SOME FUELS WILL ALWAYS BE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS

This article challenges the basic message "Gas power is good, diesel power is bad", that the UK Government and others are sending to commercial vehicle operators. In the UK, diesel fuel now costs fleets 25% more than it did two years ago. By 2007, the 1995 cost could have doubled if the Government continues to apply an annual price increase of 5% above inflation. It is not surprising that price and fuel economy dominate operators' choice of fuel, and that they find environmental considerations less important. It is now fashionable to focus attention on particulates in diesel exhaust; their amount can easily be reduced by decreasing the maximum proportion of sulphur in fuel, but this approach has its own problems though some remedies can be applied. In the author's view, the effects of particulates may be less harmful than generally supposed, and alternative fuels are for the future. During the next 15 years, the practical use of alternatives seems likely to be thin fuel, liquefied petroleum gas, vegetable oil mixture, compressed natural gas, and synthetic fuels like dimethyl ether. Hydrogen, batteries, and fuel cells are for the distant future. The only way to make alternative fuels economical in the UK is to reduce the fuel duty charged by the Government; that is why it charges lower duty on gas.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00203122
• Corporate Authors:

  Institute of Road Transport Engineeers

  1 Cromwell Place
  London SW1 25F,   England 
• Authors:
  • DICKSON-SIMPSON, J
• Publication Date: 1997-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 17-8,20-1
• Serial:
  • TRANSPORT ENGINEER
  • Publisher: Institute of Road Transport Engineeers
  • ISSN: 0020-3122

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Costs; Environmental protection; Federal government; Fleet management; Fuel consumption; Fuels; Gases; Particles; Pollutants; Subsidies; Sulfur; Vehicle fleets
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 9000: Alternative; 224: Cost; 2442: Emission; 2444: Environment protection; 244: Financing; 1223: Fleet of vehicles; 3850: Fuel; 232: Fuel consumption; 6734: Gas; 183: Government (national); 4511: Particle; 7109: Sulphur; 8119: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Energy; Environment; Finance;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00738336
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Jul 30 1997 12:00AM