First climate-positive car trip in history was a complete success
First climate-positive car trip in history was a complete success
Mannheim/Wiesloch, October 16, 2025 – The OBRIST Group would like to thank all participants and guests who made the first climate-positive car trip in human history on October 14, 2025 a historic milestone.
In the footsteps of Bertha Benz, the journey led from Mannheim to Wiesloch – along the legendary route on which automotive history was written as early as 1888. Now it has once again become a symbol of progress: Three HyperHybrid vehicles, powered by Sub Zero methanol, impressively demonstrated how mobility can be made not only climate-neutral, but also climate-positive. Every kilometer driven actively removed CO₂ from the atmosphere, and a total of three kilograms of carbon were captured.
The OBRIST Group sees Sub Zero Methanol and the HyperHybrid concept as a decisive contribution to the global energy and mobility transition and a unique opportunity for humanity to move away from fossil fuels and enter a new energy age. With over 250 patents registered and a clear focus on climate-positive technologies, we are setting new standards for sustainable energy and mobility.
Special thanks go to our technology partners ICODOS, KIT and UP Catalyst, with whom we were able to implement the world's first sub-zero methanol demo plant at the Mannheim sewage treatment plant. There, green methanol is produced from atmospheric and biological CO₂ – a fuel that is not only emission-free, but also net CO₂-negative.
Until tomorrow, Friday, October 17, investors and the media have the opportunity to take a look at the energy concept of the future at the Mannheim sewage treatment plant (Karl- Immhof-Straße 50). Registration at c.hoferer@obrist.de is requested.
Our further thanks go to:
- Mannheim's Lord Mayor Christian Specht, who ceremoniously opened the event, emphasized the importance of sustainable innovations for the region and said goodbye to the vehicles on their journey.
- Notary Hagen Wolff, who officially certified the first climate-positive car trip, thus underlining its historical significance.
- Ludwig Sauer, Mayor of Wiesloch, who accompanied the symbolic finish and paid tribute to the connection to the world's first petrol station.
- Jutta and Dr. Adolf Suchy, owners of the old Stadt-Apotheke Mannheim, the historic site of the world's first gas station, who shared this special moment with us.
- Science journalist Jean Pütz, science writer Dr. Andrew Moore (Oxford Press) and Prof. Dr. Dittmeyer KIT for their support in the project.
- as well as the numerous media representatives, whose reporting makes a significant contribution to bringing the vision of a climate-positive future to the public.
Together, we are shaping the future – from Net Zero to Sub Zero.
About OBRIST Technologies
OBRIST Technologies develops technologies for climate-positive mobility and energy supply. With the HyperHybrid drive and Sub Zero® methanol, the company is pursuing the goal of establishing climate- positive energy systems in order to initiate a move away from fossil fuels.
About ICODOS (Mannheim 001)
ICODOS is a spin-off of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and operates "Mannheim 001", the world's first plant for the production of e-methanol from wastewater CO2, at the Mannheim sewage treatment plant. The project is considered a beacon for bio-based energy sources.
About the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
KIT is one of the largest scientific institutions and one of the most well-known and renowned universities in Germany and all of Europe. ICODOS uses a patented technology developed at KIT for the production of climate-neutral fuel from biogas, hydrogen, and green electricity.
About UP Catalyst
UP Catalyst is an Estonian cleantech company that converts CO₂ emissions into high-quality carbon materials such as graphite and carbon nanotubes. The products are a game changer for the battery and materials industry and an example of an active and permanent carbon sink.
About the Mannheim sewage treatment plant
CO2, which is produced during the treatment of wastewater, is provided for the synthesis of methanol. The process chain described above is presented on the site of the sewage treatment plant in Mannheim.
Further information: www.obrist.at
Contact for the press: Prokurist Thorsten Rixmann, Chief Marketing Officer, Tel. +43 660 5642275, Email: t.rixmann@obrist.at
PR Agency: euromarcom public relations, team@euromarcom.de, www.euromarcom.de
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