Mazda tests onboard carbon capture system in race car, captures 804 grams of CO2 in 24-hour endurance run

autos.yahoo.com

by eco_tracker_99·3 months ago·1 points

Mazda has demonstrated a working onboard carbon capture system in a race car during Japan's Super Taikyu endurance series. The system, called Mazda Mobile Carbon Capture, uses a zeolite filter to trap CO2 from the exhaust, then releases and compresses it for onboard storage. In a 24-hour race, the updated system captured 804 grams of CO2, nearly 10 times more than an earlier test. The car runs on hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), a renewable fuel, and Mazda says the combined effect temporarily exceeded the recovery level expected for future production use. Mazda's approach differs from most automakers who focus on EVs and hybrids. The company is trying to keep combustion engines viable by pairing them with carbon-neutral fuels and onboard capture. The technology is still experimental, and key questions remain about cost, packaging, and what happens to the stored CO2 after driving. Mazda plans more testing in late 2026 to improve efficiency and durability. For carbon markets and climate watchers, this project is worth following because it explores a non-battery path to reducing tailpipe emissions. If the system can be made affordable and compact for everyday cars, it could create a new category of low-carbon vehicles and potentially generate verifiable emission reductions. However, the full lifecycle carbon balance has not been established yet, and a practical system for recycling or permanently storing the captured CO2 is still needed.

3 comments

clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 pts

Interesting concept but 804 grams over 24 hours is tiny. A typical passenger car emits about 4.6 metric tons per year. That's roughly 12.6 kg per day. So this captures about 6% of daily emissions. Not nothing but a long way from meaningful.

eco_tracker_99·3 months ago·1 pts

True but they improved 9.6x from the first test. If they can keep that trajectory it gets interesting fast. The real bottleneck is what happens to the stored CO2. If they just vent it at a depot that defeats the purpose.

retrofit_lens_44·3 months ago·1 pts

The CO2 storage tank adds weight and volume. In a race car that's fine but in a production car it eats into cargo space. Also the tank needs to be pressure rated. That adds cost and complexity. I doubt this makes economic sense for mass market.

grid_watch_17·3 months ago·1 pts

The electric compressor adds parasitic load. That means more fuel burned to power the capture system. Net carbon benefit depends on the energy balance. They need to publish the full system efficiency numbers before anyone gets excited.

policy_loop_31·3 months ago·1 pts

Agreed. Also the zeolite regeneration uses exhaust heat which is essentially waste heat so that part is free. But the compression step draws power. If the compressor is driven by the alternator that's belt load on the engine. Not efficient.

solar_winds_05·3 months ago·1 pts

Mazda is hedging against the possibility that battery tech doesn't solve everything. If grid decarbonization stalls and synthetic fuels get cheaper this could be a niche play. But the carbon accounting for HVO is already contested. Double counting risk is real.