I picked this up on BT Yahoo home page, interesting for the future :thumb:
19p a litre 'petrol' in development
A British company has invented artificial petrol that emits no greenhouse gases and could cost as little as 19p per litre at the pumps.
Cella Energy, the Oxfordshire-based firm that is developing the fuel, uses hydrogen, which is currently much cheaper than oil.
The first road tests of the as yet unnamed fuel are scheduled to take place next year. If everything goes to plan, then the miracle 'petrol' could be available in three to five years.
Though a figure of 19p per litre has been suggested, it is expected that the motorist would pay around 60p per litre with the addition of Government fuel tax.
Even so, that would reduce the price of filling up a 70-litre petrol tank to £42.
Speaking to the 'Daily Mail', chief executive of Cella Energy, Stephen Voller, said: 'In some senses, hydrogen is the perfect fuel. It has three times more energy than petrol per unit of weight, and when it burns, it produces nothing but water.'
He also said that the fuel could be used in existing cars without the need for engine modifications: 'Early indications are that the micro-beads can be used in existing vehicles without engine modification. The materials are hydrogen-based, and so when used produce no carbon emissions at the point of use, in a similar way to electric vehicles.'
Critics remain sceptical of the real world savings, though. AA president Edmund King commented: 'The fact the hydrogen is cheaper now doesn't mean it always will be because the Government would soon get its hands on it and increase the tax.'
Jack Carfrae
19p a litre 'petrol' in development
A British company has invented artificial petrol that emits no greenhouse gases and could cost as little as 19p per litre at the pumps.
Cella Energy, the Oxfordshire-based firm that is developing the fuel, uses hydrogen, which is currently much cheaper than oil.
The first road tests of the as yet unnamed fuel are scheduled to take place next year. If everything goes to plan, then the miracle 'petrol' could be available in three to five years.
Though a figure of 19p per litre has been suggested, it is expected that the motorist would pay around 60p per litre with the addition of Government fuel tax.
Even so, that would reduce the price of filling up a 70-litre petrol tank to £42.
Speaking to the 'Daily Mail', chief executive of Cella Energy, Stephen Voller, said: 'In some senses, hydrogen is the perfect fuel. It has three times more energy than petrol per unit of weight, and when it burns, it produces nothing but water.'
He also said that the fuel could be used in existing cars without the need for engine modifications: 'Early indications are that the micro-beads can be used in existing vehicles without engine modification. The materials are hydrogen-based, and so when used produce no carbon emissions at the point of use, in a similar way to electric vehicles.'
Critics remain sceptical of the real world savings, though. AA president Edmund King commented: 'The fact the hydrogen is cheaper now doesn't mean it always will be because the Government would soon get its hands on it and increase the tax.'
Jack Carfrae