China Has Introduced The First-Ever Toxic Fuel Engine

China is shaking up the automotive world with the launch of a new engine that runs on liquid ammonia yes, ammonia. The Chinese automaker Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC) is making headlines with an unconventional and controversial move: using ammonia as fuel for cars.

This development comes as the global automotive industry looks for ways to reduce its environmental impact. With mounting pressure to shift away from fossil fuels, car manufacturers are racing to adopt greener technologies. Electric vehicles, hydrogen fuel cells, and biofuels have all entered the mainstream conversation. Now, China is adding another option to the table: ammonia-fueled cars, which may sound strange at first, but there’s a clear reason behind it.

Ammonia, a compound typically used in fertilizers, can also function as a fuel when pressurized or cooled into a liquid state. It has already been used to power certain ships and trains, but this is the first time a company has seriously proposed using it in everyday road vehicles. GAC claims its new engine can run entirely on liquid ammonia, offering a potential path toward cleaner transportation without relying on electric batteries.

The key advantage of ammonia is that it doesn’t produce carbon dioxide when burned, unlike gasoline or diesel. In a country like China, where pollution and emissions remain a major concern, this could significantly help in cutting carbon output from the transport sector. Ammonia engines could also present an appealing alternative to electric vehicles, which, despite their environmental benefits, still struggle with issues like long charging times and limited range in cold weather.

However, the idea is not without serious drawbacks. Despite its environmental promise, ammonia is extremely toxic. In the event of a leak, it can pose a severe threat to human health through inhalation or skin contact. That alone raises concerns about the safety of using such a volatile substance in consumer vehicles. On top of that, ammonia isn’t as energy-dense as gasoline, meaning more fuel is needed to cover the same distance. To support these vehicles, entirely new infrastructure would be required, including specialized service stations equipped to handle and dispense ammonia safely.

GAC acknowledges these challenges. The company has stated that it is actively working to improve the technology behind its ammonia engines, aiming for greater safety and efficiency. They’re also engaging with public institutions and private stakeholders to begin laying the groundwork for the necessary refueling infrastructure. While they admit the technology isn’t perfect, they argue that it could still play a valuable role in diversifying clean energy options for future transportation.

Whether ammonia-powered cars will gain real traction remains to be seen. The concept is ambitious and not without risk, but it’s a bold attempt to move beyond traditional fuels and explore new solutions to the climate crisis.

If GAC can address the safety concerns and infrastructure hurdles, ammonia engines might one day be a viable alternative to gasoline, diesel, and even electric power. Until then, it’s a wait-and-see moment for one of the world’s most unusual automotive experiments.