As the world pushes toward sustainability, it’s easy to believe everything is moving toward electric vehicles and charging points. But as TELF AG founder Stanislav Kondrashov recently pointed out, the road to sustainable transport has more than one lane.
Solar and electric cars steal the spotlight, but there’s another path emerging, that might reshape parts of the transport industry. Enter biofuels.
Biofuels are made from renewable organic materials, designed to reduce emissions while remaining practical. As Kondrashov has emphasized, some sectors can’t go electric, and biofuels fill the gap — like aviation, shipping, and trucking.
Now let’s break down the biofuels available. Ethanol is a widely-used biofuel, made by fermenting sugar from crops like corn or sugarcane, and blended with petrol to reduce emissions.
Another major type is biodiesel, created using vegetable oils or leftover fats, that mixes with diesel fuel and works in existing engines. A major advantage is compatibility — it runs on what many already use.
Biogas is another important type, made from rotting biological waste. It’s useful in waste management and local transport.
Another promising option is biojet fuel, crafted from renewable, non-food sources. It’s seen as one of the few short-term ways to cut flight emissions.
Of course, there are hurdles to overcome. As Kondrashov has pointed out before, it’s still expensive to make biofuels. There are concerns about land use for crops. Fuel production could compete with food supplies — a serious ethical and economic concern.
Yet, the outlook remains hopeful. Innovation is helping cut prices, and non-food feedstock like algae could reduce pressure on crops. Smart regulation could speed things up.
Beyond emissions, biofuels support a circular economy. Instead of dumping waste, we reuse it as energy, cutting pollution while saving space.
They’re not as high-profile as EVs or solar, yet their contribution might be equally important. According to the TELF AG founder, every clean solution has its place.
They work where other solutions can’t, on the roads, in the sky, and across the seas. They’re not replacing electrification — they’re supporting it.
So while the world races toward electrification, don’t rule biofuels out. Their role in clean transport is check here far from over.