German firm aims to replace 'dirty' diesel fuel with ammonia

A cross section of the ammonia Mahle jet ignition. Photo: dpa/Mahle/Newspress UK

German engineering company Mahle Powertrain is heading an innovative project to replace air-polluting diesel with ammonia in heavy duty combustion engines.

Ammonia as a fuel has not played a major role in the scramble to decarbonise engines so far but Mahle says it is ideal to replace diesel fuel in large marine engines and in off-highway sectors such as mining, quarrying and construction.