Audi has launched its third-generation Q7 SUV with a diesel engine capable of running on hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), a move that underscores the persistent tension between political ambition for synthetic fuels and the reality of limited commercial supply.
The vehicle, priced at approximately £82,000, represents a strategic pivot for the German automaker as it navigates regulatory pressures and shifting consumer preferences in the luxury segment.
While the engine is technically compatible with renewable diesel, the practical availability of HVO remains a significant constraint for widespread adoption.
The launch highlights the broader challenge facing the energy transition: the gap between policy rhetoric and infrastructure readiness.
German political leaders, including Ursula von der Leyen and Friedrich Merz, have increasingly championed synthetic fuels, or e-fuels, as a ready-made solution for decarbonizing transport.
However, the current production capacity for HVO and similar alternatives is insufficient to meet even a fraction of the potential demand from a fleet of such vehicles.