Bugatti CEO Proposes Home Fuel Stations for Synthetic Fuel Hypercars

Bugatti Rimac CEO Mate Rimac envisions offering home fuel stations for Bugatti owners using synthetic fuels. This innovative idea supports the continued use of internal combustion engines alongside electric vehicles.

When catering to clients who can afford hypercars, the sky’s the limit for optional features. Bugatti Rimac CEO Mate Rimac has an innovative idea: bundling a fuel station with the purchase of a car. The mastermind behind the Nevera and Concept One electric hypercars is considering making it easier for owners to refuel their combustion-engine cars at home.

The 36-year-old Croatian entrepreneur envisions a long future for internal combustion engines (ICE), potentially powered by synthetic fuels. At the Financial Times’ Future of the Car Summit in London, Rimac proposed, «You could even make some beautiful Bugatti fuel stations for the homes of owners, using synthetic fuels.»

This idea aligns with Bugatti Rimac’s partial owner, Porsche, which has been producing eFuel at a pilot plant in Chile since December 2022. This synthetic fuel, made from water and carbon dioxide using wind energy, allows ICE vehicles to operate nearly CO2-neutral.

The Chilean plant aims to produce about 14.5 million gallons annually by mid-decade, ramping up to 145 million gallons by 2027. Although this is a small fraction of the global fuel demand, it’s a significant step towards sustainable ICE operation.

Rimac didn’t directly mention Porsche’s involvement, but using eFuel in Bugatti cars seems plausible. Bugatti’s limited production (450 Veyrons and 500 Chirons) and the infrequent use by their owners mean demand for synthetic fuel would be manageable.

Bugatti’s next hypercar, set to premiere on June 20, promises to be entirely new. According to Rimac, it features no carry-over parts from the Nevera or Chiron and boasts an evolutionary exterior design with «some crazy things» inside, enhancing quality.

The highlight will be a new V-16 engine, a naturally aspirated powerhouse nearly 40 inches long. Rimac confirmed it’s a completely new engine that Bugatti plans to use for an extended period, likely beyond the 2035 European Union ban on new cars with harmful emissions. An exemption for synthetic fuel-powered vehicles, secured by Germany, encourages luxury brands to continue investing in combustion engines.

Mate Rimac noted that high-end customers still prefer ICE power, as evidenced by the electric Nevera not being sold out. Similarly, Aston Martin recently announced a new twin-turbo V-12 with 824 horsepower, indicating that large-displacement engines are here to stay.