Turning air into drinking water is an old science trick. While some “magicians” are still leveraging moisture in the air to literally pull water out of thin air, one New York-based startup, Aircela, has taken this concept to the next level: turning air into black gold. OK, it’s not quite black gold as in petroleum, but one of its products: gasoline (or as the rest of the world calls it, petrol).
Using only air, water, and renewable electricity, Aircela machines produce fossil-free, motor-grade fuel—ready for any vehicle that uses petrol—right there and then. Contrary to belief, Aircela does not pull city smog to magically recreate gasoline. It has some serious science going on under the hood.
Using a water-based solution containing potassium hydroxide (KOH), the machine captures carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the air. At the same time, electrolysis—powered by renewable electricity—is employed to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The latter is released into the environment safely, while the hydrogen is stored for fuel synthesis. During this time, the sorbent used in the capture step is regenerated for reuse.
The final step is combining the carbon dioxide and hydrogen to create methanol, which is then converted to gasoline via a two-step catalytic process known as methanol-to-gasoline (MTG). When running 24/7, each Aircela machine is capable of producing one gallon of gasoline a day.
Mind you, though, this non-fossil gasoline is not some cheap knock-off of nature’s offering; it has been tested with an AKI of 90, which means it is a RON 95+ fuel. The fuel can be used with existing engines and fuel systems. As a boon, it can be mixed with conventional fossil fuel, too, if so desired. And yes, each setup is complete with a standard fuel nozzle that lets you pump the produced gasoline into your car’s gas tank.
As for the electricity it uses… it depends on where it is located. It can be powered by solar, wind, or other clean energy sources. If these renewable sources aren’t available, it can be hooked up to the grid. In this instance, the carbon footprint reflects whatever power mix is feeding that grid at the time.
The company is gunning for limited commercial availability in select U.S. markets starting late 2026. No word yet on how much it’ll cost to adopt one. You can get yourself on the waitlist if you are keen.
Images: Aircela.
