Aircela
The presentation of the Aircela device took place on a terrace
Aircela’s device, which only needs CO₂, solar energy and water to produce fuel, is similar in size to a refrigerator and can be installed on terraces and gardens. A discreet change of paradigm, received with some skepticism.
Amid the saturated scenario of climate technology startups, the North American company discreetly presented an audacious proposal: a compact machine capable of extracting carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere and converting it into synthetic gasoline.
The technology, demonstrated in May at the company’s headquarters in New York, represents what could be a paradigm shift in the way we think about fuel production and carbon neutrality.
However, highlights , the main financial publications have remained strangely silent about the advancewhich appears as a direct alternative to traditional fossil fuels — also a sign of the skepticism with which the concept was received in some sectors.
According to the company, which says that its device is already operational, the system can produce fuel from CO₂, water and renewable energy.
“We sincerely believe that our approach is the fastest way to do reach carbon neutral fuels to as many people as possible, in as many places as possible, as quickly as possible”, in May the company’s executive director, Eric Dahlgren.
The Aircela machine has dimensions comparable to those of a large household appliance and was designed to be installed in both private housing as in other contexts. It was designed to integrate into existing infrastructures, and does not require changes to conventional gasoline vehicles.
According to , the system combines CO₂ capture with chemical synthesis processes. In a first phase, a water-based liquid solution and potassium hydroxide absorbs the CO₂ present in the air. In parallel, the equipment separates water into hydrogen and oxygen through electrolysis.
As oxygen is released to the outside, hydrogen is used to reactr with the captured CO₂ and generate methanol. This intermediate compound is then converted into gasoline without ethanol, sulfur or heavy metalsaccording to the North American company.
Aircela gave a public demonstration of the process in May, before an audience that gathered on a rooftop in Brooklyn to see Dahlgren use the device to produce gasoline directly from the air. “We didn’t build a prototype. We built a functional machine”, highlighted the company’s CEO.
According to Aicela, each unit captures up to 10 kg of CO₂ per day and produces approx. 4 liters of gasoline every 24 hours. The device includes a tank with a capacity of 64 liters and a supply gun similar to traditional gas stations, which allows you to fill your car’s tank at home.
Why the skepticism
Aircela’s device sparked discussions on platforms like Reddit, which revealed athe polarized reaction to Aircela’s allegations. Technically knowledgeable commentators raise legitimate questions about energy efficiencyproduction costs and scalability.
A thermodynamics of synthetic fuel production remains an obstacle: converting atmospheric CO₂, present at around 420 parts per million, into high-density fuel requires a energetic effort substantial.
Critics point to the problem of “energy return on investment,” or EROI: if synthetic fuel production consume more energy than what the fuel itself provides, it becomes difficult to justify the economy of the process.
Supporters of the idea counter that, when the process is fed by renewable energy surpluses that would otherwise be wasted, the equation changes favorably.
According to Business 2.0., the lack of coverage by major financial publications such as Forbes, a Bloomberg e o The Wall Street Journalmay reflect several factors, more than any “deliberate suppression” of newswhich some conspiracy theories have already suggested.
Financial media tend to cover startups that have already raised investment rounds, often in excess of $50 million. Startups that have not yet collected significant venture capital support rarely reach the “this is news” level in these traditionally conservative publications.
Responsible financial journalism requires independent technical verification of allegations of “disruptive technologies”. Produce synthetic fuels at competitive costs is an extraordinary claim, which requires extraordinary proof.
Thus, without peer-reviewed data, third-party audits or one-to-one operation, significant scaleeditors of major financial publications can hesitate to spread unverified allegations.
Opinions are divided so among those who think the device is a fraud or a unfeasible ideawho thinks that it’s still early to break the news in big paragonas, and even those who think that “are hiding again” a revolutionary breakthrough that could change the world.
Aircela plans to begin “limited” marketing of its device in 2026 — which is just around the corner. Let’s wait and see.
