Tag Archives: alternative fuels

Your fuel alternatives

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In his column in the June edition of the Open Road e-zine, NRMA President Alan Evans discusses the need for real fuel alternatives so Australian motorists do not have to rely so heavily on petrol.

“The time has come for Australia to reduce its dependence on the petroleum industry once and for all,” Mr Evans says.

Australian motorists are enduring one of the most dramatic jumps in petrol pricing ever seen, with petrol reaching record highs. And, with petrol prices predicted to hit 170 cents per litre within weeks, things are only going to get worse.

Most manufacturers are developing vehicles run on hybrids and, to a lesser extent, alternative fuels in response to rising oil prices and pressure to go ‘green’. Last month, the world’s first mass-produced petrol-electric hybrid, the Toyota Prius, reached a million worldwide sales. Toyota has also announced it will begin production on a hybrid Camry sedan here in Australia in 2010. BMW is busy developing engines that run on alternative fuels, recently unveiling a hydrogen-powered 7-series sedan at the 2008 SAE World Congress.

But is the matter being addressed with the urgency it deserves? Real fuel alternatives are still in the developmental stages, meaning we’ll have to endure ever-increasing petrol prices for a few more years at least.

What fuel alternatives would you like to see? Will you be catching public transport more than you used to or do you have your own way of minimising your dependence on petrol?

The future of motoring – concept cars at the Motor Show

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The concept cars at this year’s Australian International Motor Show say a lot about where motoring is headed. Innovative designs and a continuing interest in established fuel alternatives featured heavily, but there was a noticeable emphasis on ‘crossover vehicles’, with many of the concept cars being a combination of two different vehicle categories and able to perform more than one function.

Innovative car design

Lexus, market leaders in design and technology, unveiled the 600hL to Australian audiences at the Motor Show. The car has reclining rear seats with fold-out ottomans and is the first vehicle to have in-seat airbags. But the most impressive feature of the 600hL is its ability to self-park.

Pending real-world results, the 600hL may be the first in a long line of cars that will take the stress out of parking and make it as easy as pushing a button.

BMW’s Concept CS is billed as a design study, but BMW’s Managing Director guaranteed it is a clear indication of the manufacturer’s design philosophy of the future. The four door coupe has a wide and long body and sits quite low on the road, being both larger and lower than the 7 Series.

Hyundai are in the process of forging a new reputation as makers of stylish, European-influenced vehicles, doing away with their conservative designs. Their concept car, the Veloster, is a two door coupe aimed at first-time buyers and further emphasises Hyundai’s creative potential. The futuristic 2.0 L Veloster (an amalgamation of ‘velocity’ and ‘roadster’) goes in a “bold new direction” for Hyundai. A unique U-shaped glass roof and futuristic interior combine to make an ultra-modern-looking vehicle.

Crossover vehicles

BMW also unveiled the Concept X6, the world’s first Sports Activity Coupe. It’s a combination of coupe styling with the high-seating position and AWD from the X5, aimed at what they hope will be a new market segment.

Similarly, Kia’s Rondo is an Urban Recreational Vehicle aimed at what Kia call ‘transitionals’. These are people entering a new stage in their lives, particularly new, expecting or older couples, who don’t want to drive a big SUV but still want a high-seated, all-wheel drive vehicle. Part SUV, part MPV, part wagon and part hatch, the Rondo has good fuel efficiency and is flexible, while also having plenty of space. It is on sale next year.

Skoda, a new brand to Australia whose regional launch was at the Motor Show, unveiled their concept car, the Yeti. The compact SUV is a small, rectangular vehicle with unorthodox styling and is “the antithesis of a big, aggressive off-roader.” It’s aimed at those who want to use their vehicle to transport them, and their lifestyle accessories like scuba gear or mountain bikes, back to nature, as well traverse the urban terrain.

Alternative fuels

Also noticeable amongst this year’s concept cars was an emphasis on alternative, although established, fuels. The self-parking Lexus 600hl is a V8 hybrid and Mercedes-Benz unveiled their new 3.0 L V6 turbo-diesels, the C320 CDi (7.4 L/100 km) and the S320 CDi (8.8 L/100 km). Both these vehicles will be available next year and are an indication that Mercedes-Benz has a continuing interest in developing economical turbo-diesel variants.

So while it does seem like fuel alternatives are on manufacturers’ minds, none of the marquee cars were fuelled by innovative alternatives. Petrol, it seems, is with us to stay – for a while longer, at least.

What do you want to see in the cars of the near-future?

Using Premium Unleaded Petrol

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Have you ever used Premium Unleaded petrol in your vehicle instead of Regular Unleaded? Did it seem to go further, dollar for dollar? Did it have any noticeable effect at all?

If your car is optimised to run on Regular Unleaded 91 RON (Research Octane Number), then using PULP may have a marginal effect on the fuel consumption and cost saving.

So if, hypothetically, a vehicle was designed to operate on any octane (which is never the case), using 98 RON would give a seven per cent increase in power or a seven per cent decrease in fuel consumption compared with using 91 RON. Cars that are designed to run on PULP 98 RON may still run on 95 RON but you may lose around three per cent of power, or increase fuel consumption by this amount.

Therefore, if ultra premium fuel costs more than seven per cent more than 91 RON, is it economically unwise to use it?

Have you used Premium Unleaded and noticed any improvements in your vehicle’s fuel economy or performance?

Diesel, hybrid or don’t care – have you made the switch?

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July 16th, 2007

Global warming and CO2 emissions are two issues we now confront on a daily basis.

We’re all aware of the problem, but has this influenced your choice of car or transport?

If you were in the market for a diesel powered car five years ago, it was slim pickings. At the time, European stalwarts Citroen, Mercedes-Benz and Peugeot could help you, but petrol-hybrid cars were almost non-existent on our shores.

Today almost every manufacturer offers a diesel variant, from economy priced to luxury, while Honda, Lexus and Toyota all have hybrids in their line-up.

However, manufacturers have not eliminated petrol models from their range entirely – petrol powered cars still sell the most units by far. Perhaps we’re not as concerned about our car’s ‘carbon footprint’ as the media would have us believe.

With so much on offer, have you made the switch from petrol to diesel or hybrid power, and what has the experience taught you?

Or do you still have your petrol car, with no intention of switching to an alternative?

How much is your decision guided by financial or environmental reasons?

Or have you dispensed with a car altogether?