IndyCar to Use (100%) Renewable Fuel Beginning in 2023

(Associated Press) IndyCar will become the first North American racing series to use 100% renewable fuel in its race cars. Shell, which recently signed a five-year extension to be the fuel sponsor for the open-wheel series, announced plans Friday to switch to a low-carbon fuel in 2023.

The new fuel will be a blend of second-generation ethanol derived from sugarcane waste and other biofuel, and it will create a fuel that is 100% comprised of feedstocks categorized as renewable under the applicable regulatory frameworks, according to Shell executives at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It will decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 60% compared to fossil-based gasoline, according to the company.

Shell has set a goal of having a net zero carbon footprint within IndyCar by 2050.

“This race fuel development for IndyCar is a great example of how fuels technology is pivotal in helping decarbonize the sport,” Dr. Selda Gunsel, President of Shell Global Solutions, said in a statement. READ MORE

Excerpt from Racer: The arrival of Shell as the NTT IndyCar Series’ new fuel supplier in 2023 will coincide with a major step forward for the open-wheel organization as the cars powered by turbocharged engines from Chevrolet and Honda will switch from E85 (85-percent ethanol/15-percent gasoline) to 100-percent renewable biofuel.

The change will make IndyCar the first major North American racing series to use fuel made entirely from agriculture and food waste.

“It has been a really exciting project for us to develop 100-percent renewable based fuel for the NTT IndyCar Series,” said Selda Gunsel, Shell’s VP of technology. “So our fuel composition includes a significant portion of second-generation ethanol derived from waste biomass, such as sugar cane maize. The rest of the composition consists of renewable components derived from food waste. So this gives us a low-carbon fuel that’s 100-percent renewable, enabling at least 60-percent greenhouse gas reduction compared to fossil fuel-based gasoline.

“Now, second-generation ethanol, also referred to as cellulosic ethanol, is obtained from waste feedstocks, and therefore does not compete with the food chain. With respect to the performance of our renewable fuel, it has been tested and approved by both engine manufacturers in the series, Chevrolet and Honda, and has met the demanding needs of IndyCar engines with high performance and durability.”

Gunsel told RACER the performance attributes of the new biofuel will fall in line with the current E85 that will be used through the end of the season.

Series owner Roger Penske expressed pride in making this advancement with IndyCar.

“[It’s a] watershed time, when you think about the environment, the sustainability and things that we’re all focused on today,” he said. “These are top-of-mind opportunities.” READ MORE

Excerpt from TobyChristie.com: In attendance for the release, Helio Castroneves has a hometown affection with Shell having the second-generation ethanol sourced from a Brazilian joint-venture founded in 2011 by Shell and Cosan, named Raízon. They are one of the largest sugarcane ethanol manufacturer in the world and owner of the first commercial second-generation ethanol plant.

“Motorsports has always been at the forefront of innovation and technology, and today IndyCar is furthering this tradition in a very important and transformational way,” said Mark Miles, president and CEO of Penske Entertainment Corp. “We are proud to become a leader in sustainability and decarbonization as we work towards becoming the first U.S. motorsport series to run on renewable fuel. With industry-leading organizations like Shell and Penske sharing the same ambition for a cleaner energy future, remarkable progress can be made.” READ MORE

Excerpt from Motorsport.com: “In discussions with Shell we looked at what can we above and beyond a sponsorship in a racing situation, how can we do something for the environment?” said Roger Penske, owner of Team Penske, the IndyCar Series and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “So, we went to work.

“Obviously, with our two engine manufacturers (Chevrolet and Honda), we basically had to get both of those manufacturers comfortable from the standpoint of durability and reliability and also from the power perspective. I would say this is really a club decision, meaning the manufacturers, certainly IndyCar and certainly ourselves from the standpoint of the speedway.

“It’s the first real series to have this kind of commitment. Believe me, everyone wanted to be sure it was done properly and we got what we wanted technically.”

The second-generation ethanol used in the fuel will be sourced from Raízen, a Brazilian Joint-Venture created in 2011 by Shell and Cosan. Raízen is one of the largest sugarcane ethanol producers in the world, and owner of the first commercial second-generation ethanol plant.

Dani Silva, Shell’s vice president of Enterprise Accounts, said many elements went into selecting the type of fuel the IndyCar Series would utilize.

“The second-generation ethanol is something in which Shell has invested in a joint venture since 2011, so it’s critical that we understood what a sustainable fuel could look like,” he said. “There are so many options today in feedstocks that make it renewable.

In addition to the 100-percent renewable racing fuel, Shell and IndyCar will continue their sustainability journey together in several other ways, including:

- Pennzoil Synthetics 0W oils are used to power all engines running in the IndyCar Series and are now carbon neutral. READ MORE