More from the “I can’t believe it” box as a team of UK researchers are claiming that within 3 years we could be pouring a hydrogen-based petrol substitute into our tanks.
Now for the science as they say:- the new technology involves a fuel cell which combines oxygen and hydrogen to generate energy. Plastic nonobeads that are capable of storing hydrogen at room temperature as a liquid are already being commercialised for fuel applications which removes any safety risks in storing the gas. The new fuel will generate Zero Co2 emissions and could used in all types of vehicles without needing engine modifications.
Testing begins next year and if everything goes OK, the new fuel could be at the pumps within 3 years and it’s claimed the new fuel will be cheaper than the present cost of petrol as it’s expected to only be around 90p a gallon. Sounds great doesn’t it, but if it’s for real, do you really see us paying less than a £1 a gallon? I wouldn’t hold your breath.
Around the world, there are various different alternatives to conventional petrol already being used such as crops like sugar cane being used to produce bioethanol and producing biodiesel from oilseed rape and clearly, for inventors, coming up with a viable alternative the fuels we have today, the rewards would be enormous.
Anything that removes our dependency on oil and produces less Co2 emissions would be one of the most important innovations we have had for years and wouldn’t it be fantastic if they could pull it off. However there is no way that any government is going to keep its hands off it and leave a product like this untaxed, so don’t get too excited.
