The Dual-Fuel System That Will Replace Diesel With Green Fuels

The global diesel fuel market was estimated at $225.62 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.96% by 2030. This is according to data from the Grand View Research company, which indicates that increasing use of diesel in industrial applications and its availability will drive market growth, with emphasis on production facilities, construction, heavy machinery operations, generators and equipment around the world. These data illustrate a problem on three main levels: human health, environmental quality and global climate, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This is where diesel generators and engines come into play. An Israeli start-up company that was established a year ago to address this precise issue is Dor Motors, from the Dor Chemicals Group.

"As the innovation arm of the long-established Dor Group, we decided to develop a dual-fuel system that can be mounted on an existing engine to replace diesel with renewable fuels, with an emphasis on liquid fuels, with the aim of saving costs for the customer and reducing emissions," explains Dor Motors CEO Michael Dankner. Dankner graduated with a Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Ben Gurion University and holds a MBA from Reichman University, with a background in management of development processes. According to him, in addition to the backing and support the startup receives from the Dor Chemicals Group, the company also received a grant from the Innovation Authority.

Maximum savings and preserving the engine

Dor Motors is, as mentioned, a separate entity, and is considered the innovation branch of Dor Group. "Given that the Group produces and trades in chemicals, in recent years it has become clear that the chemicals found in the company are actually the fuels of the future – methanol, hydrogen, MTBE. That is why we are constantly looking to create technologies that allow the use of these substances as fuels," explains Dankner, describing the idea behind the startup. According to him, this is an aftermarket product – a dual-fuel, learning and adaptive system designed for diesel engines, with an emphasis on companies that manage fleets of generators or those selling alternative fuels. "The very fact that the system is adaptive," he adds, "allows the product to be applied retroactively to any diesel-powered generator. It's a generic product that we intend to customize to any system, in order to reduce the use of diesel by 60% and replace it with renewable fuels. In the future we would even like to reach the goal of 75%. In this way, companies in the shipping or construction sectors, for example, which use generators, will not have to replace all their systems and can upgrade the existing system, including benefits and incentives for using green fuels."

Does this mean there's finally an alternative?

"Exactly! Thanks to our technology, there will be a significant reduction in diesel consumption, using green fuels. In fact, our system, which is installed on an existing generator, learns the engine it is attached to and over time finds the optimal way to operate, ensuring maximum savings while preserving the engine. We bring the Israeli comparative advantage in software to the world of fuel systems. Part of solving the problem of dependency on fossil fuels is not only the creation of new technologies, but also adapting existing technologies to current needs. This is the only way to retrofit not just the engine, but the entire value chain, which is currently stagnant. Therefore, the goal of the development is to solve an existing problem and allow operations based on generators to continue working for another 25 years, eliminating the need to purchase completely new systems."

Are there parallel systems in Israel or abroad that provide a similar solution?

"There are similar systems around the world, however, most of them are based on gaseous fuels with an emphasis on natural gas/LPG. In contrast, we specialize in using ethanol and methanol, which are liquid. The American market prefers ethanol – because it is a main source of income for farmers in the US. Other markets, such as India and China, use methanol, with the clear goal that this component will soon comprise 10% of the fuel mix. Even in the European market, incentives are given for the use of these fuels, making methanol a major player, especially in the shipping industry."

When is the system expected to go on the market?

"After we achieved an initial model based on a large 200 kilowatt generator, and demonstrated that the concept works and there is a solid idea and business model, we decided that 2025 will be dedicated to technological maturation and the application of adaptive technology. Thanks to the support of the Dor Chemicals Group, which serves as an incubator for us, with a supportive environment, access to relevant materials, operational logistics capabilities and technical-engineering knowledge, we can move forward with confidence. That is why we are not entering fundraising rounds, but are looking for employees who will help us implement the concept of the adaptive controller and optimization. For those interested, we are seeking developers with a connection to the energy world who love engines and are not afraid of working in the field, and at the same time also bring expertise in data science. Unlike in Israel, where companies receive a complete product that embodies the entire value chain of Dor Chemicals, abroad we are currently looking for strategic partners, entities that are interested in integrating our technology into their organization, entities interested in conducting a joint pilot based on an understanding of the great technological potential of combining green fuels in their operations, or companies that sell fuels for which our technology will open a new market segment. In the next phase we will invest in commercialization and marketing of the technology, including granting licenses to companies and organizations that will become authorized distributors of our technology according to the model we will implement in Israel with the Dor Chemicals Group, which we hope to do in the second half of 2026."

Dankner recalls one particularly significant moment for him in the startup's lifecycle: "After we installed the system on a diesel engine that had accumulated a lot of working hours, we realized that the tests were valid and that we had created environmental value without damaging the engine. At that moment," he says excitedly, "we realized this was actually something real, not just on paper, and that we had developed a technology that provides a totally new solution to the issue of diesel use. That was the turning point that marked the end of a long process of work, which was partially halted at the beginning of the war, when some of the team and I went to reserve duty, along with other challenges we faced."

Looking ahead, Dankner describes the vision that has driven Dor Motors since its founding: "Our vision is to develop technology that allows upgrading all types of diesel engines, with the aim of offering a reliable and available aftermarket product to any company or client, as well as to distribute and diversify the use of alternative fuels. This way we can not only reduce CO2 emissions, but also reduce the emission of other polluting gases such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) which can be reduced by up to 40%, and particulate matter (PM) which can be reduced by up to 60% and in the future 70%. These gases cause carcinogenic air pollution and soot. The system provides a solution to an urgent and critical problem that harms health and the environment, and that is the good news."

Dor Motors
Year established: 2023
Founder: Dor Group
Area of activity: Development of dual-fuel systems for diesel engines. Significant reduction in diesel consumption and its replacement with green and renewable fuels.
Guiding motto: The first step in implementing the renewable fuels revolution

In collaboration with Dor Motors