Aircela, a startup from New York, has become the first to create a machine that produces fuel from “air.” Using only air, water, and renewable electricity, Aircela’s technology generates fossil-free, motor-grade gasoline that works in any standard engine.
The company recently demonstrated the process of making gasoline from air to an audience in New York.
“It’s not a prototype — it’s a working engine,” said Eric Dalgren, CEO of Aircela.
The machine consists of three hexagon-shaped tanks that capture air and convert it into gasoline through a chemical process. At the back of the machine, there is a standard fuel nozzle for refueling vehicles.
The system can capture up to 22 pounds of CO2 per day and produce about one gallon of gasoline. The storage tank holds up to 17 gallons of fuel. Importantly, the gasoline contains no sulfur, ethanol, or heavy metals.
The device operates as a direct air capture (DAC) unit, which extracts carbon dioxide (CO2) directly from the atmosphere. Currently, more than ten DAC facilities are operating across Europe. Some researchers are also exploring ways to capture CO2 from the ocean.
In most cases, captured CO2 is stored but not converted into usable products, unlike Aircela’s technology, which turns CO2 into gasoline.
The company plans to begin production of the machine in the fall of 2025.
