The Future Fuel Debate

There's plenty going on in the world of alternative fuels, too much in fact for one person to sit and sift through. So, we've decided to bring it to you and here's the best of what's happening in the world of alternative fuels at the moment. Get in there!

1. Big predictions on future oil peaks. This time from a country that knows a bit about the stuff.

2. UK Consortium aims to produce biofuel from municipal and wood waste. Could this solve the crops-need-to-be-used-to-feed-people-not-internal-combustion-engines debate?

3. Fuel price rises possible at the pumps. The AA is looking for clarity from government and a full-on inventigation. RHA wades in calling Number 10's 1 April fuel duty increases 'a joke'.

G4S Cash Services is taking green to the next level and will be installing solar panels on the rooves of some of its vehicles to power the auxilary equipment. The cash movers will be testing the benefits of using photovoltaic cells with the goal of reducing fuel consumption and fleet emissions.

The government is opening up its wallet to fund fuel cell and hydrogen technologies to the tune of £7m. The Technology Strategy Board (TSB) is investing the £7m pot 'o gold on 15 demonstrator programs on the government's behalf.

Peugeot Partner H2Origin

Just got back from an interesting day at Essex-based Revolve Technologies (formerly Roush Technologies...yes, the same blokes that tune Ford Mustangs and GT-40s) where I got to drive their latest creation...a hydrogen-powered van, called the H2ICE (stands for hydrogen internal combustion engine.

Based on a 2.3-litre petrol Ford Transit, the bi-fuel H2ICE is powered by either, as you might have guessed, petrol or compressed hydrogen. It's got three ultra-expensive storage tanks mounted underneath the load floor, but it's possible to switch to petrol should you run out of gas.

Smith Electric Vehicles is trialling a fuel cell that could double the range of its battery powered vans and trucks. The company makes the Smith Edison, a Ford Transit-based electric van, which has a claimed range of 100 miles (but it's more like 60-80 in reality). Anywhoo, Smith says that by adding this small hydrogen fuel cell the vehicles "will be able to achieve closer to 200 miles" (more like 120-160 miles in reality) between charges.

Did anyone hear this on BBC Radio 4 this morning? BP's CEO Tony Hayward was interviwed on the Today programme and made some interesting predictions about future energy prices and when oil supply will reach its peak.

Mr Hayward said that  gasoline consumption reached it's peak in 2007 and continued to say that suppliers in the US and Europe would not sell more gasoline than they did in 2007, ever. This is down to policy and government regulation, which is driving efficiency in transport fleets "and that's a good thing!" he said.

There are also interesting points about gas supply in the UK and how the we can bridge the gap with our future energy needs. Perhaps, the gas-powered Mercedes Sprinter and Iveco Daily will be more prominent in future fleets than we think...

Whether it's for marketing or for cost-saving reasons, reducing fuel consumption is at, or near the top of, every fleet manager's agenda. We've often written about the need for night time delivery schedules for supermarkets and other retailers and Sainsbury's in Wandsworth has even conducted it's own trial not too long ago.

Watching BBC Breakfast this morning and they showed a clip of a terrible lorry crash in Turkey. A truck driver had obviously knocked the hydraulic tipper switch and results you can see below. Luckily nobody was killed although one person was seriously injured in the accident. 

Leeds City Council (LCC) has just put a new gas-powered Mercedes Econic refuse truck into service. It's based on a standard 26-tonne 6x2 Econic chassis and is powered by a purpose-built 279hp diesel engine along with four tanks (with a combined capacity of 720 litres) to carry the compressed natural gas fuel.

Terry Pycroft, head of fleet services at LCC, says: "Like all local authorities we are striving to meet targets for the reduction of our carbon emissions and we see this Mercedes Econic as offering the potential to make some very significant savings."

This particular model is the second gas-powered Econic to enter service in the UK, however, it is unique in that it's the first gas-powered refuse truck doing the rounds in Britain. The gas Econic 2628LLG has been purchased outright from local Merc dealership Northside Truck & Van.