How does Remora's carbon capture technology work?

Remora retrofits vehicles with a device that extracts CO2 from exhaust. The CO2 gets trapped in pellets within a cylinder, while other gases pass through. The captured CO2 is then offloaded as a liquid for end-users.

Why is Remora focused on point source capture instead of direct air capture?

Point source capture, like from truck exhaust, is considered more efficient because the CO2 is more concentrated. Direct air capture struggles with the low concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere (0.04%), requiring more energy and potentially creating more emissions.

What challenges did Remora face when starting?

When applying to Y Combinator, Remora had only an idea and no system or incorporated company. The founder advises aspiring entrepreneurs with limited domain expertise to start working on the problem and build a team of experts.

Why did Remora choose Detroit for its headquarters?

Remora located in Wixom, near Detroit, because it offered a high density of mechanical and electrical engineers with experience in packaging, vibration, and shock – crucial talent for building their hardware.

How is Remora adapting its technology for freight trains?

For trains, Remora is building an entire separate rail car that attaches to the locomotive's exhaust stack, processing the exhaust onboard. They have even acquired a General Electric locomotive for testing.

What are the biggest challenges Remora faces in scaling up?

Key challenges include building modular products that fit various trucks and locomotives, and achieving vertical integration in their production process to enable faster iteration and manufacturing improvements.

What is Remora's long-term vision for carbon capture?

Remora aims to make a significant dent in national carbon emissions, with a goal of capturing a billion tons of CO2 per year. They see potential applications beyond transportation, including generators, oil and gas production, container ships, and industrial plants.

Key Moments

This Startup Is Trying To Delete 29% Of All CO2 Emissions

Y Combinator

Science & Technology5 min read13 min video

Oct 9, 2025|49,242 views|1,590|115

YC Y Combinator

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Key Moments

TL;DR

Remora captures CO2 directly from truck and train exhaust, turning a major emission source into a revenue stream by selling the captured CO2. While direct air capture is dilute and costly, Remora's point-source approach is more efficient, though scaling remains a challenge.

Key Insights

Transportation accounts for 29% of all U.S. emissions, making long-haul trucking and freight trains prime targets for carbon reduction.

Remora's mobile carbon capture devices are retrofitted onto commercial trucks and trains, extracting up to 90% of CO2 from exhaust.

The captured CO2 is liquefied and sold to end-users in industries like food and beverage, greenhouses, and water treatment, creating a revenue stream.

Unlike direct air capture, Remora's point-source capture is significantly more efficient due to higher CO2 concentrations in exhaust.

Remora has raised $17 million in venture backing and has evaluation agreements with companies like Ryder and Union Pacific.

The company aims to scale its technology to capture a billion tons of CO2 annually and sees potential applications in generators, oil and gas production, container ships, cement plants, and refineries.

Tackling transportation's 29% emission share

Transportation represents the largest sector of emissions in the United States, contributing 29% of the total. Remora, a startup founded by Paul Gross, is focused on this significant challenge by developing mobile carbon capture systems for commercial trucks and trains. Their goal is to drastically reduce emissions from sectors that are particularly difficult to electrify, such as long-haul trucking and freight trains. This approach aims to capture CO2 directly from the source before it enters the atmosphere, fundamentally changing how emissions are managed within this critical sector.

How Remora's technology works

Remora's system involves retrofitting vehicles with devices that extract and purify CO2 from their exhaust. The exhaust gas flows through a cylinder containing specially designed pellets that attract CO2 molecules, while other gases pass through. The captured CO2 is then liquefied and stored. This process is designed to reduce a vehicle's emissions by at least 80%. One of the unique aspects is the ability to produce beverage-grade CO2, which can then be supplied to various end-users. This creates a dual benefit: emission reduction and resource generation.

Overcoming the CO2 shortage and creating revenue

The founding insight for Remora stemmed from observing a CO2 shortage in the U.S., particularly for industries like breweries, juxtaposed with the massive annual emissions from trucks and trains. Paul Gross realized that by capturing and purifying CO2 from vehicle exhaust, they could address both problems simultaneously. The captured liquid CO2 is transported by distributor customers to end-users who require it for applications such as carbonating beverages, enhancing greenhouse growth, and water treatment. This circular economy approach turns a pollutant into a valuable commodity, generating revenue and incentivizing emission reduction.

Point-source capture versus direct air capture

Remora's technology falls under point-source carbon capture, which they believe is a more efficient strategy than direct air capture (DAC). DAC involves removing CO2 directly from the atmosphere, where it is highly dilute (0.04%). This process requires significant energy, making it more expensive and potentially generating more emissions. In contrast, point-source capture targets concentrated CO2 emissions at their origin, such as vehicle exhaust. By capturing CO2 at the source, Remora avoids the energy penalty associated with processing dilute atmospheric air, positioning their method as a more practical and cost-effective solution for specific high-emission sectors.

