’t claim that e-fuel is superior to traditional gasoline, but it may be the only way to preserve the traditional engine.

E-fuel is a synthetic fuel produced from CO₂ captured from the atmosphere and hydrogen derived from water through electrolysis. When burned, e-fuel emits almost the same amount of CO₂ that was absorbed, resulting in carbon neutrality, aligning with global climate goals without compromising traditional engines.

Lamborghini‘s vision is embodied in the Temerario hybrid V8, their latest supercar. It combines a 4.0L twin-turbocharged V8 engine with three electric motors, delivering a staggering 920 horsepower and 730 Nm of torque. Notably, the Temerario is designed to be compatible with electronic fuel.

Beyond its impressive performance, with a 0-100 km/h sprint in 2.7 seconds and a top speed of 343 km/h, the Temerario embodies a design philosophy centered around emotional driving. Lamborghini has set an ambitious target of reaching 10,000 rpm, a rarity for a street-legal car.

While competitors like Ferrari rush to launch their first electric supercars, Lamborghini takes a more measured approach. The production version of their first electric vehicle, the Lanzador concept, is expected to arrive in 2029.

According to Mohr, this timeline ensures that the emotional factor is not compromised. “The world is moving towards electric cars, but we can’t do that by sacrificing what our customers truly love about Lamborghini,” he says. The brand believes that the younger generation, growing up with electric vehicles, will discover and appreciate the uniqueness of internal combustion engines, especially when sustained by e-fuel.

This isn’t just a theoretical proposition; Lamborghini, along with Porsche, another Volkswagen Group brand, has invested significantly in e-fuel research and development. They view it as the key to safeguarding not just the future but also the past, preserving their heritage fleet and iconic Lamborghini models that are still on the road decades later.

Stephan Winkelmann, CEO, affirmed in 2023 that e-fuel would play a significant role in various areas, from motorsports to maintaining legacy vehicles.

TH (Tuoitrethudo)