Breakthrough promises $1.50/ gallon synthetic gasoline, no carbon emissions

Greg0986 · 27 Jan 2011 at 22:52

Now I know this could be put in the Motors forum and I know it is is dollars but it was developed in the UK so I thought everyone would like the read

UK-based Cella Energy has developed a synthetic fuel that could lead to US$1.50 per gallon gasoline. Apart from promising a future transportation fuel with a stable price regardless of oil prices, the fuel is hydrogen based and produces no carbon emissions when burned. The technology is based on complex hydrides, and has been developed over a four year top secret program at the prestigious Rutherford Appleton Laboratory near Oxford. Early indications are that the fuel can be used in existing internal combustion engined vehicles without engine modification.

source:
http://www.gizmag.com/breakthrough-promises-150-per-gallon-synthetic-gasoline-with-no-carbon-emissions/17687/

What are your thoughts?

Danthus · 27 Jan 2011 at 22:56

If it is true the lab will be sabotaged rather quick.

tntcoder · 27 Jan 2011 at 22:57

Sounds awesome, wondering where the catch is though.

Weak source as well.

Muffin` · 27 Jan 2011 at 22:57

It's true, but at the moment it's probably more like $150,000 per gallon.

TFleming · 27 Jan 2011 at 22:57

We best all hope it's what it says it is, if so that's a great breakthrough.

lookitsjonno · 27 Jan 2011 at 22:58

i bet shell are writing a rather large cheque as I type.

typical after i buy a diesel !

dowie · 27 Jan 2011 at 23:02

Lets wait until they actually start producing it....

Am skeptical about the supposed end price - how exactly are they going to cheaply produce this stuff???? You can't just obtain hydrogen by magic - takes a bit of energy...

Fuzz · 27 Jan 2011 at 23:05

You can't make something from nothing, so resources of some sort are going to be needed.
Are these resources in plentiful supply and is harvesting them going to be cost effective and non impacting on the environment.

Hxc · 27 Jan 2011 at 23:07

dowie said:
Lets wait until they actually start producing it....

Am skeptical about the supposed end price - how exactly are they going to cheaply produce this stuff???? You can't just obtain hydrogen by magic - takes a bit of energy...

Hydrogen production will never be viable until it's a waste product output of something, like some planned, but not built, future generation nuclear reactors.

Total non story if it's based on hydrogen until we can get it cheaply.

VaderDSL · 27 Jan 2011 at 23:07

Scubascorpion said:
You can't make something from nothing, so resources of some sort are going to be needed.
Are these resources in plentiful supply and is harvesting them going to be cost effective and non impacting on the environment.

We have that italian fusion reactor to take care of any electricity generation so no worries! We'll be knee deep in cheap fuel in no time

VoG · 27 Jan 2011 at 23:08

Greg0986 said:
What are your thoughts?

presuming it manages to make it into production, without some oil company buying up Cellaenergy & sitting on the tech, you can bet your life UK gov will tax the living daylights out of it as is there want.

d_brennen · 27 Jan 2011 at 23:09

Believe it when I can buy £20 worth in my local garage. Where's the perpetual motion machine at? (lol) Or cold fusion? When are we going to see a proper breakthrough in energy production?

I will add, I would love this to be true. I'd love it to be clean and easy to produce, so to stick two fingers up to the environmental mentalists and the thieving government. Would love to see their reasoning for taxing a fuel like this the same way as oil products

Cold_And_Miserable · 27 Jan 2011 at 23:13

OldCoals said:
If it is true the lab will be sabotaged rather quick.

This is not breakthrough.

It's just a way of using hydrogen fuel with existing cars. We already have hydrogen powered cars and electric cars so it's nothing special.
Splitting methane or steam to make hydrogen is going to release as much, if not more, CO2 than just burning petrol.

Cosimo · 27 Jan 2011 at 23:15

Sounds too good to be true. I’ll believe it when I see it.

doofer · 27 Jan 2011 at 23:16

Ridiculous Taxes are the cause of high fuel prices, not the actual fuel.

=VTA=MANFACE · 27 Jan 2011 at 23:18

jonno.co.uk said:
i bet shell are writing a rather large cheque as I type.

typical after i buy a diesel !

LOL, me too.............. :eek:

ash_scotland88 · 27 Jan 2011 at 23:20

Havnt read it but my guess is like most synthetic stuff it's made from oil in the first place.

The Mad Rapper · 27 Jan 2011 at 23:23

doofer said:
Ridiculous Taxes are the cause of high fuel prices, not the actual fuel.

This. I was listening to Radio 4 on the way home from the station, and the presenter mentioned that 85p of a £1.30 litre is tax.

That is insane. There is no justification for such abhorrent greed.

SourChipmunk · 27 Jan 2011 at 23:28

First thing I had to do was the conversion. I love this website!

http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=$1.50+per+gallon+in+british+pounds+per+liter

But on topic, one problem with anything using hydrogen for power is the fact that the exhaust freezes. Not much use for them in cold climates.

int · 27 Jan 2011 at 23:29

The Mad Rapper said:
This. I was listening to Radio 4 on the way home from the station, and the presenter mentioned that 85p of a £1.30 litre is tax.

That is insane. There is no justification for such abhorrent greed.

Yeah those holes in the roads just fix themselves.

And all of the new road developments construct themselves too, all for free!

The tax is definitely going straight into someone's pocket.