19p a litre 'petrol' in development

[super jumbe]

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.

[badapple]

"the Government would soon get its hands on it and increase the tax."

The Gov. & the big oil companies will soon put a stop to this. They would never allow this to hit the market as the Gov. & oil companies would loose ?billions.

Who would fill up their cars with petrol costing ?80,90,100 when they can use this artificial petrol and fill up for less than half price!!!

What about the money the Gov would loose in taxes?
How would they make that money back...artificial petrol TAX!!!

Good idea tho, if only you could get the ~~~~ing Gov to keep their begging bowl in their pocket!

[Canker_Canison]

The government wouldn't lose out on any tax. Any new fuel will be taxed accordingly, but the lower production costs will see the public save money...if they have a petrol vehicle.

Oil companies may fear it a little, but there's always the developing countries screaming out for more & more oil.

The standard barrel contains 42 U.S. gallons of crude oil. What is truly interesting about the refinement of a typical barrel is that the 42 gallons of crude oil will result in more than 44 gallons of petroleum products. In other words, during the refinement process, there is actually an increase in the volume of product realized. This occurs because there is a reduction in the density of some of the original crude oil as different petroleum products are created during the refinement process.
The refining process actually is rather simple. At its essence, refinement involves the distillation of crude oil into its constituent elements. After distillation, conversion occurs -- which is the process of ?cracking? molecules to allow for a further refinement of the elements that form crude oil in the first instance. Finally, enhancement occurs. This is a process through which the quality of the ultimate product is enhanced in various ways. For example, sulfur might be removed to increase or enhance the quality of a product refined from crude oil.
The largest share of the 42 gallons of crude oil contained in a standard barrel ends up as finished motor gasoline. Motor gasoline accounts for 19.65 gallons of the finished product. Next in line is distillate fuel oil at 10.03 gallons.
Jet fuel comes in a rather distant third place in the refinement process. Of the original 42 gallons of crude oil in a barrel, that portion which will end up as jet fuel is 4.07 gallons. Residual fuel oil accounts for 1.72 gallons of the overall refined product.
Other petroleum products that are created from a barrel of oil during the refining process include: still gas, petroleum coke, liquefied refinery gas, asphalt and road oil, various oils for foodstocks, lubricants, special napthas, kerosene, waxes and an assortment of other miscellaneous products. (It is important to note that the different end products that can be produced from a barrel of oil differ in their percentages depending on what part of the world the crude oil originated from in the first instance.)