Building a hardware startup with limited domain expertise

Paul Gross, who doesn't have a background in mechanical or chemical engineering, advises aspiring founders in similar hard-tech industries to simply start working and learning. He emphasizes that while deep expertise is valuable, the founder doesn't need to be the sole expert. The key is to build a team of experts. Remora's founding team includes Christina Reynolds, who completed a PhD at the University of Michigan on carbon capture. This collaborative approach allows for rapid learning and development. Remora itself has grown to a team of 43 people, demonstrating the importance of assembling the right talent, particularly in specialized engineering fields.

Strategic location and rapid iteration

While Remora gained early momentum at Y Combinator in the Bay Area, they established their headquarters and manufacturing operations just outside of Detroit. This decision was driven by the need for specialized talent in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and packaging, areas where Detroit has a high density of expertise. The company also prioritizes in-house manufacturing, including fabrication, laser cutting, welding, and machining, to enable rapid iteration and quality control. This vertical integration allows them to quickly test and refine their designs, putting components onto trucks and trains faster and improving the manufacturability of their systems.

Modular design and scaling challenges

Scaling Remora's technology presents challenges, particularly in developing product modularity. The company focuses on creating kits that can fit diverse types of locomotives and trucks, ensuring their core modular car functions across various applications. Bringing as much of the production process in-house as possible is crucial for rapid learning and faster iteration loops between production and engineering teams. Building a simulator with a real truck engine and dynamometer has been instrumental in testing different road conditions, exhaust temperatures, and compositions, significantly improving energy efficiency, system size, capture efficiency, and purity.

Ambitious goals for nationwide emissions reduction

Remora has secured $17 million in funding and is working with major companies like Ryder and Union Pacific. Their ultimate goal is to capture a billion tons of CO2 annually, making a significant dent in the country's overall carbon emissions. The technology's scalability allows for applications beyond transportation, including retrofitting generators, oil and gas production facilities, container ships, cement plants, and refineries. The company's focus on building a scalable, modular system is central to achieving this ambitious vision and addressing climate change across multiple heavy-emitting sectors.

Mentioned in This Episode

●Companies

●Organizations

●People Referenced

Remora's Carbon Capture Strategy: Key Takeaways

Practical takeaways from this episode

Do This

Focus on point source capture from high-emission sectors like long-haul trucking and freight trains.

Leverage existing infrastructure and CO2 end-users to create a circular economy.

Build a team of experts, even if you don't have deep domain knowledge yourself.

Locate your company where the specific engineering talent you need is most dense (e.g., Detroit for mechanical/electrical engineers).

Manufacture components in-house to enable rapid iteration and quicker deployment.

Develop modular systems that can be adapted to different vehicles and applications.

Utilize simulators and engine-in-the-loop testing to accelerate product development.

Aim for ambitious goals, like capturing a billion tons of CO2 annually, to attract top talent and resources.

Avoid This

Do not rely solely on direct air capture if energy efficiency and cost are primary concerns.

Avoid traditional liquid solvent carbon capture technologies due to their corrosive and potentially hazardous downsides.

Do not be deterred by the lack of initial expertise; focus on learning and building a team.

Do not choose a location without considering the density of relevant engineering talent.

Avoid creating highly customized solutions for each client; aim for modular kits.

Do not get stuck in slow iteration cycles; invest in simulation and in-house production.

Common Questions

Remora is tackling the significant CO2 emissions from the transportation sector, which accounts for 29% of US emissions. Their goal is to dramatically reduce these emissions by targeting difficult-to-electrify areas like long-haul trucking and freight trains.

Topics

Technology & Innovation Business & Entrepreneurship Startup Advice Circular Economy Carbon Capture Environment & Climate Transportation Emissions Logistics Technology Engineering Talent Point Source Capture

Mentioned in this video

People

Paul Gross

Founder and CEO of Remora, who started the company based on the insight of a CO2 shortage and the potential to capture it from transportation emissions.

Christina Reynolds

An expert with a PhD from the University of Michigan on carbon capture who co-founded Remora with Paul Gross.

Companies

Union Pacific

A major freight company that has signed evaluation agreements with Remora, showing potential adoption of their carbon capture technology.

Remora

A startup building carbon capture technology for vehicles, specifically semi-trucks and locomotives, aiming to reduce transportation emissions.

Y Combinator

An accelerator program that Remora went through, which Paul Gross credits with setting a fast pace and high standard for the company's early development.

Ryder

A major freight company that has signed evaluation agreements with Remora, indicating interest in their carbon capture technology.

Organizations

University of Michigan

The institution where Christina Reynolds completed her PhD on carbon capture, a topic relevant to Remora's mission.