[gopinathann]

Wanted to share the news:

Mod: Please move this thread to appropriate section.

Lot of news are coming for alternate to petrol but none of them have come into our daily use, let's hope that this becomes reality.

UK scientists invent 'artificial petrol' that will cost Rs 14/litre - NDTV Profit

British scientists have developed a low-cost and environment-friendly "artificial petrol" which may cost around Rs. 14 a litre and
could be available at pumps in as early as three years.

The scientists who are refining the recipe for the new hydrogen-based fuel said it will run in existing cars and engines at the fraction of the cost of conventional petrol.

The "artificial petrol" is expected to cost around $1.50 a gallon or 19 pence (about Rs. 14) a litre.

With hydrogen at its heart rather than carbon, it will not produce any harmful emissions when burnt, making it better for the environment, as well as easier on the wallet, the Daily Mail reported.

Professor Stephen Bennington, who led the team involved in the project, said: "In some senses, hydrogen is the perfect fuel. It has three times more energy than petrol per unit of weight, and when it burns, it produces nothing but water.

"Our new hydrogen storage materials offer real potential for running cars, planes and other vehicles that currently use hydrocarbons."

According to the report, the first road tests are due next year and, if all goes well, the cut-price "petrol" could be on sale in three to five years.

Energy from hydrogen can be harnessed by burning the gas or combining it with oxygen in a fuel cell to produce electricity. But current methods of storing hydrogen are expensive and not very safe.

To get round this, the team from the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, near Oxford, University College London and Oxford University have found a way of densely packing hydrogen into tiny beads that can be poured or pumped like a liquid.

Stephen Volker, of Cellar Energy, which is developing the technology, said: "We have developed micro-beads that can be used in an existing gasoline or petrol vehicle to replace oil-based fuels.

"Early indications are that the micro-beads can be used in existing vehicles without engine modification. The materials are hydrogen-based, and so when used produce no carbon emissions at the point of use, in a similar way to electric vehicles."

The scientists also noted that a tankful of the artificial petrol, which has yet to be given a brand name, is expected to last 300 to 400 miles, in line with conventional fuel.

[BuRnT RuBbEr]

if true: opec will be after them, with knives and swords and snipers.

if false: what's new about it?

and won't this fuel be susceptible to self-combustion, especially if in contact with air during storage? Imagine this, you bought 'artificial petrol', and next morning when you crank, you realise that the engine is hydro locked!

[maddy42]

+1 to the above post. Somehow alternative fuels have not caught on the general market but remains a very niche segment. Conspiracy or reality that gasoline will remain a long time?

[sgiitk]

I am sceptical. Also, where is the Hydrogen coming from? With chronic power shortages definitely not from electrolysis. The option is Coal reforming of Water. Then the carbon footprint just moved elsewhere. Also, 14 per litre is the cost, add taxation which will bring it back up to Rs.50 or whatever!

[shankar.balan]

another conspiracy theory situation??
shades of Ramar Pillai and Jatropha all over again???
wonder what the truth of the matter is.

[alpha1]

There is only one sustainable way of generating tons of Hydrogen as of now - Catalytic Steam reforming - using any carbon based fuel.
It is one of the most energy intensive process as Sgiitk points out - and instead of refining crude oil - you are shifting carbon footprint to burning fuel for creating hydrogen.

Large scale Electrolysis can happen near the hydro-electric power plants. But then again - power sold to grid will fetch more value than power sold to hydrogen generation & processing.

So what's the solution?
Wait till fossil fuels run out, and bank on nuclear power? I am afraid so - yes.
Ah, the perils of capitalism.

That is the only compelling "event" to make things fall in places and make it economic for ppl to devote energy and resources into creating things that can make H2 and utilize it effectively.

PS: SG - I assume - IITK = IIT Kanpur. ?