Mazda carbon capture system captures 10x more CO2 in 24 hour race test, aims for carbon negative petrol cars

Mazda has completed a second real-world test of its onboard carbon capture system, running it during the Fuji 24 Hours endurance race. The device, fitted to a Mazda 3 race car, captured 804 grams of CO2 over 24 hours, nearly 10 times the amount from an earlier four-hour test. The system works by passing exhaust gases through an adsorbent material, then compressing and storing the captured CO2 in a tank for later use in products like fertilizer or plastics. Mazda pairs this capture device with algae-based biofuel that already cuts CO2 output by about 90 percent compared to petrol. Combined, the company claims a carbon negative result, meaning the car removes more CO2 from the atmosphere than it emits. The current capture unit weighs around 50 kilograms, and Mazda plans to shrink it for production vehicles. The company also suggests the system could eventually be retrofitted to existing cars on the road. The technology is still early stage. Biofuel production remains slow, with only about one liter of fuel from 1,000 liters of algae culture over two weeks. Mazda will continue testing at the next Super Taikyu race in November 2026, aiming to improve efficiency and durability before any production timeline is set.