However, they may be in competition with diesel fuel made from natural gas, which can be just as clean-burning--and petroleum engineers have a way better handle of gas-to-liquid (GTL) fuel conversion from natural gas.
Well you’re giving them credit and they probably deserve some credit.
The real story I think is this is a very costly process especially with the collapse in oil prices making this diesel product very expensive now in comparison to regular refined diesel.
And this tech is sold as ‘clean’ and ‘environmentally friendly’ etc. So they can’t very well purchase nuke energy or regular fossil fuel power generation to make their hydrogen feedstock supply. So they have to tout renewables and I would guess with high confidence that the availability, reliablilty and cost of renewables is a hard fact to face.
Hence, Audi got themselves some fine tech here with some fine engineers and the economic argument is falling on itself. Hence again, Audi trying to pawn it off on government to keep these eco-warriors in business.