Invasive Seaweed Touted as Next Biofuel for Combustion Cars

Researchers are exploring an unlikely candidate in the search for cleaner fuels for internal combustion vehicles: invasive seaweed. According to Jalopnik, this fast-spreading marine plant could be converted into biofuel, offering a way to keep gasoline and diesel cars on the road while trimming their environmental footprint.

The appeal lies in seaweed’s rapid growth and abundance. Because it spreads aggressively in coastal waters, harvesting it for fuel could double as a control measure against a nuisance species. That dual benefit — energy feedstock and ecological cleanup — is what makes the idea stand out from more conventional biofuel crops.

Still, turning seaweed into a practical fuel at scale is far from settled. The report does not detail production costs or infrastructure needs, but the concept fits a broader push to find alternative liquid fuels for the existing fleet rather than replacing every vehicle outright.

For now, the proposal remains a research avenue rather than a commercial product. Whether it can compete with EVs and other low-carbon options will depend on further development.